The Rector of UNWE - Keynote speaker at the XVIII International Conference on Strategic Management

The Rector Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov opened the XVIII International Conference on the Strategic Management in the Era of Digital and Green Transformation and he was also a keynote speaker. UNWE hosted the Conference, organized by the International Strategic Management and Managers Association in cooperation with Gebze Technical University, Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul Bilgi University. The official guest at the Conference was H.E. Aylin Sekizkök, Ambassador of Turkey to Bulgaria.

Dr. Zafer Akar, Co-Chair of the Conference, Prof. Dr. Oya Erdil, President of the International Association for Strategic Management and Managers, Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov, Rector of UNWE, Zbigniew Bentin, Moderator of the Conference, H. E. Prof. Dr. Dr. Zafer Akar, Co-Chair of the Conference, Prof. Dr. Oya Erdil, President of the International Association for Strategic Management and Managers, Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov, Rector of UNWE, Zbigniew Bentin, Moderator of the Conference, H. E. Aylin Sekizkök, Ambassador of Turkey to Bulgaria, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehtap Ozshahin, Chairman of the XVIII International Strategic Management Conference

"We are proud that this important International Conference is held at our university because it will set the guidelines for the development of strategies for the management of processes in the context of the digital and green transformation", said the Rector at the opening. He presented the UNWE as the eldest and the largest business university in Southeastern Europe with 18 000 students, part of the European alliance of 9 leading economic universities ENGAGE.EU. "Our University is proud of its alumni, including the IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva as well as 10 Prime Ministers, more than 100 ministers and heads of important international and national institutions who can be seen on our Wall of Fame", added Prof. Dimitrov.

H. E. Aylin Sekizkök and Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov

Turkey and Bulgaria are gateways to Europe that`s why the strategic management and supply chain management are extremely important for the development of both countries. We face the challenges of digitalization and the necessity to move towards a green economy so I look forward to the results of your research", said the Turkish Ambassador H. E. Aylin Sekizkök.

On behalf of the Dean of the General Economics Faculty Prof. Dr. Margarita Atanasova a Greeting address presented was presented by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kamelia Asenova, Vice Dean for Academic Affairs of the General Economics Faculty and Director of the University Centre for Students and Lecturers Mobility. It says that the Conference has established itself over the years as a significant forum which on the basis of scientific research of eminent scientists in the field of strategic management sets new directions for the management of processes in the digital age.

Assoc. Prof. Kamelia Asenova is the organizer of the Conference by the Bulgarian side and moderator of one of the panels of the Conference devoted to the Digital and Green Transformation.

Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov	Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehtap Ozshahin	Prof. Dr. Oya Erdil

The President of the International Strategic Management and Managers Association Prof. Dr. Oya Erdil also addressed the participants. She pointed out that the Conference is focused on the strategic management in the digital age. "After precise expert assessment 35 papers from 10 countries have been admitted for participation which I hope will contribute to find quality solutions in the field of strategic management", added Prof. Erdil.

The Conference Chair Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehtap Ozshahin expressed her thankfulness to the participants for sharing their valuable research lively and online and addressed a special gratitude to the Rector of UNWE for the hospitality.

H. E. Aylin Sekizkök	Zbigniew Bentin	Prof. Dr. Hakan Karatas

As a keynote speaker at the Conference in his paper on the Strategy for the Development of Higher Education in Bulgaria Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov gave a comprehensive overview of the main challenges for the development of higher education in the era of digitalization and artificial intelligence. He featured several key aspects that should be taken into account in developing a strategy for higher education: crisis management, mobility and globalization, changes in teaching methods and the penetration of modern technologies in the learning process, digitalization of education, impacts of artificial intelligence.

"We face new challenges all the time and it will always be like that but our task is to deal with them successfully", said the Rector in conclusion.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kamelia Asenova, Prof. Dr. Nadia Mironova, Head of the Management Department and the Mayor of Kardzhaly Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hasan Azis

The other keynote speaker at the Conference Prof. Dr. Hakan Karatas, Vice-President of the Defence Industry Agency of the Republic of Turkey, delivered a paper on the Human Oriented Transformation in the Digital and Green Era.

He examined in details the human behavior in terms of the modern conditions the people are placed and he addressed the impact of digitalization on human psychological development. According to Prof. Karatas, a circular process of interaction is taking place between the digitalization which requires continuous learning and improvement and the human curiosity which is the driving engine of the changes and development of digitalization.

As keynote speakers Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov and Prof. Dr. Hakan Karatash were awarded certificates and plaques of appreciation for their participation.

Prominent specialists, strategic management experts, repersentatives of academic circles, heads of national and regional structures took part in the Conference.

Before the Conference the Rector of UNWE held a meeting with the Ambassador of Turkey in Bulgaria H. E. Aylin Sekizkök where opportunities for cooperation with Turkish universities were discussed.