The Recognition of UNWE As the IAEA Partner Center Was Marked with Special Plate Certifying the New Status

The UNWE is recognized as a Partner Center of the International Atomic Energy Agency /IAEA/ for cooperation in the field of nuclear security.

The Rector of UNWE Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov and the Chairman of the Bulgarian Nuclear Regulatory Agency /NRA/ Tsanko Bachiysky presented the IAEA plate certifying the status of the UNWE.

The UNWE has been designated as a IAEA Partner Center of the IAEA for the next four years by an agreement signed between the Rector of UNWE Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov and Karine Herviou, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Safety and Security. Its Head is Prof. Dr. Svetoslav Spasov, Director of the Center for Nuclear Security Support (PIAC), Director of the Institute for Enhancing Research Capacity in the Field of Nuclear Industry and Nuclear Security and Lecturer at the Department of National and Regional Security.

With this recognition the UNWE ranks among the few academic institutions in the world with such a status becoming the 4th center in Europe and the 12th in the world.

The Rector of UNWE Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov and the Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Agency Tsanko Bachiysy /from the right to the left/

Prof. Dr. Svetoslav Spasov, Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov, Asya Davidova, Director of the Security Policy Directorate, Ministry of Foreign Affairs /MFA/, Tsanko Bachiysky, Atanas Dobrev from the NRA and Momchil Ninov from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs /from the right to the left/

"The UNWE undertakes one of its most responsible missions – to be a bridge between the science, the education and international security. The designation of the UNWE as the IAEA Partner Center for Cooperation in the Field of Nuclear Security, as the 4th such center in Europe, is a recognition of our long-term efforts to prepare experts with vision, knowledge and high public responsibility", said the Rector Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov and outlined: "This confirms the role of the University as a place for sustainable education, expertise and international partnership in one of the most sensitive and strategic areas of the modern world".

"The designation of the UNWE as the IAEA Partner Centre for Cooperation in the Field of Nuclear Security is an important step for the establishment of Bulgaria as a reliable and responsible partner in the international nuclear security system. The University has accumulated experience, proven academic capacity and active international engagement, which are key to the effective cooperation between the regulatory institutions, the academic community and international organizations in nuclear risk management", said the Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Agency Tsanko Bachiysky.

According to the agreement, the UNWE will continue to train students in the International Master's Programme in Nuclear Security, as well as to carry out activities as a Nuclear Security Support Centre. The new center will host international meetings, training courses and seminars on topics such as small modular reactors, nuclear forensics, radiological crime scene management, as well as other aspects of nuclear security.

The UNWE has ten years of experience in this field. Since 2015, the University has trained more than 80 students from 15 countries in close cooperation with the IAEA, and last year marked the 10th Anniversary of its International Master's Programme in Nuclear Security.

As a center of the IAEA for cooperation, the UNWE plans to host annual meetings of the International Network for Training and Support in the Field of Nuclear Security and the International Network for Education in the Field of Nuclear Security, as well as an International Seminar for Human Resources Development in the Planning of Nuclear Security Programmes.

In 2025, two new IAEA nuclear security cooperation centers were designated, in Canada and France, and two extension agreements were signed with centers in China and Morocco. The total number of the active IAEA nuclear security cooperation centers is currently 15.

Before the event, the Rector held a meeting with the official guests.