UNWE Is the Host of Meeting of the Sub-Regional Group of NSSC Network Organized by the International Atomic Energy Agency

The University of National and World Economy is the host of a four-day Technical Meeting for Cooperation among the Members of the Consortium Sub-Regional Group of the International Network for Nuclear Security Training and Support Centers /NSSC Network/ organized by the International Atomic Energy Agency /IAEA/ at the initiative of the Director of the UNWE Nuclear Security Support Centre and Head of the International Master's Programme in Nuclear Security Prof. Dr. Svetoslav Spasov.

The Rector of UNWE Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov welcomed the participants and emphasized the University's key role in building the expert capacity in the field. "That is why I am confident that today's Technical Meeting will contribute to strengthening our cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency /IAEA/ and the International Network for Nuclear Security Training and Support Centers /NSSC Network/", emphasized the Rector. Prof. Dimitar Dimitrov is the first Head of the International Master's Programme in Nuclear Security. In 2016 he also founded the UNWE Nuclear Security Support Centre and he is its first Director. He reminded that the Master`s Programme was launched in 2015 based on a cooperation agreement in the field of education and scientific research between the UNWE and the IAEA. In the current year the 10th Anniversary of its establishment will be celebrated with a Scientific Forum which will be held on 9 December 2025 at the UNWE. The International Master's Programme in Nuclear Security is developed in accordance with the IAEA requirements and is supported by the International Nuclear Security Education Network, of which the UNWE has been a member since 2014, as well as by the Ministry of Education, the Nuclear Regulatory Agency, the Ministry of Energy, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria. For 10 years it has been preparing students not only from Bulgaria but also from countries such as Nigeria, Lebanon, Zambia, Jordan, Burkina Faso, Congo, Sudan, Mauritania, and Uganda, most of whom are the IAEA scholarship holders – a testament to the quality and international recognition of the Master`s Programme.

The official opening of the event was attended by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Noncho Dimitrov, Head of the National and Regional Security Department, Assist. Prof. Dr. Ekaterina Bogomilova from the same Separtment and the representative of the Bulgarian Nuclear Regulatory Agency /BNRA/ Mr. Valentin Velev.

Assoc. Prof. Noncho Dimitrov welcomed the guests and expressed confidence in the productivity of the meeting for the development of cooperation in the field of nuclear security education. He also pointed out that the UNWE Nuclear Security Support Center, headed by Prof. Dr. Svetoslav Spasov, is also part of the International Network for Nuclear Security Training and Support Centers /NSSC Network/ and collaborates actively with the International Atomic Energy Agency /IAEA/.

Mr. Valentin Velev from the Bulgarian Nuclear Regulatory Agency /BNRA/ emphasized on the importance of the event for the national and regional nuclear security.

The IAEA representative Ms. Quillan Rose from the Nuclear Security Department expressed thankfulness for the excellent organization of the event and presented the development of the NSSC Network Sub-Regional group which was launched in 2018. She expressed her contentment with its expansion, emphasizing that the current meeting will help strengthening the cooperation in the field of nuclear security education.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the NSSC Network from Romania, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Lithuania and other countries as well as by experts and representatives from the UNWE Nuclear Security Support Center, Ms. Magdalena Lateva, Chairperson of the Audit Committee of Kozloduy NPP, the Doctoral students Georgy Tasev, Anna-Maria Nikolaeva, and others.

The meeting is organized in four consecutive working days, during which international training programmes, partnership opportunities, the exchange of good practices and the development of joint strategic initiatives in the field of nuclear security and the enhancement of expert capacity will be discussed, including also the opportunities provided by the newly opened Institute for Enhancing Research Capacity in the Field of the Nuclear Industry and Nuclear Security at UNWE, established by the Council of Ministers Decree No. 200 of 26 September 2025.