A PR specialist who, if it is necessary to generalize her professional biography in one sentence, will write: the person who opened the doors of CIPR for the Bulgarian PR Specialists.
With certainty, I’m not the only PR practitioner in Bulgaria who had the desire to obtain the prestigious CIPR Diploma. For me and other colleagues too, it wasn’t possible to pass the course in London or in one of the other 6 CIPR centres in the UK.
In 2004 my family went to Kiev. The ‘wind of change’ was my husband who gained a new position in the Ukrainian unit of a multinational company. I had a very clear idea that it will be very difficult to find a job there and so I decided to return back to studentship.
The search for information about MBA programs in Ukraine took me to the International Institute of Business (IIB) which represents and administrates a large number of programs of universities in USA, Europe and Canada. I still remember the design of the banner that captured my interest on the home page of the website. And its text was: The First CIPR Diploma Course start in October. I really didn’t have to choose. I examined the detailed information for the schedule and lecturers and I sent my documents for registration. This wasn’t enough. IIB answered me that my qualification is higher than the required basis (I have two Master degrees in Philosophy and Public Relations from Sofia University) and asked for a confirmation for my candidature. I did this. I extended my motives for my candidature and added as main motive the opportunity for networking with Ukrainian PR colleagues.
And that is the story how I became one of the 10 students from the First course for PR Diploma in the first accredited CIPR centre outside UK – in Kiev.
I completed successfully the course and I am very happy with the choice I made.
I not only obtained the CIPR Diploma but I also met great PR colleagues in Kiev who today are working for one of biggest foreign companies in Ukraine; I learned a lot from Miroslav Kohut, and Martin Nunn.
And…I took the decision to make an attempt to bring the CIPR qualification programs in Bulgaria.
The first backing I got was from the people at IIB. I’m so grateful for their advice. The first contacts with the Institute in London were made and the process for accreditation started. I’m so grateful to James Petre and Colin Farrington from CIPR.
During the process of accreditation I had my first ‘meetings’ with Kevin Ruck, Heather Yaxley and Ann Gregory – exceptional PR specialists and lecturers who accepted to teach in Sofia. I appreciate their support and respect.
At the end of 2005 Apeiron Communication was founded and on 4 July 2006 it was officially announced that the firm gets the status of CIPR Accredited Centre. I thank Ralitsa Zareva – my partner in the first 6 months of Apeiron and a real corrective in the realization of many bold ideas.
And some more lines of greetings and thankfulness – to the students in the first, second and third course for CIPR Diploma. Every one of them was coming with the desire to get the highest training and didn’t hide their skepticism that this can happen in Bulgaria. I understood them. Something more, I knew that the only opportunity they had to leave their skepticism wasn’t my ability to persuade but the successful completion of the first year of education.
I’m still very happy when I receive emails or phone calls with questions regarding the qualification programmes. I beam with joy when the new candidatures are accepted. I almost go crazy when CIPR sends the accepted marks by the Evaluation Committee. I’m sad when there is “Fail’ among them. The successes of our students are our successes (of Apeiron Academy as an accredited centre and of our lecturers). The failures – too.
Kevin and Heather are with Apeiron Academy since the first course of CIPR in Bulgaria. There are the people that have an idea what the difficulties that we had to come through were.
Kevin/Heather,
I thank you for everything that you have done and will do for the students in Apeiron Academy and for me in particular. You are a source of inspiration and energy. Even for this blog.
In conclusion, some words about CIPR and CIPR Student’s Blog.
With its graduates – past and future students in different programs and trainings – CIPR creates unique professional community that has its shared virtues and rituals.
Created by Apeiron Academy, CIPR Student’s Blog is open for posts and comments from representatives of this community from every part of the world, united around the desire to prove the authority of PR profession, armed with professional practices and standards.
Dear PR friends,
Welcome to CIPR Student’s Blog!
P.S. I also want to thank Galena and Yassen from the Apeiron Team for their support of the idea for creation of CIPR Student’s Blog. They gave me the credit to be the author of the first publication. Galena is the best student from the first CIPR Diploma Course in Bulgaria. There is another reason for her being in my best memories from the first CIPR year in Bulgaria – she was the only student in the Diploma course that financed her education all on her own.
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Welcome to the world of blogging and I look forward to this being a site of much useful discussion and reflection on matters of importance to those committed PR students in Bulgaria - and others who just have an interest in what you are presenting here.
It has been a pleasure to work with you and your students and you can be assured that I will join the debate here too.
Congratulations on starting the blog!!!!