Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Pekanov Presented the Opportunities for Educational Exchange of Fulbright Programme

Thursday, 28 October 2021 19:50

Presentation of Fulbright Scholarships: Opportunities for Educational Exchange through the Eyes of Atanas Pekanov, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria was the title of the event that took place at the UNWE today.

The lecture is organized jointly with the Bulgarian-American Commission for Educational Exchange. A special guest speaker for the event was Atanas Pekanov, Deputy Prime Minister for EU Funds Management of the Republic of Bulgaria and a scholarship holder of the prestigious American programme.

Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov, Rector of UNWE, Atanas Pekanov, Angela Rodel, Executive Director of the Bulgarian-American Fulbright Commission for Educational Exchange /from the left to the right/

The Rector of UNWE Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov, also a scholarship holder of the Programme, welcomed the guests and participants in the Forum and outlined the importance of the event. "As a Managing body of the university, we encourage the efforts of people who would like to participate in this educational, academic and scientific exchange. UNWE is in the network of European universities but we strive to become also a world university. I would like to wish everyone the courage to follow this path. It is valuable not only for them and the university but also for the economy of Bulgaria", said Prof. Dimitrov and gave the floor to the Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Pekanov.

Mr. Pekanov defined the event as extremely important for him not only as a former scholarship holder of the Programme but also as a person for whom the science and its development is very important. "I have had the opportunity to see many countries, to learn from the best examples. One of the opportunities to do this is through the Fulbright programme. It is important for me to promote this opportunity because such programmes can change your life and career", declared the Deputy Prime Minister.

Mr. Pekanov presented his personal experience in the programme and his training at Harvard as a guest researcher. He outlined firstly, that in the 21st century most of the progress go through many successful and unsuccessful applications and secondly, that science is developed on the basis of cooperation between research teams with the participation of world scientists. Bulgaria has exceptional potential and can be an active part of this, both at European and global level. So in this relation, the visit to an American university is an opportunity for development", added Atanas Pekanov. The Deputy Prime Minister delivered a lecture on the Macroeconomic as Discipline after the Crisis.

The Executive Director of the Fulbright Commission Ms. Angela Rodell emphasized on the importance of the longstanding partnership with the UNWE and the fact that many lecturers and students have been participants in the programme. She expressed her thankfulness to Minister Pekanov for his presence and pointed out that he had been "an ideal example of how the acquired knowledge is immediately used in Bulgaria to impact and improve the economy and life of the average Bulgarian citizen". Mrs. Rodell outlined that the Programme also allows American citizens to come to Bulgaria for research or teaching purposes. He gave as example her studies at Sofia University.

Maria Kostova, Fulbright Programme Coordinator, presented the opportunities the Programme offers to researchers and students

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Paskal Zhelev, Deputy Dean for Quality and International Cooperation of the International Economics and Politics Faculty and Chief Assist. Dr. Kristina Todorova from the Economics of Natural Resources Department, UNWE Business Faculty, both also Fulbright scholarship holders, presented their impressions and experience gained due to their participation in the Programme.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Paskal Zhelev who joined the Forum online from Kazakhstan, noted "I can say with no doubt that the Fulbright programme opens doors all over the world. Apart from having 75-years of history and being very well administered, the Programme is characterized by the competitive principle of selecting candidates with clear criteria so participation in the Fulbright Programme is a sign of high quality".

"I had the incredible opportunity to spend four months this summer at the University of Missouri, Columbia. I met exceptional colleagues and experts who shared their experience and expertise. Apart from the professional point of view, the experience I managed to gain, perhaps one of the most important things in fact, was the communication with the people I managed to meet. With some of them we have future plans to conduct joint research", said Chief Assist. Dr. Kristina Todorova.

The organization of the event implemented by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yanko Hristozov, UNWE Secretary General for International Cooperation.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yanko Hristozov

The Фorum was held in a hybrid format. Lively in the Large Conference Hall the event was also attended by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mihail Musov, Vice-Rector for Research and International Affairs, Chief Assist. Dr. Kristina Todorova, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ivaylo Beev, Head of the Economics Department, UNWE General Economics Faculty, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rosen Kirilov, UNWE Secretary Geeneral for Practical Training and Business Relations and Acting Director of the UNWE Center for Computer Innovative Systems /in the picture below from the right to the left/.



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