Academic Celebrations Devoted to The 95th Anniversary of UNWE
The University of National and World Economy marked the 95th Anniversary of its foundation through academic celebrations. At the official assembly in Maxima Aula attended Prof. D.Sc. (Econ.) Statty Stattev, Rector of the university, Prof. Dr. Borislav Borisov, Honorary Rector and Honorary Professor of UNWE, the Vice Rectors, former Rectors, Deans of Faculties, Heads of Departments, doyens of academic science, lecturers and students. Special guests at the celebration were Acad. Vanyo Mitev, Rector of the Medical University and Chairman of the Rectors Council in Bulgaria, Acad. Stefan Vodenicharov, Chairman of the Bulgarian Academy of Science, Yordanka Fandakova, Mayor of Sofia Municipality, Vladislav Goranov, Financial Minister, His Right Reverend Tiveriopol Bishop Tikhon, Patriarchal Vicar and Chairman of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Dimitar Dilchev, Mayor of Students District, etc.
 |
|
At the opening of the official assembly. From the left to the right: Prof. D.Sc. (Econ.) Statty Stattev, Denis Dimitrov, Chairman of the Students Council, Acad. Vanyo Mitev, Yordanka Fandakova, Prof. Borislav Borisov, Vladislav Goranov, Acad. Stefan Vodenicharov, His Right Reverend Tiveriopol Bishop Tikhon |
“Today we celebrate the 95th birthday of our favourite university. Every day the monument of our founder, first Rector, great Bulgarian and patriot Prof. Stephan Bobchev meets us with his expressive figure and academic stateliness in front of the central entrance of the building proudly called University of National and World Economy – the eldest, the most authoritative and the largest higher economic school in Bulgaria and Southeastern Europe”, pointed out in his speech the Rector Prof. D.Sc. (Econ.) Statty Stattev. He outlined that today with deep gratitude and sincere respect is paid tribute to the colossal work of our founders who established the Free University of Political and Economic Sciences. The Beginning is a spiritual emanation of their revival enthusiasm, cheerful thought, care and large desire for a new Bulgaria built as a modern European state where young Bulgarians can obtain modern education and students can educate and form “as high cultured and respect citizens, proficient specialists in economic, financial, administrative, legal and social sciences”, outlined the Rector.
 |
|
In Maxima Aula |
Prof. Stattev remembered the prophetical words of Prof. Bobchev when he had awarded diplomas to the first graduates called by him “the first swallows among our academic generation”: “It is the practical sanction of right of the university to exist and it is the brightest demonstration of its vitality and the most brilliant proof of its ensured future”. The Rector also cited the advice of Prof. Bobchev to students: “Armed by knowledge you won in our circles through the care of your lecturers and through your efforts for self-education, go firmly forward and always in the way of your self-perfection but whatever you devote to do, have in your minds the interests of Bulgaria first and above all”.
 |
| The Rector Prof. D.Sc. (Econ.) Statty Stattev |
Today, 95 years after the Beginning we can proudly and confidently say that we continue with dignity and honour the work of our founders, emphatically said the Rector. He outlined that “over the past decades the UNWE has never given away during the reverses of times and has always found the answers to challenges developing as a leading educational and scientific research institution always the first among its academic counterparts”. Prof. Stattev commensurate all that had been achieved with many fortunes, efforts, labour, intellectual work, dreams, emotions, ups and difficulties, with a lot of dedication, honest work, exclusive professionalism, sincere adherence and love to UNWE by dozens of generations of lecturers and scientists, by 95 alumni of graduates, by thousands of officials – all belonging to the united academic family. There is no Bulgarian Parliament, government, ministry, business structure, municipality, bank without having our graduates occupying key positions in them and lots of our graduates are also high recognized experts in the most authoritative European and world institutions, pointed out also the Rector.
 |
| During the official assembly |
Prof. Stattev emphasized with proud on the fact that today the UNWE looks forward in the future with optimism as the largest Bulgarian university – leader in the Bulgarian higher education and science having 21 432 students, more than 440 Doctoral students, the best lecturers, eight faculties, 33 departments, more than 30 scientific research centers and institutes, 47 Bachelor`s degree programmes, ten of them in the English language, 100 Master`s degree programmes, part of them joint with the leading European universities, the largest number of prospective students, an academic cooperation with more than 100 foreign universities and membership in international institutions, wonderful material facilities, electronic organization etc. But if we are always first the main merit to it belongs to all of us, dear colleagues, turned to the academic representatives in the hall expressing his thankfulness for their dedication the Rector.
