UNWE and Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant Signed a Memorandum of Strategic Partnership

The Rector of UNWE Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov and Valentin Nikolov, Executive Director of Kozloduy NPP EAD, signed a Memorandum of Cooperation. The agreement includes the organization of trainings and exchange of experience in the field of research and project activities in order to increase the efficiency of educational research and development activities in the field of energy and security sector.

Mr. Nikolov and Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov

"Our university is one of the few higher education institutions that educate students in fields directly related to the energy and nuclear security. We maintain and develop a highly qualified academic staff of prominent, nationally and internationally recognized lecturers and scientists who provide quality training in these fields", said the Rector of UNWE, who is also the Head of the only one in the world International Master's Degree Programme in Nuclear Security established with the assistance of the International Atomic Energy Agency /IAEA/. Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov is also the Head of the National and Regional Security Department, leading the training on the International Programme. He added that "the UNWE could conduct targeted training for the employees of Kozloduy NPP EAD in order to improve their qualifications and provide specialists in the implementation of national and international projects and research studies".

The Executive Director of Kozloduy NPP Mr. Valentin Nikolov declared that they could improve the practical training of the students by conducting specialized internships and practices in the Nuclear Power Plant. "We could also provide conditions for the development of diploma theses related to the activities of Kozloduy NPP", said Mr. Nikolov adding that it was preferable for all higher education institutions dealing with nuclear energy to unite their efforts in analysis and research in order to improve training and scientific elaborations.

The Memorandum includes the commitment of UNWE to promote in the educational process and to the public the scientific research publications the activities and achievements of Kozloduy NPP EAD as the most economical and ecologically clean technology for generating electricity at the current level of the technology and in compliance with the requirements for physical, organizational, ecological, and informational security.

On the other hand, Kozloduy NPP EAD may propose updating the curricula in accordance with the demands of the Company's production activities and recommend increasing the number of places requested by the University for admission or opening new Master's degree programmes and postgraduate qualifications in fields of interest to the Company.

Coordinator for the implementation of the agreement from the UNWE is Assoc. Prof. Dr. Noncho Dimitrov, Vice Dean for Quality and International Cooperation of the Economics of Infrastructure Faculty and Scientific Secretary of the National and Regional Security Department, and from Kozloduy NPP is Stefka Petrova, Head of Administration and Control Department.

The meeting was attended by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Noncho Dimitrov, Mr. Valentin Nikolov, Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov, Prof. Dr. Tsvetana Stoyanova,Vice Rector for Institutional and Business Cooperation and Student Policies