The Rector Opened the New Academic Year for the Master's Degree Programme in Nuclear Security

The new academic year for the Master's Degree Programme in Nuclear Security led by the UNWE National and Regional Security Department of was solemnly opened.

The opening was attended by the Rector Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Noncho Dimitrov, Head of the National and Regional Security Department, Prof. Dr. Svetoslav Spasov, Director of the Center for Nuclear Security Support and Head of the Master's Programme, Chief Assist. Dr. Ekaterina Bogomilova, former Head of the Programme, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Konstantin Pudin, Chief Assist. Dr. Atanas Dimitrov, Scientific Secretary of the National and Regional Security Department, Assist. Dr. Tsvetomira Penkova, Dr. Vasil Pavlov, Doctoral student Georgy Tasev.

Chief Assist. Dr. Ekaterina Bogomilova, the Rector Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Noncho Dimitrov and Prof. Dr. Svetoslav Spasov

"Before becoming a Rector, I have been part of the National Security Department for 16 years. The Master's Degree Programme in Nuclear Security dates back to 2015.The first initiatives started in Vienna in 2010, but we needed time to implement it in Bulgaria", said Prof. Dimitar Dimitrov and added: "Over the past 10 years, we have provided this Programme for both Bulgarian and international students and it is also taught in English. So far, more than 60 international students have successfully graduated from it, which can only make us happy. Some of the graduates have find their professional realization in national and international organizations, while others hold responsible positions in various state institutions."

Prof. Dr. Svetoslav Spasov, Director of the Center for Nuclear Security Support, who is also responsible for the Master's Degree Programme, greeted the future Masters, among whom are 16 Bulgarian and 9 foreign students. "We enter a new cycle of our programme, which continues to develop and attract more and more international students. We finalize a new agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency /IAEA/ for the next four years, and this partnership will enable our international students to receive scholarships. At the same time, we will provide support for Bulgarian students who will contribute to the development of the nuclear industry in Bulgaria."

Prof. Spasov also presented some of the planned joint events with the IAEA. The National and Regional Security Department expects the UNWE to be officially recognized as a Cooperating Center of the IAEA, which will rank it among the 8 centers of a kind in the world and it will be the fifth in Europe. The recognition will enable our university to host international and regional events and increase its prestige. The first of these events is scheduled for 24 to 27 November 2025 when a meeting will be held to build a cooperation between seven countries in the field of nuclear security and energy policy.

By the Council of Ministers Decision in the structure of the UNWE will be opened an Institute for Enhancing the Research Capacity in the Field of Nuclear Industry and Nuclear Security, which will upgrade the activities of the existing Center for Nuclear Security Support.

The future Masters of the Nuclear Security Programme and the guests, among whom was Dr. Ivaylo Ivanov from the Institute for Nuclear Research and Nuclear Energy of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, visited some of the halls at the University as well as the renovated University Library.