The Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund Paul Hilbers Delivered a Lecture at the XVI Annual Scientific Session of UNWE

The traditional Annual Scientific Session of UNWE summarized the results of the university research projects completed in 2023. The Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund Paul Hilbers, delivered a lecture in the frameworks of the event.

The official opening was attended by the Rector of UNWE Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov, the Vice Rector for Research and International Affairs Assoc. Prof. D.Sc. Michail Musov, the Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund Paul Hilbers, Prof. Dr. Vladimir Danailov, the Regional Director for Eastern Europe of the renowned publishing house Elsevier, the owner of the global database for scientific information Scopus, Prof. Dr. Elenita Velikova, UNWE Secretary General for Science and Ilian Chabukliisky, Chairman of UNWE Student Council.

Prof. Dr. Elenita Velikova, Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov, Prof. Paul Hilbers, Prof. Dr. Michail Musov, Prof. Vladimir Danailov /from right to left/

The Rector Prof. Dimitar Dimitrov gave as presented a book about Bulgaria to Paul Hilbers

The Rector Prof. Dimitar Dimitrov opened the Scientific Session by highlighting the UNWE's achievements in the scientific research. "We have experienced exceptional growth in new research projects. We can congratulate ourselves on our active participation in a total of 11 projects funded under various national programmes, which have brought more than one and a half million leva in external funding to the University. The same amount was raised through our participation in 21 international projects. The growth potential lies in the research projects and in the internationalization of our university", said Prof. Dimitar Dimitrov, emphasizing that the young scientists are actively involved in the research activities. "It is no coincidence that this year's Danubius Young Scientist Award, which was initiated by the Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe and the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research, was won by a Doctoral student from our University."

"We should all be proud of what we have achieved in the research activity in recent years. With the combined efforts of the academic leadership and staff, the Programme Committee, the Science Directorate and the Centre for Research and Education Projects, we have managed to increase our score for achieving a statute of Research University by 25% just for 2 years. It is indeed a great step, which we must know is the result of the systematic efforts of all of us. All that is required from us is to continue working with the same earnest effort to obtain the statute we deserve as an institution. And I believe that it will happen very soon", said Assoc. Prof. D.Sc. Michail Musov.

"It is an honour and a pleasure for me to greet you on behalf of the UNWE Student Council and personally on my own behalf", said Ilian Chabukliysky and emphasized: “I would like to greet all the participants in the research projects. Due to your hard work our university gets closer and closer to its objective to become a research university. I am glad that the colleagues undergraduate and postgraduate students actively participate in research projects where they have the opportunity to interact with some of the best professionals in their field and draw knowledge and skills from the source. The role of young scientists has always been important for the development of both society and universities."

Paul Hilbers delivered a lecture on the IMF and the Future of Multilateralism. Roles, Responsibilities and Current Issues. "It is a great honour for me to be at the world-famous University of National and World Economy which I think is very valuable for Bulgaria because it not only educates people but also helps them grow in their careers at the national and international level, like the Managing Director of the IMF Kristalina Georgieva who is also a graduate of this university. I believe that a conference that accounts the scientific excellence is of great importance for the future development of the university", said Paul Hilbers. In his lecture he discussed the establishment of the IMF and examined its historical development, its involvement in global financial processes and its role in the global financial crises.

In his speech Vladimir Danailov emphasized that the UNWE develops as a research university. "The development of science is very important because it helps to deal with crises. We all feel how the COVID-19 pandemic and other crises have greatly changed the shape of the Bulgarian economy. We do not want to go back to a low-wage economy. We are somewhere halfway between the low-value economy and the high-value economy. The new economic profile of Bulgaria which will be competitive on the world market will be created through innovation, scientific breakthroughs and new inventions. That is why it is very important to accelerate the development of science in Bulgaria so that we do not get "stuck" between the two types of economy", said Vladimir Danailov.

The Rector awarded diplomas to the following scientists with the most active research activities: Prof. Dr. Nikolay Denchev, Prof. D.Sc. Maya Lambovska, Prof. Dr. Mariana Yaneva, Prof. Dr. Nikolay Shterev, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zornitsa Yordanova, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Alexander Naydenov, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Maria Peneva, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pascal Zhelev, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Radko Radev, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Maria Vodenicharova, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Antonia Pencheva, Chief Assist. Dr. Boyan Ivanchev, Chief Assist. Dr. Hristina Todorova, Chief Assist. Dr. Silvia Georgieva, Assist. Dr. Vesislava Antonova. Some of them received their diplomas personally from the Rector in the hall.

Prof. Dr. Nikolay Denchev	Prof. Dr. Mariana Yaneva

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zornitsa Yordanova	Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pascal Zhelev

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Maria Vodenicharova	Assoc. Prof. Dr. Antonia Pencheva

Assist. Dr. Vesislava Antonova

The work of the Forum included presentations of the projects and subsequent discussions which provided an opportunity to highlight and comment on various topics on the research agenda.

The meeting was held in three sections covering 31 research projects.

