From 21 to 25 June 2026, the Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy hosted the international course “SQF MOLOF advanced course – Course for experts in the field of the EU sectoral qualification framework for officers”, under the auspices of the European Security and Defence College. This is the first regular course following the pilot course held at the Romanian Land Forces Academy in Sibiu in 2025.

The course programme consisted mainly of discussion topics and practical sessions on the analysis of training programmes in military educational institutions in relation to the EU sectoral qualification framework for officers, with the aim of determining qualification levels according to the criteria defined in the framework.

The implementation of the EU Sectoral Qualification Framework for Officers at the national level will ensure the harmonisation of training in EU member states, greater flexibility through the use of mobility tools for trainees and academic staff, as well as opportunities for funding mobility under the EU Erasmus+ programme. This provides added value from both an academic and a financial perspective.

The course director was Capt. (N) Assoc. Prof. Ph.D. Nedko Dimitrov, with the representative of the European Security and Defence College being Ms Stanislava Kraynova. Mentors included: Ms Nova Ivanova (Ministry of Defence – Bulgaria), Colonel Petrana Kokudeva, Assoc. Prof. PhD (G. S. Rakovski Military Academy), Chief Assistant Prof. PhD Alin Bodescu (Romanian Land Forces Academy), Major Tom Simoens, Assoc. Prof. PhD (Royal Military Academy – Belgium), and Capt. (N) Assoc. Prof. Ph.D. Nedko Dimitrov (Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy).

The educational objectives of the course were achieved. The participants acquired the knowledge and skills of experts in the application of the EU Sectoral Qualification Framework for Officers and will join as mentors in subsequent courses and in the EU list of experts in the field of SQF MOLOF.