Chair of EHU GAPO, President of the Eurasia Foundation Horton Beebe-Center says: “I am very pleased with the results of the Rector’s Search. EHU is fortunate to have Prof. Ignatov as the new permanent Rector — his professional and academic experience speaks for itself. I want like to specially thank SIDA for the invaluable support provided to EHU management during the Search process. I wish Prof. Ignatov success as Rector of EHU and I am looking forward working closely with him”.
Prof. Sergei Ignatov is an internationally acclaimed Egyptologist, author of the books “Morphology of Classical Egypt”, “The Wisdom of Ancient Egyptians”, “Egypt of the Pharaohs”, “Papyrus does not grow on a rock”, “The Body of God”, as well as more than 40 other academic publications, dedicated to problematics of linguistics, history and religion of Ancient Egypt.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius comments the appointment of Prof. Ignatov: “Lithuania is pleased to see such an internationally recognized professional as Prof. Ignatov becoming a Rector of EHU. No doubt, this will bring new strategic development to the University and it will manage to strengthen its academic and scientific capacity, thus remaining a very important project for Belarus and further beyond”.
Since 2016 the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) administers international financial support to EHU on behalf of the largest donors of the University. According to Elsa Håstad, Director of Europe and Latin America Department of SIDA: “Prof. Ignatov comes to EHU at a very important time, when the University is ready to take further steps at strengthening its profile and impact. Prior merits of Prof. Ignatov evidence that strategic management of EHU is secured”.
In 2009-2013 Prof. Ignatov served as Bulgaria’s Minister of Education, Youth and Science in the Boyko Borisov’s Government. While serving as Minister of Education, he implemented a number of notable reforms, aiming at broadening of the university autonomy and introduction of nation-wide differentiated funding of higher education. Earlier in 2002-2009 Prof. Ignatov served as Rector of Bulgaria’s leading private University – the New Bulgarian University.
New EHU Rector Prof. Ignatov stresses: “I strongly believe in the future of this unique project in the time when education in the field of humanities and social sciences is confronting unprecedented challenges”.
Prof. Ignatov started his academic career as lecturer at the University of Sofia St. Kliment Ohridski. In late 90’s he joined the academic management of the New Bulgarian University and served as Dean of the Undergraduate School. Before coming to EHU he chaired the Bulgarian Institute of Egyptology.
Prof. Ignatov holds a PhD in Egyptology from the St. Petersburg State University. During his academic career he held a fellowship at the All Souls College in the University of Oxford. Prof. Ignatov speaks Bulgarian, Russian, English, French, and also teaches Ancient Egyptian (Coptic), Assyro-Babylonian (Akkadian) and Ancient Greek.