Five Teams Took Part in the ENGAGE.EU International Competition on Innovative Entrepreneurship for Secondary School Pupils

Five teams took part in the International Competition on Innovative Entrepreneurship for high school pupils in the framework of our European University Alliance ENGAGE.EU. They presented their projects to a jury which evaluated them and selected a winner. The meeting was held in a hybrid format - live and online in Zoom. The teams-winners in the national round are from Georgy S. Rakovsky Vocational High School of Economics in Yambol, Bulgaria, the High School of Commerce in Burgas, Bulgaria, National Trade and Banking High School in Sofia, Bulgaria, National High School in Finance and Business in Sofia, Bulgaria and the Lycée Ozenne in Toulouse, France. The four Bulgarian schools are members of the Association of Economic Schools in Bulgaria /AESB/.

The high school pupils presented their innovative ideas and their practical application for the creation of new products, processes, services and overall business ideas. The focus was on how to create and add value to society in the context of sustainability. Students showed innovative thinking, initiative, high motivation, excellent presentation skills and confidence.

Dr. Rusy Rusev, Deputy Director for Educational and Production Activities at the National Finance and Economics High School, Green Future team, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mihail Musov, Vice Rector for Research and International Affairs, Prof. Dr. Daniela Feschiyan, Chairwoman of the Association of Economic Schools in Bulgaria, Inno Starch team, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Radka Andasarova , Mrs. Nedyalka Dieva, senior teacher in economics at the National Trade and Banking High School and mentor of Inno Starch team /from the left to the right/

Assoc. Prof. Mihail Musov, Vice Rector for Research and International Affairs welcomed the guests on behalf of the Rector of UNWE Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov and greeted them on the occasion of the Europe Day - 9 May. "Europe gives us the opportunity to work together to transform education, research and innovation. Today's global challenges require us to work together to defend our European values. On behalf of the Rector I would like to assure you that we are proud to host this very special event. Thank you all for your dedication and commitment. Special thanks to you, our competitors. You are the ones who can shape the future of Europe. You are the ones who can change our perception of the limits of opportunities. You are the ones who carry the spirit of the next generation of Europe".

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mihail Musov

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kostadin Kolarov, Head of the Entrepreneurship Department and Coordinator of the competition, emphasized that our university has organized this competition as part of the European University Alliance ENGAGE.EU. He presented the rules of the competition and wished success to the participants.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kostadin Kolarov

Prof. Dr. Daniela Feschian, Chairwoman of the Association of Economic Schools in Bulgaria /AESB/ described as a reason for pride the fact that four schools - members of AESB, have teams-winners in the previous stage and participate in today's international competition. "I know their performances well from the tough round that took place at the national level and I expect impressive results. I'm delighted that we also have foreign participants from Toulouse, France. I believe that you will give your best as you have always done and I emphasize that you all are already winners because what you showed in the domestic rounds was knowledge, skills and competencies. Good luck to all", welcomed the participants Prof. Feschian.

Prof. Dr. Daniela Feschian

The Chairman of the jury was Prof. Dr. Nikolay Denchev, Head of the Centre for Social Entrepreneurship at the Free University of Brussels and researcher at the Institute of Entrepreneurship at the UNWE. Members of the jury were Dr. Marieke Schoots, Programme Manager at Tilburg University, Chief Assist. Dr. Radka Andasarova-Georgieva, lecturer at the Accounting and Analysis Department, Kiril Zhelyazkov, member of the Management Board of the Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association /BICA/. Daniel Kostov, co-owner and founder of Ecologica - company for computer and office equipment recycling, also joined the projects leaching.

Prof. Dr. Nikolay Denchev /the first man on the left/

Prof. Dr. Nikolay Denchev addressed to the competitors saying: "Our society needs solutions for sustainable development and I, like everyone, hope that you will be the driving force for such solutions in the future. Ideas like yours bring solutions, ideas like yours bring good opportunities. I would like to welcome you and encourage you to keep your strength and courage, to stimulate you because many of your ideas will contribute to the flourishing of our society in the future".

Pupils competed in the following teams:

NATIONAL TRADE AND BANKING HIGH SCHOOL – Inno Starch team- Liliana Radoslavova Kaneva /leader/, Beatrice Lyubomirova Gologanova, Sofia Nikolaeva Stoykova;

NATIONAL SCHOOL OF FINANCE AND BUSINESS - Jateda team - Zhaklina Zhekova Atanasova /leader/, Daria Atanasova Temelska, Theodora Ivanova Tsvetkova;

HIGH SCHOOL OF COMMERCE - BURGAS – Fluerpanier team - Kristian Stoyanov Valchev /leader/, Tanyo Dinkov Ivanov, Sedef Ali Ali, Rositsa Yordanova Valkova;

VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS - YAMBOL - GREEN PEACE team - Denis Stanimirov Velkov /leader/, Lyubena Georgieva Dankova, Stefan Georgiev Georgiev;

LYCÉE OZENNE - TOULOUSE, FRANCE- Arthur Dejean Decremps, Achaache Ayoub, Soufiane EL bribri.

The winners are Inno Starch team from the National Trade and Banking High School who presented a concept of product utility and how waste from one company can be used by other companies. Second place went to the High School of Commerce in Burgas and Lycée Ozenne, Toulouse, France.

The winners – Inno Starch team