The Rector of the UNWE Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov Held a Working Meeting with the Minister of Tourism Evtim Miloshev

The Rector of the UNWE Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov and the Minister of Tourism Evtim Miloshev held a working meeting on the issues of education in the tourism, attracting foreign students and digitalization.

During the meeting they agreed that the UNWE and the Ministry of Tourism will cooperate for the professional realization of the students and the enhancement of the prestige of the professions in the tourism sector. The discussion was focused on the lack of sufficient workforce as a leading problem in the sector, which could be solved by educational and academic institutions.

The Minister of Tourism outlined the necessity not only for well-trained but also for motivated specialists in the field of tourism and Prof. Dimitrov shared the successful practice of UNWE - the business academies built on the educational process at the University which unite the students from different specialties but with interests in the respective field. Prof. Dimitrov noted that if the business demand better prepared specialists, it is necessary to have closer contact with the students and to seek assistance from the Ministry of Tourism.

Minister Miloshev outlined the importance of the UNWE as the largest economic educational institution for Bulgaria in the tourism sector in preparation of highly qualified specialists and raising the prestige of professions in tourism. He expressed his readiness to initiate an inter-institutional working meeting with the participation of the academic community and the nationally represented industry associations in tourism aimed at both closer cooperation with the universities and facilitating the relationship with the business and the labour market.

Evtim Miloshev welcomed the idea of holding a specialized business academy also in the field of tourism.

"By analogy to the dual training in the secondary education, we could consider implementing the idea in the field of higher education and senior management staff", pointed out the Minister. The two leaders agreed that no one is interested in a formalized internship that has no added value either for the students or the industry representatives.

For me, the most important thing is the motivation when students enroll in the academies. I think it is a form that gives a good relation with the business and creates a bridge to the realization of the future specialists", emphasized the Rector of UNWE. He announced that from the new academic year a new Bachelor's degree programme in Health and Business Tourism and Economics would be launched in compliance to the demand and focused on health tourism.

Prof. Dimitrov also commented on the necessity to attract foreign students pointing out that the efforts of the universities to attract them should meet an institutional support in organizing meetings to present the Bulgarian education abroad. In the meetings he has held with universities in China and Uzbekistan, the leading theme has been the education in tourism.

Minister Miloshev and Prof. Dimitrov discussed the possibilities for foreign students to be facilitated to have the option of seasonal work during their stay and study in Bulgaria.

During the meeting the two leaders also discussed the possibilities for future cooperation on the creation of a unified digital map of destination Bulgaria.