Center for Information Technologies and Digitalization
August 5, 2024 2025-07-01 16:36Center for Information Technologies and Digitalization
Center for Information Technologies and Digitalization
The Center for Information Technologies and Digitalization (Computer Center) of the University of Forestry was established in 1977. Prof. Hr. Shehtov and Assoc. Prof. Emil Lazarov worked actively and devotedly for its creation, establishment and development. Until 1983, the computer center operated with the computer “IZOT – 310” and was used only for training students in the discipline “Electronic Computing Technology and Programming”. In 1983, the first 15 8-bit computers “Pravetz 8” were purchased, and two training rooms were equipped for student education. The University of Forestry was one of the first higher education institutions in the country to create a new modern computer center with 4 computer rooms for student training and 1 room for processing administrative, accounting, student application and other information. The rooms were equipped with the first 16-bit computers “IMKO” (prototype of “Pravetz-16”) and gradually the existing facilities were updated with newer, more modern equipment.
Since 1996, the University of Forestry has had a modern computer center in the new Educational and Laboratory Complex. It provides the foundation for student education, both in accordance with the curricula and programs, as well as for working in a local network and the Internet.
The Centre consists of five laboratories equipped with the most modern computer equipment linked in a network which provides training opportunities for the students from the different specialities of the University of Forestry.
In addition to the educational process, the computer center provides rooms for training courses for doctoral students, specialists, staff and students from the University of Forestry. Students, under the supervision of the computer center staff, can also work independently during so-called open access hours.
In 1998, the second phase of the university network was built. It includes all teachers, staff, doctoral students and students. Through the network built throughout the university, everyone can freely use the Internet and email. They can also use unified databases for processing administrative, student application, accounting and other documentation.
The establishment of the Laboratory of Computer Systems and Networks in 1999 corresponds to the considerable growth in the demand for computer information services and resources for the purposes of the training, scientific and research activities.
Since 2004, in cooperation with professors from the “Computer Systems and Informatics” department and the regional academy of the Faculty of German Engineering Education and Industrial Management at the Technical University of Sofia, a Local Cisco Academy (LCA-LTU) has been established, with certified instructors Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vladislav Todorov and Senior Assist. Prof. Dr. Radoslav Milchev. The Local Academy at the University of Forestry supports the Cisco Certified Network Associate program (version 3.1) in the following areas: computer networking fundamentals, routers and routing basics, switch basics and basic routing, WAN technologies.
The significant increase in the need for computer information services and resources for the educational, research and administrative activities of the University of Forestry has determined the new structure of the University Computer Center. Taking into account the experience gained from the Laboratory for Computer Systems and Networks created in 1999, in 2004, the computer center was restructured, focusing its activities in four main directions:
At the beginning of 2005, under the leadership of Senior Assist. Prof. Dr. Radoslav Milchev – lecturer in the “Computer Systems and Informatics” department and head of the UCC, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vladislav Todorov – head of the “local network administration and telecommunications” department and Eng. Dimitar Nedelchev – head of the “information systems and internal computer communications” department, the regulations concerning the UCC’s activities, the use of the university computer network, and the maintenance and development of the UF’s WWW server were developed.
The main functions and activities of the University Computer Centre are in the field of: introduction, maintenance and development of information reference systems in accordance with the requirements of the Law on Higher Education and the needs of the university management; technical maintenance and administration of computer systems and networks, maintenance and development of the university information infrastructure; administration and development of Internet communications at the University of Forestry; introduction and development of new information technologies; maintenance of the information library system.
Using its traditions as well as the experience of the leading universities in the country and abroad, the University Computer Centre seeks the most effective methods and tools for application of computer technologies in the training of the future specialists in the fields of forestry, forest industry, ecology, landscape architecture, agronomy, veterinary medicine and industrial management.
