The First ENGAGE.EU Summer School Held at the UNWE Ended

The first ENGAGE.EU Summer School held at the UNWE ended with a good mood and positive emotions. It took place in the period 16-27 June 2025 on the actual theme of Designing European Sustainable Futures. It was attended by 37 students from 8 universities, members of ENGAGE.EU – University of Mannheim, LUISS University, NHH Norwegian School of Economics, Tilburg University, Université Toulouse Capitole, Ramon Llull University, Hanken School of Economics and UNWE.

The Rector Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov greeted the participants and said: "I warmly greet you for your active participation and efforts! I hope that your stay in Sofia has been not only fruitful but also enjoyable. The Summer School may be coming to an end, but our partnership in ENGAGE.EU continues with even greater strength. Together, we discuss the strategic development of the Alliance until 2035, and new opportunities for participation in future initiatives are opened for you as Master's and Doctoral students”.

Assoc. Prof. D.Sc. Michael Musov, Institutional Coordinator of ENGAGE.EU for UNWE and Co-Chairperson of SDSN Bulgaria, addressed to students saying: “I am very happy that you were here, because the most valuable resource of a university is its students – it is you who develop it and turn it into a more international, more lively place. I am convinced that this will not be your last visit to us – there will certainly be opportunities to return!”

Chief Assist. Dr. Maria Dimitrova also greeted the students and expressed thankfulness to the University team: "I am sure that your stay at our university has been useful and enjoyable and that you will keep positive memories and many friendships. Your support is important for our development. We would like to express thankfulness to our lecturers, who contributed to the success of the Summer School with their dedication and energy. We would also like to express thankfulness to our student volunteers, who helped a lot in achieving this success”.

All the participants received certificates, which were awarded to them by Prof. Dimitar Dimitrov at the closing event, which took place in the Free Zone Hall in Campus K.

PHOTOGALLERY

The Summer School Programme included a series of lectures given by confirmed lecturers and professionals, focusing on the sustainability, corporate responsibility and future-oriented practices. Juliana Mangano, Doctoral student at the University of Mannheim, presented the topic Impact Meets Profit: Marketing the Organizational Purpose for Sustainable Futures, in which she examined how organizations could combine profit with a significant positive impact. In parallel, Assoc. Prof. Amadeus Bach, also from the University of Mannheim, delivered a lecture on the Corporate Decarbonization and Emerging Climate Technologies, in which he analyzed the strategies for reducing carbon footprints and integrating innovative climate solutions. Guest speakers from leading companies and organizations also took part in the event. Victoria Petrova from Coca-Cola HBC BSO spoke about the Art of Being a Rookie and gave advices on early career development. JobTiger representatives Hristiyan Petkov and Natalia Tsvetanova discussed the future of careers in the context of artificial intelligence and sustainable development with the participants in the lecture on the Future-Proofing Europe: Sustainable Careers, AI Disruption & the Next-Gen Workforce.

In the last part of the Programme, Prof. Regine Bendl from the Vienna University of Economics and Business delivered a series of lectures on the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Organizations, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Monika Moraliyska from the University of National and World Economy spoke on Reducing Inequality Through Inclusive Policies and Sustainable Practices. The lectures were followed by a series of workshops on the topics discussed and more useful lectures and presentations, such as Net Zero and Emerging Risks by Bilyana Mineva-Mladenova, ESG strategy expert at UniCredit Bulbank as well as the topic presented by Assoc. Prof. D.Sc. Michael Musov – Sustainable Development Solutions.

The Summer School also provided a variety of cultural, entertainment and team-building activities. Students visited the National Archaeological Museum and took a walk around Sofia to learn about the city's rich history and cultural heritage. The busy programme also included a trip to Boyana Waterfall. Summer School participants also took part in sports games at Bonsist Sports Complex, travelled to the Rila Monastery, explored Plovdiv with a tour guide, had lunch in the artistic Kapana district and enjoyed the view from Nebet Tepe hill.