Student Scientific Forum on The Regional Development – Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

Student Scientific Forum on the Regional Development – Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow implemented by the assistance of the Center for Regional Research and the Regional Development Department was held in the Small Conference Hall of UNWE. Presenters of the Forum were Slavena Nikolova and Borislav Vasev, students in their fourth year, speciality Regional Development. At the event attended Prof. Dr. Sonya Dokova, Head of the Regional Development Department, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kamen Petrov, Prof. Dr. Hristo Hristov, lecturers and students.

In the Small Conference Hall

On behalf of all students both presenters expressed thankfulness to Prof. Dokova for the provided opportunity to present their scientific views and elaborations to the large academic family of UNWE and the scientific organizations working in the field of regional development.

Prof. Hristov, Prof. Dokova and Assoc. Prof. Petrov  (from the left to the right)

Prof. Dokova greeted the students for their participation in the Scientific Forum. She pointed out that over the last four years they had studied a wide range of issues related to the theoretical and major models of regional development. “Today you have the opportunity to touch to and implement the practical specifics as well as to assess the challenges of the real policy of regional development in Bulgaria”, shared Prof. Dokova. She outlined that the regional development had required effective impact in many fields as education, employment, energy, environment, single market, scientific research, innovations, etc. “Today the politicians and experts unanimously think that the regional development is the main investment policy in the European Union and in Bulgaria”, added Prof. Dokova. The regional development is not a datum or kind of constant, “it is a result of adequate decisions, effective actions and the personal contribution of everyone”, pointed out Prof. Dokova.

Participants in the Forum

The presenters specified that the discussed topics had been related to the new difficulties, obstacles, tendencies and opportunities to Bulgarian regional development. They clarified that the Seminar would be held in two stages. The first thematic field covers some important issues of regional development and its aspects in regional and national plan. The second thematic field studies various specific spheres related to the municipal, regional and national issues.

During the presentations

The first statement was made by Kristian Dimitrov who spoke on the Essence and Importance of the Regional Development for the National and Spatial Development of Bulgaria. He examined the fundamental issues of the regional development and explained why, where and what it is used for. He defined the term discipline as a “process of achieving sustainable and balanced development through the use of all available resources”.

The topic Rural Regions Development in the Republic of Bulgaria was presented by Ina Vlashka, on the topic entitled Review of the EU Regional Policy – Major Priorities spoke Teofana Stoycheva, Normative and Regulatory Base for Implementation of Regional Policy in Bulgaria was the title of topic examined by Pepina Paneva and the Build Up of Corridor No.9 as a Factor for Promotion of Regional Policy in Bulgaria was commented by Slavena Nikolova.

Presenters and participants

Special thankfulness was expressed by the presenters also to the moderators of the Forum – Atanas Penkov, Mirela Dimitrova and Mariela Varafova.

The second stage of the event was held in several different halls.