Entrepreneurship Summer School for Indian Students Was Opened at the UNWE

The Entrepreneurship Summer School for students from LJ University, Ahmedabad, India, was opened. It is yet another initiative resulting from the collaboration between the UNWE and the LJ Private Higher School, which is a leader in entrepreneurship education in India. In January of the current year the Head of the UNWE Entrepreneurship Department Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kostadin Kolarov and Chief Assist. Dr. Sylvia Georgieva visited India and delivered a series of lectures to students from the Integrated Bachelor`s and Master`s Degree Programme and the Entrepreneurship and Family Business Programme of LJ University. The same students are at a visit in Bulgaria and will participate in the Summer School organized by the UNWE.

The initiative was officially opened by H.E. Sanjay Rana, Ambassador of India to Bulgaria, by the Rector of UNWE Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov and by the Head of the UNWE Entrepreneurship Department Assoc. Prof Dr. Kostadin Kolarov and by Prof. Jay Shukla /in the picture from the left to the right/.

"I hope your time here will be fruitful as you explore our landmarks and enjoy our beautiful nature, but most importantly, you will learn many new things about the entrepreneurship, but the most important thing is that we have successfully started a very important cooperation between the two universities and I hope it will continue to develop successfully in the future", said the Rector of UNWE and expressed thankfulness to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kostadin Kolarov and his team from the Entrepreneurship Department for the successfully organized educational programme.

Н. E. Sanjay Rana, Ambassador of India to Bulgaria, also expressed his thankfulness to the "largest economic university in Bulgaria" for the invitation and added that he is glad by the opportunity for Indian students to study at a Bulgarian university. "Contacts between Bulgaria and India date back to ancient times because the Bulgarians are also ancient people like the Indian people. The relations between the two countries are strong and the cooperation - fruitful, and when Bulgaria became a member of the EU in 2007 our relations strengthened even more because, in the modern world of globalization of the economy, Bulgaria became for us a door to Europe. We implement economic projects with Bulgaria that strengthen our friendly relations and I hope that our cooperation will continue to develop fruitfully", said the Indian Ambassador to Bulgaria.

Ilian Chabukliysky, Chairman of the Student Council at UNWE, Radostina Chaprazova, Regional Director of the Arete Foundation, H. E. Sanjay Rana, Ambassador of India to Bulgaria, Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov, Rector of UNWE, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kostadin Kolarov, Head of the Entrepreneurship Department and Prof. Jay Shukla

The opening ceremony was attended by the Rector's Management represented by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Maria Vodenicharova, Vice-Rector for Research, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yanko Hristozov, Vice-Rector for International Affairs, who welcomed the participants and wished them to gain new knowledge during their stay in Bulgaria, as well as to visit the seesights of our country. The President of the Student Council Ilian Chabukliysky also welcomed the guests.

The university lecturer Prof. Jay Shukla from LJ University, as a representative of the Indian university that trains students in entrepreneurship, expressed his great hope for an exchange of experiences regarding the teaching in this discipline. "We highly appreciate the invitation from your university and it is a great opportunity to enrich our knowledge on entrepreneurship, to expand our horizon beyond the borders of our country."

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kostadin Kolarov explained that the UNWE is among the first universities not only in Bulgaria but also in Europe to have a Bachelor's degree programme in Entrepreneurship: "We not only train our students, but we also provide them with internships in large companies, we prepare them to start their own business. And we want to pass on this experience and knowledge to your students. I hope these initiatives will benefit both sides and lead to deeper cooperation."

Dr. Silvia Georgieva explained that this summer school is organized for the first time at UNWE. She presented the programme, which will be implemented within one month, and in addition to lectures on global entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial opportunities in Bulgaria and Europe, social entrepreneurship in its national specifics, it includes practical classes on Entrepreneurship Fundamentals. "We will take them on a visit to Asenovgrad, to a candy company with international activities, and to several companies in Stara Zagora. We will conduct practical classes on the spot. We have also scheduled meetings with experienced entrepreneurs, investors, bankers, consultants and researchers. We have also prepared a cultural programme for the Indian students and their lecturers", said Chief.Assist. Dr. Silvia Georgieva.

Before the opening of the Summer School the Rector of UNWE Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov held a meeting with the Ambassador of India to Bulgaria H. E. Sanjay Rana, where they discussed the opportunities for joint cooperation in the field of education.

All the organizers and participants in the Summer School from the Bulgaria and India took pictures in front of the Wall of Fame, where are the names of the UNWE lecturers and alumni, heads of international and national institutions.