The spirit is the most important thing, it has made over the years all that the UNWE is today, pointed out Prof. Dr. Borislav Borisov, Honorary Rector and Honorary Professor of UNWE. As “Rome hadn`t been built for a day” so the university in its modern kind is the result of efforts of a large number of our famous scientists-economists as well as of lots of others who have contributed to authority of our university with their academic spirit and presence. The most important thing is that they have formed its alumni who implement the policy of Bulgaria in various fields of economy and state government.
 |
|
Prof. Dr. Borislav Borisov |
Prof. Borisov remembered his first day as a student at Karl Marx Higher Institute of Economics and his first lecture delivered by the eminent scientist and Rector Prof. Kiril Grigorov. The Honorary Rector appealed the attendees to honour by observing a minute of silence the memory of the founders and generations after them who worked for the UNWE. He expressed his thankfulness to the Rectors in the hall who had occupied that position over the last decades – Prof. D.Sc. (Econ.) Ivan Iliev, Prof. D.Sc. (Econ.) Mihail Dinev, Prof. D.Sc. (Econ.) Kamen Mirkovich and Prof. D.Sc.(Econ.) Lalyu Radulov. Thank you for their work and efforts, for they had led the university to all that today we called a leading university in the business and administration, said Prof. Borislav Borisov and wished all being together again after five years at the 100th Anniversary of UNWE to open all together the second century of academic success.
As a Chairman of the Rectors Council I would like to wish you the strategy of higher education development adopted by an overwhelming majority in the National Assembly to be forced as law as soon as possible, said Acad. Vanyo Mitev. He defined that it would stop the universities equalization and would rank the higher schools in three categories as he expressed his confidence that the UNWE would be in the category of elite universities. Acad. Mitev specified that it would lead to a fair redistribution of the financial resource and the best universities would be given what they have deserved.
On behalf of the Rectors Council Acad. Vanyo Mitev awarded to the UNWE a silver rhyton from the treasure in Borovo village.
 |
| Prof. Mitev is awarding the silver rhyton to Prof. Stattev. |
The Rector Prof. Stattev awarded the statuette of Prof. Stephan Bobchev – Founder and First Rector of UNWE to Acad. Mitev “for his respect to the academic traditions and dedicated work for the science and higher education cause, for the development of cooperation between the Medical University of Sofia and UNWE and on the occasion of the 95th Anniversary of UNWE”.
 |
| Prof. Stattev is awarding the prize to Prof. Mitev. |
In his greeting speech Acad. Stefan Vodenicharov pointed out the common origin of Bulgarian Academy of Science (BAS) and UNWE having in mind their common founder Acad. Stephan Bobchev – scientist, politician and diplomat defined as the most interesting figures of the 40s of the last century. One of his greatest merits is the foundation of the Free University – the predecessor of UNWE, outlined Acad. Vodenicharov.
The Chairman of BAS gifted to the university the Academic Diploma of Prof. Stephan Bobchev as well as some of his personal letters stored in the BAS archive. Prof. Statty Stattev awarded the statuette of Prof. Stephan Bobchev – Founder and First Rector of UNWE to Acad. Stefan Vodenicharov “for his respect and honour to the common origin and significant contribution to the cooperation between the UNWE and BAS, for his honest institutional and human partnership, support and understanding, for his loyalty to the common spiritual mission and on the occasion of the 95th Anniversary of UNWE”.
 |
| The Rector awarded Acad. Vodenicharov. |
Due to the lecturer professionalism and students interest over the years the university has developed and confirmed as an institution providing a modern European education in the field of economics, law and entrepreneurship, outlined in her speech the Mayor of Sofia Municipality Yordanka Fandakova. She pointed out that a lot of officials working at the Municipality had graduated from the UNWE and the fact that according to the National Insurance Institute data 97% of the UNWE graduates quickly succeed to find a job meant that the academic staff had prepared qualified specialists and had worked out programmes corresponding to the business requirements. The Mayor of Sofia said that Sofia Municipality had opened the doors for trainees and could give a career chance for the UNWE graduates.