Section 1 presented the scientific results of the following projects: Inequality in the Distribution of Wealth in Bulgaria in the Period 1990-2018, Project Head – Chief Assist. Dr. Petar Peshev; Development of Online University Education - Students, Lecturers and Managerial Perspectives, Project Head - Assoc. Prof. Dr. Katya Michajlova; Research on the State and Development of Transport Infrastructure in Bulgaria, Project Head – Chief Assist. Dr. Ilija Gatovsky; Public Governance and Social Media. Crisis Communications Management, Project Head – Assoc. Prof. Dr. Stela Angova; Improvement of the Critical Infrastructure Security through the Application of Behavioral Analysis, Project Head – Chief Assist. Dr. Teodora Gechkova; Requirements and Conceptual Model for Establishing a Laboratory for Master's Degree Training in Cyber Security at the UNWE, Project Head - Assoc. Prof. Dr. Georgy Penchev; Economic, Geopolitical and Social Risks in the Development of Contemporary Bulgaria, Project Head - Prof. D.Sc. Ivaylo Hristov; Development of Tourist Areas in Bulgaria through Modeling of Innovative Approaches in Specialized Types of Tourism, Project Head - Prof. Dr. Nikolay Tsonev; Assessment of the Economic, Social and Financial Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Transport Sector and Recovery Measures, Project Head - Prof. Dr. Hristina Nikolova; Modeling, Analysis and Optimization of Socio-Economic Measures to Reduce the Negative Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemi", Project Head - Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov.

In Section 2 of the scientific session were presented the following projects: Municipal Model of a Self-Sustainable Modern barter System, Project Head – Chief Assist. Dr. Rositsa Toncheva; Methodology and Methods for Research and Analysis of the Market of Audit Services in the Republic of Bulgaria, Project Head – Chief Assist. Dr. Ina Lecheva; Opportunities for Application of Modern Management Accounting Models, Project Head - Assoc. Prof. Dr. Teodora Rupska; Current Issues of Determining the Value of Stocks on Capital Markets /on the Example of Developed Capital Markets and the Emerging Capital Market in Bulgaria/, Project Head - Prof. Dr. Dimitar Nenkov; Problems and Challenges of Fiscal Policy in the Balkan Countries, Project Head - Prof. Dr. Presiyana Nenkova; Risk of the Independent Appraiser in Performing Valuations of Enterprises, Real Estate, Machinery and Equipment, Intellectual and Industrial Property, Project Head - Assoc. Prof. Dr. Oleg Dimov; Digitalization and Internationalization of Innovative Bulgarian Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Project Head - Prof. Dr. Milanka Slavova; International Business and Sustainable Practices /on the Example of the Bulgarian Companies Operating on International Markets/,  Project Head - Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dobroslav Mollov; Establishment of Free Economic Zones on the Territory of Bulgaria within the One Belt, One Road Project, Project Head - Assoc. Prof. D.Sc. Georgy Chankov; Export Financing and the Practice of China Development Bank in Bulgaria, Project Head - Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vesela Todorova; English for Successful Functioning in a Professional Environment: a Study of the Necessities of Economics and Political Science Students, Project Head - Dr. Albena Stefanova.

Section 3 presented the scientific results of the projects: Modernization of Regional Development in the Context of Digital Transformation, Project Head - Assoc. Prof. Dr. Georgy Nikolov; Study and Analysis of e-Government and Digital Administrative Services in the Republic of Bulgaria, Project Head - Assoc. Prof. Dr. Katya Kirilova; Application of 3D Printing for Visualization of Solutions of Nonlinear Equations in the Learning Process, Project Head - Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ivan Yordanov; Risk of Poverty or Social Exclusion in Bulgaria, Project Head - Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mariana Murgova; Crisis Management. Bulgarian Alternative Farmers. Governance in Crisis. Bulgarian Alternative Farmers, Project Head - Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dimitar Terziev; Conceptual Model of Intellectual Property in the Digital Competitiveness of the Firm, Project Head - Prof. Dr. Maria Markova; Ellaboration of a Flexible Methodology for Development and Management of Innovation Projects in Scientific Organizations, Project Head - Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zornitsa Yordanova; Comparative Legal Analysis of Withholding Tax through the Prism of the European Union Court Practice, Project Head - Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nina Chilova; Social Crises, a Factor in the Dynamics and Development of the Forms of State Structure in Ancient Rome. The Ancient Model and its Transplants in the Context of European Legal Systems, Project Head - Assoc. Prof. Dr. Konstantin Tanev; Legal Regime of Protected Natural Areas /Scientific and Practical Analysis/, Project Head - Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nadezhda Hristova.

The UNWE R&D Programme Council consists of: Chair - Assoc. Prof. D.Sc. Mihail Musov, Deputy Chair - Prof. Dr. Elenita Velikova and members - Prof. Dr. Krasimir Marinov, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nikolay Vankov, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Maria Vodenicharova, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Krasimir Yordanov, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Presiyan Markov, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Michaela Misheva, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Antonia Pencheva, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ekaterina Tosheva.

The work of the Annual Scientific Session ended with a general discussion.

Before the opening of the XVI Annual Scientific Session of UNWE the Rector Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov had a meeting with the Executive Director Paul Hilbers who invited the Rector to visit the International Monetary Fund.

Prof. Dimitar Dimitrov and Paul Hilbers

In the Rector`s Office Paul Hilbers wrote in the UNWE Golden Book:

"It is a great honour for me to be a guest of the University of National and World Economy in Sofia. This university is the alma mater of many Bulgarians who hold leading positions in the country and abroad. I would like to mention two people who also became Doctor Honoris Causa of UNWE - Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the IMF, and Dimitar Radev, Governor of the BNB.

As a professor myself I am aware of the enormous importance of education for our society. I am very proud to have the opportunity today to deliver a lecture on the Role of the IMF at the University of National and World Economy.

I wish the University all the best in its future endeavours and hope that it will educate many more talented Bulgarian and foreign students."