TUS is the largest higher engineering university in Bulgaria with over 12000 students and 1200 full-time academic staff. Additionally, the university has a RTD division that was founded 30 years ago and that comprises around 50 laboratories and over 600 full time staff members. The university is involved in over 50 joint European projects of the EU TEMPUS and COPERNICUS programmes.

The research will be carried out by the Centre for NDT Education, Research and Quality Control at TUS. The NDT Centre at TUS has recently benefited from a 0.5 million Euro European Tempus programme grant. This money was used to buy the latest NDT instrumentation and systems for the Centre. The Centre has become the only EC accredited Centre for NDT research and education in Bulgaria. This project fulfils TUS's strategic aim of increasing their activities in the growing composite inspection market.

TUS was chosen by the SMEs due to its NDT facilities as well as the skill, knowledge and experience of the staff. The main TUS individual involved in the project will be Professor Yochev who has over 100 publications to his name, plus experience of working on several successful EU projects.

Reasons for participating
This University sees as NDT as a growth area of activity for them and has formed a dedicated NDT Department. This project is therefore suited to TUS's long term aims in terms of involvement in one of the most significant NDT research areas in recent times.

Role in the project
Input into theoretical modelling of radiographic techniques (WP-C) and automated defect recognition software (WP-E). Also assist in the preparation of training documentation and materials for NDT radiographer training and certification to meet European standard EN 473.