UNWE Student - Winner in the First Edition of Competition Organized by the Ministry of Environment and Water

Thursday, 02 December 2021 11:45

Gabriela Metodieva, student in Economics with foreign language training, is the winner in the competition for undergraduates with high academic achievements organized by the Ministry of Environment and Water /MEW/.

Gabriela Metodieva

She won a one-year scholarship and her contract was awarded by the Rector Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov at Rector's Council session in the presence of the Vice-Rectors Prof. Dr. Miroslava Rakovska, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mihail Musov, Prof. Dr. Tsvetana Stoyanova, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rosen Kirilov, the Assistant Rector Prof. D.Sc./Econ./ Kiril Stoychev and the representatives of the Student Council Angel Stoykov and Ilian Chabukliisky.

Rector's Council session

The event was also attended by Galina Simeonova, Executive Director of the Enterprise for Management of Environmental Protection Activities /EMEPA/ and Rositsa Zhelyazkova, also from the EMEPA.

The Rector Prof. Dimitrov and Mrs. Galina Simeonova are awarding the scholarship contract to Gabriela Metodieva

In his greeting speech the Rector Prof. Dimitar Dimitrov commented that a good career could be achieved when it has started from the student bench. He welcomed the initiative adding that he would like all the institutions to work with young people such as the Ministry of Environment and Water. He reminded the role of the Student Council and the Interuniversity Center for Career Development in promoting the student activity. The Rector declared his readiness to support any kind of initiatives in the field.

The Rector Prof. Dimitrov and Mrs. Galina Simeonova

Galina Simeonova, Executive Director of EMEPA, explained one of the objectives of the competition - to motivate students, and on the other hand, to help the company in choice of future staff. She specified that the Minister of Environment and Water Asen Lichev who is the founder of the competition would like to create a tradition and to initiate the event every year during the European Mobility Week. Mrs. Simeonova added that Gabriela had received an invitation to conduct training internships at the Executive Environment Agency. Galina Simeonova wished the UNWE to have more so successful students.

"It is a great honour for me to be here. It is wonderful to get together for such an occasion that is of particular importance to society, namely the environment", said Gabriela Metodieva. "I would like to express my sincere gratitude to each of the countries that contributed to my success and gave me the opportunity to share my views.”

Gabriela Metodieva: "As a proud graduate of a university having a long tradition, I believe that initiatives like this are of great importance and I hope that together we will continue to build in the name of a better future".

Angel Stoykov shared: "Gabby is part of the Student Council, she participates in our events and I am glad that she is the first winner from our university in this competition". He pointed out that the Student Council shares and promotes the information allowing students to express themselves to reach more of them.

Angel Stoykov

The competition Green Support for a Sustainable Future is held by the Executive Environment Agency /EEA/ with the financial support of the EMEPA. The topic for its first edition was: Sustainable Mobility for a Safe and Healthy Lifestyle and it is aimed at tackling the challenges of the urban environment and mobility. The one-year scholarship amounts to 2,970 BGN in monthly installments.


The objective of the competition Green Support for a Sustainable Future is to support the continuity between the theory and practice and the inclusion of young people who have chosen to study in specialties in higher education institutions related to environmental protection and sustainable development. The challenges of sustainable future on a global scale and in Bulgaria require the adoption of key decisions and active actions by well-educated and trained "green" leaders. Young professionals should be supported in their development in order to be successful in their future responsible careers.

The competition will take place every year as part of the EU campaign European Mobility Week /16-22 September/ which encourages local authorities to introduce and support sustainable transport measures and provides an opportunity to improve urban air quality as well as to ensure sustainable ecological solutions for the urban environment. With this idea the competition will encourage students to present an original, consistent and science-based approach to tackling the challenges of the urban environment and mobility in their works.

For more information about the competition click here.

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