The Rector awarded the statuette of Prof. Stephan Bobchev – Founder and First Rector of UNWE to Yordanka Fandakova for her loyalty to the educational cause and respect to the academic traditions and higher education and science mission, for her dedicated work as a Mayor of Sofia, for her contribution to Sofia and to the development of cooperation between the UNWE and Sofia Municipality and on the occasion of the 95th Anniversary of UNWE.
 |
|
Prof. Stattev is awarding the prize to the Mayor of Sofia Municipality. |
In the Golden Book of UNWE Yordanka Fandakova wrote: “On the occasion of the 95th Anniversary of UNWE I wish lecturers and students at the eldest and most prestigious university have health, stability and success! Our city needs their professionalism and the scientific potential of the university but most of all it needs the well prepared young people to involve in the management and administration of the capital of the Republic of Bulgaria!”
The Rector Prof. D.Sc. (Econ.) Statty Stattev and the Mayor Yordanka Fandakova signed a Memorandum of Cooperation between the UNWE and Sofia Municipality.
 |
|
The signing of the Memorandum |
In his greeting speech Vladislav Goranov, Financial Minister and part-time lecturer at the UNWE outlined that the leading university had been not only responsible for the development of the country but it had also been “as an island of the qualitative education”. The mutual aid of institutions for the benefit of higher education should become more profound, pointed out the Minister. He wished the lecturers at the UNWE to be always so diligent and responsible to the knowledge they give to their students.
Minister Goranov read his epistle in the Golden Book of UNWE: “Over its 95 years of history the University of National and World Economy has confirmed itself as the main higher school which forms solidly prepared professionals for the Bulgarian economic and financial system. I am confident that in the context of the modern economic challenges to which Bulgaria is faced the UNWE will continue to prepare high qualified professionals who will guarantee the successful government of the national economy”.
The Rector Prof. D.Sc. (Econ.) Statty Stattev awarded the statuette of Prof. Stephan Bobchev – Founder and First Rector of UNWE to Vladislav Goranov for his understanding and support to the higher education and science, for his contribution to the cooperation between the UNWE and Ministry of Finance, for his respect to the academic traditions and values and on the occasion of the 95th Anniversary of UNWE.
 |
|
Prof. Stattev and Minister Goranov |
His Right Reverend Tiveriopol Bishop Tikhon outlined that the spirit should make the people keeping the balance between the need of economy and the exclusive materialization of our world. “We are nothing without our knowledge. Those who remember their teachers become the real successors of their knowledge. Those who honour their teachers have realized their sacrifice and learn to be thankful. Those who inherit the knowledge with thankfulness know that it must be multiplied and taught forward to the generations. The memory unites the people and makes them stronger. The forgetfulness makes the people lose their individuality and the people themselves will be forgotten. Those who gift knowledge and memory deserve glory”, wrote in the Golden Book of UNWE the Right Reverend Bishop.
The Rector awarded the statuette of Prof. Stephan Bobchev – Founder and First Rector of UNWE to His Right Reverend Tiveriopol Bishop Tikhon for his respect to the higher education and science and to the academic traditions and values of UNWE and on the occasion of the 95th Anniversary of UNWE (in the picture below).
 |
The Chairman of the Students Council Denis Dimitrov outlined in his greeting speech that the UNWE had been the most preferred university among young people in Bulgaria having traditionally the largest number of prospective students. He emphasized on the fact that at the UNWE had been established the first student organization after the changes which had become the base for establishing the student councils in all higher schools in the country.
For the university anniversary were received greeting addresses from a lot of universities, scientific organizations, state and business structures, graduates from the UNWE, etc.
The participants in the celebrations laid wreaths in front of the monument of Prof. Stephan Bobchev (in the picture below).
 |
The UNWE Museum was also opened through an official sanctification.
In the academic celebrations devoted to the 95th Anniversary of UNWE were included also the play “Who Are You” on the historical document signed by G. S. Rakovsky and the traditional May concert “Fairy-Tale World” performed by children from the Students Town Kindergarten.
