Krasimir Valchev, Chairman of the National Assembly Committee for Education and Science, Delivered a Public Lecture during the Youth Economic Forum

Krassimir Valchev, Chairman of the Committee for Education and Science at National Assembly and former Minister of Education, delivered a public lecture during the 20th Anniversary edition of the Youth Economic Forum (YEF) 2023.

The event was held in the fully renovated UNWE Library officially opened the previous day. The organizers of the event which is held for the 20th consecutive time are the Student Council at UNWE and the National Representation of the Student Councils /NRSC/.

At the official presidium together with the guest speaker Krasimir Valchev and the Rector Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov were Ilian Chabukliysky, Chairman of the Student Council at UNWE and Daniel Parushev, Chairman of the National Representation of the Student Councils /NRSC/.

"It is the largest event organized in the last 20 years by the UNWE Student Council and the National Representation of the Student Councils with the participation of politicians and government officials from the highest echelon of the Bulgarian state and business. The topic of Forum - Bulgaria in the Eurozone - Prospects and Challenges for Young People - is extremely relevant and excites both the academic circles and the ordinary citizen", said Ilian Chabukliysky at the opening of the Forum.

"It is not a coincidence that the Youth Economic Forum is held at the UNWE and at such a high level. Our students deserve it. Our university deserves it. Yesterday the fFrum was opened by the Prime Minister, today Ministers and Deputies are our guests", said the Rector of UNWE.

Daniel Parushev introduced the guest speaker Krasimir Valchev as one of the most competent people in the field of education in Bulgaria, former Secretary General of the Ministry of Education and Science /MES/ and former Minister of Education, deputy in several National Assemblies and Chairman of the Committee for Education and Science at the current National Assembly. "At his insistence, the programme for the renovation of student dormitories was started and now through his parliamentary group at the National Assembly, the issue has been brought up again for 2024-2026. He is the main person contrinuted to all that happens for improving the living conditions of students", said Parushev.

In his public lecture Krassimir Valchev spoke on the Higher Education and the Eurozone telling about the events 34 years ago when the young people hadn`t had the opportunities they have nowadays. According to him the young people today have a lot of choices. They live in an increasingly global and supranational world. "Joining the Eurozone we will enter the narrowest circle of European integration. The direct benefits are numerous but more significant are the indirect benefits - we will be recognized as part of the core of the EU. We will increasingly think through the perspective of the EU, we will feel it as something close, with learning opportunities. In 2017 a decision was taken to create European university networks, a more globalized higher education market with the unification of resources and faculty. The UNWE was one of the first universities in Bulgaria to join the European University Area for which I greet you. The higher education become more accessible and less elite. Each student has access to lecturers from different countries and the integration in educational systems will deepen", said Krasimir Valchev.

He also spoke about the coming revolution related to the artificial intelligence and the skills that should be developed in children nowadays. He said that the future professions would require more complex skills, which would led to reduction in specialized knowledge education. All curricula should be made interdisciplinary, to include different fields of knowledge. Each engineer, programmer is necessary to study humanitarian disciplines, to develop communication skills, creativity and concentration. "With the digitalization of the world, more humanitarian skills will be required. The so-called 'lifelong learning' will become essential. Higher education in the future will develop in a more globalized, more connected, more digital world", is the opinion of Mr. Valchev on the topic.

During the event were discussed the problems of higher education in Bulgaria, the lack of sufficient funding, the demographic crisis, the large number of higher education institutions, the insufficient demand for quality, the lack of a national digitalization programme, the problems with visas for foreign students.

In conclusion, Krasimir Valchev stated that "The expenditure for education has the highest public return".

During the event Krasimir Valchev received an Honorary Plaque for his significant contribution to the establishment and development of YEF. An honorary plaque was also awarded to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dragomir Stefanov, Secretary General for Social and Living Issues of Undergraduates and Foreign Students of UNWE and Chairman of the Student Council /2003-2005/ when the first Youth Economic Forum had been held.