UNWE Won Four Prizes at the Annual NEAA Awards for Good Practices in Science – Higher Education – Business and Society

In Maxima Aula of UNWE, the National Evaluation and Accreditation Agency /NEAA/ bestowed for the first time the Annual Awards for Good Practices in Science - Higher Education - Business and Society dedicated to the 30th Anniversary of the establishment of the Agency. The awards are part of an initiative to make a catalog of good practices that presents sustainable models of cooperation and exchange between the education, science and the real business sector. The aim is to disseminate the successful examples, encourage the application of innovation in education and support the active participation of undergraduates, Doctoral students and young scientists in practical and research activities

Fourteen higher education institutions and four scientific organizations participated in the first edition of the initiative, presenting 137 practices. The evaluation was done by the NEAA Advisory Council based on criteria such as public significance, innovation, sustainability and the involvement of businesses and students in the processes.

Official guests at the ceremony were the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria Atanas Zafirov and the Deputy Chairpersons of the National Assembly Yuliana Mateeva, Nikoleta Kuzmanova, and Tsontcho Ganev.

In her welcoming speech at the first ceremony of the Annual Awards for Good Practices in Science – Higher Education – Business and Society, the Chairperson of NEAA Prof. Dr. Eliza Stefanova, noted with excitement: "The presence of so many representatives of state institutions, academia, business, and the student community shows how important this event is for all of us. We live in a time of change and uncertainty - a time when no one can say with any confidence what the professions of the future will be. That`s why the universities and the business must go hand in hand. A wealthy country cannot exist without synergy between the education, science, and the economy.

"NEAA finds in the reports of higher education institutions and scientific organizations excellent examples of cooperation that often remain hidden from the public. With these awards, we want to share examples and show that the trust and collaboration are the key to sustainable development. I hope this initiative will become a tradition and inspire even more universities, scientific organizations and companies to work together. Only in this way will we be able to “start the engine” that will launch the Bulgarian economy forward quickly and confidently", added Prof. Dr. Eliza Stefanova.

"On behalf of the Rector of the UNWE Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov and on my own behalf, I am pleased to welcome you to our university. I greet the National Evaluation and Accreditation Agency for this wonderful initiative. For more than three decades the NEAA has been setting quality standards in higher education and today, through these awards, the NEAA takes another important step – to draw the attention to positive examples and to the people and institutions that create real added value for the society", said Prof. Dr. Matilda Alexandrova, Vice-Rector of UNWE for Educational Activity, adding: "Now more than ever we need cooperation and shared responsibility. Our objective is to prepare young people who will not only find professional realization at the labor market, but will also be creative, critical thinkers and will stay here to build the future of Bulgaria. I am happy that the UNWE is the host of this important event. I believe that today's award winners will inspire all of us to continue working together - universities, businesses and institutions - for a better future for our society".

Awards were conferred in six categories, each highlighting a specific aspect of the relationship between the science, education, and society.

The UNWE was awarded in four categories. Our university took first place in the category Lifelong Learning Initiative for the educational programme Training for Teachers - Application of the Case Method in Education in Shipping, Transport, and Logistics aimed at applying the case method in the vocational education. The plaque was awarded to Prof. Dr. Hristina Nikolova, Vice Dean for Research of the UNWE Economics of Infrastructure Faculty and Head of the Economics of Transport and Energy Department, by Yuliana Mateeva, Deputy Chairperson of the National Assembly.

"I accept this award as recognition of our team's efforts to keep pace with the requirements of the modern education and to prepare lecturers who inspire students through practical knowledge. We are honoured that the UNWE is an example of sustainable partnership between the academia, business, and society", said Prof. Dr. Hristina Nikolova.

The UNWE received also awards in other three categories - Higher Education Institution – Business Partnership for the practice Board of Advisors for Education in Logistics, in the category Implementation of Scientific Results for the Benefit of Business and Society for the practice Forum for Sustainable Development of the Bulgarian Film Industry and in the category Practice for Engaging Students and Young Scientists. Our university received a plaque for the practice Autumn Academy.

The plaque for the practice Board of Advisors for Education in Logistics was awarded by Assoc. Prof. Momchil Antov, member of the Advisory Council of the NEAA, to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nikolay Ivanov, Head of the UNWE Logistics and Supply Chains Department.

"I accept this award with great gratitude. It is a recognition for the entire team of the UNWE Logistics and Supply Chain Department. Our Board of Advisors is a living relation between the academia and practice - a kind of a parliament where we constantly check our direction with the real demands of the business. I am delighted that this long-standing initiative has been highly appreciated and I sincerely hope that more universities will follow this model of cooperation", said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nikolay Ivanov.

On behalf of the UNWE Media and Public Communications Department, the plaque for the practice Forum for Sustainable Development of the Bulgarian Film Industry was received by Assoc. Prof.Dr. Elena Simeonova, UNWE Secretary General for Accreditation and Head of the UNWE Political Science Department. The award was bestowed by the Deputy Minister of Tourism Pavlin Petrov.

"I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the organizers for this high distinction which I accept on behalf of my colleagues from the Media and Public Communications Department. The Forum for Sustainable Development of the Bulgarian Film Industry is a valuable platform for dialogue between the academic community, creators, and professionals in the industry. I am delighted that our efforts to connect the education with the real cultural and industrial environment are so highly evaluated", said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Elena Simeonova.

The award for the practice Autumn Academy was awarded to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Denitsa Gorchilova, Head of the Public Administration Department, by Dr. Boyan Nikolayev, Deputy Executive Director of the Confederation of Employers and Industrialists in Bulgaria.

"Thank you very much for this high distinction, which I accept not as personal recognition, but as an award for our entire team. All the practices we presented reflect our deep conviction that the university is not only a place for science and teaching, but also a space where we help students build their character, civic engagement and the confidence to stand up for their beliefs. Our Autumn Academy is just that - an opportunity to step outside the frameworks of everyday life, to learn from each other, even from our students and to grow together as a community. I believe that a strong education begins with heart and trust in young people", emphasized Assoc. Prof. Dr. Denitsa Gorchilova.

In the category Socially Significant Practice the award won Prof. Asen Diamandiev Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts for its project Consortium of Art and Education which brings together cultural and educational organizations. The award was bestowed by Ivan Krastev, Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Policy.

In the category Institutional Initiative for Sustainable Development the first place won Paisii Hilendarsky University of Plovdiv for introducing a systematic policy for gender equality. The award was bestowed by Tsontcho Ganev, Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly.

The Medical University of Plovdiv won the prestigious Best Practice – Science – Higher Education – Business and Society Award for 2025 for its initiative Social Partnership for Dental Treatment of Elderly People. The practice combines the education, social responsibility and healthcare by providing free dental treatment for older people while creating a real-world practical environment for dental students. The award was bestowed by Prof. Dr. Eliza Stefanova, Chairperson of the National Evaluation and Accreditation Agency.