ENGAGE.EU UNWE Study Tour 2026: NextGen Entrepreneurs

The UNWE welcomed a delegation of international students within the framework of the ENGAGE.EU Study Tour: NextGen Entrepreneurs training programпе. The three-day initiative brought together 30 participants from nine ENGAGE.EU partner universities, creating a dynamic environment for collaboration, learning and entrepreneurial experimentation.

This year’s Study Tour combined academic knowledge, practical teamwork and cultural exploration. The initiative aimed to equip the students with the necessary mindsets and tools to successfully navigate today’s rapidly changing entrepreneurial environment, while encouraging them to consider their role as future drivers of change in Europe.

The programпе started on 17 June 2026 with a warm welcome at the UNWE. The participants were welcomed by experts from the international team of the University, and the event was officially opened by the UNWE Vice Rector for International Affairs Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yanko Hristozov.

The first day began with the UNWE Hunt – a campus treasure hunt that took place in the Open Space of Campus K and gave the participants the opportunity to get to know each other and the University.

The day continued with an academic session on the basics of entrepreneurship and the European perspective presented by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zornitsa Yordanova, who introduced the participants to the key challenges faced by the entrepreneurs. This was not a motivational lecture filled with stories about success, but a session that looked at failure as a natural part of the learning process – an approach that the participants clearly appreciated.

Then the students then began working on their group projects. Their task was to develop entrepreneurial ideas in teams. In the introductory session, they defined their roles and drew up team agreements, and it was these teams that became the main units through which ideas were developed and refined.

The second day’s programme included Academic Session 2, dedicated to the entrepreneurial challenges.  It was led by Doctoral student Iliyan Boychev from the UNWE Economcis of Trade Department, who presented a comprehensive overview of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Bulgaria. The insider view – where the opportunities are hide, what structural challenges exist, and how the local startup ecosystem actually functions – was extremely valuable for the international participants.

Chief Assist. Dr. Christian Zhelev presented Academic Session 3 - Programmes at the UNWE and Entrepreneurial Initiatives in Bulgaria, and Nadia Manova – representative of the Board of Leaders at UNWE, introduced the participants to the initiatives implemented so far, and the upcoming student projects.

The second day provided another session – Engaging Public Presence. It was led by improv coach and entrepreneur Zlatin Tsvetkov, who introduced the participants to practices for effective presentation and communication of ideas. With a professional approach and constructive feedback, he prepared the teams for their upcoming presentations. The teams had already made significant progress in developing their concepts, and were preparing for the final stage of the programme – the presentation of the projects.

The day ended with the Cultural Mixer social program, within which the participants had the opportunity to experience Bulgarian culture through folk dances, music, and nestinar performances.

The last day began with final adjustments to student projects focused on social entrepreneurship, local impact and sustainable solutions. Each team had the opportunity to present their idea to a jury and demonstrate not only the viability of the concept, but also the ability to communicate it clearly and convincingly.

The evaluation process highlighted the variety of ideas developed during the Study Tour – from socially oriented initiatives to innovative business solutions aimed at overcoming contemporary challenges.

The big winners are the participants who formed the Red Team, who developed the idea of the Health Stick – a device that checks whether meat and dairy products are edible, under the motto Know before You Throw.

The programme concluded with a feedback session and an awards ceremony led by the ENGAGE.EU Institutional Coordinator Assoc. Prof. D.Sc. Mihail Musov. He greeteed the participants on the progress made over the three days, as well as the team of the International Affair Directorate for the impeccable organization of Study Tour Sofia. A group photo captured the spirit of this energetic and forward-looking ENGAGE.EU event.

Photogallery Ceremony on Awarding the Certificates

Outside the university environment, the programme provided participants with the opportunity to explore Sofia through a city safari and treasure hunt, organized with the support of Erasmus Student Network. The initiativepresented the city’s cultural wealth and historical heritage, fostered teamwork and problem-solving skills in an informal setting.

The ENGAGE.EU Study Tour: NextGen Entrepreneurs held at the UNWE was much more than an academic programme. It was an experience that brought together different perspectives, encouraged experimentation, and created a sense of shared purpose among the participants. By combining academic expertise, practical workshops, and cultural exchange, the initiative demonstrated the importance of international cooperation in shaping the next generation of entrepreneurs. For the students who took part in the Study Tour, the three days in Sofia were an opportunity not only to develop their ideas, but also to build confidence, broaden their horizons, and become part of the European community of the ENGAGE.EU university alliance, united by the pursuit of information and significant societal impact.

Through its initiatives, the ENGAGE.EU university alliance constantly creates new opportunities for students from partner universities, and programs such as Study Tour play a key role in preparing young people to be leaders, creators and active participants in civil society.