UNWE No.1
A Leader in the Higher Education
The University of National and World Economy /UNWE/ is the eldest, the most prestigious and the largest business university in Bulgaria and Southeast Europe. The academic leadership has set as its leading goal - the University, as always before, to prepare the elite of our country, to be a leader in the Bulgarian higher education, an integral part of the European educational and research space and a preferred place for the young people who want to get a modern education, to provide competitive educational services.
The UNWE is also a leader in the ranking of the professional fields of the higher education institutions in the country that give their graduates the chance for the best income. According to the data of the National Social Security Institute /NSSI/ 97,5 percent of the graduates of UNWE find professional realized at the labour market. Many of UNWE graduates occupy high positions in the public administration and business. The state and private employers recognize the UNWE diploma as a guarantee of excellent education and high professionalism of its graduates.
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UNWE No.1
The UNWE was awarded by the National Evaluation and Accreditation Agency /NEAA/ the highest score - 9.80 among all Bulgarian universities. The NEAA assessment is valid until 14 December 2029. The institutional accreditation along with the rating of the higher education institutions is the most important attestation of the quality of education in the respective higher education institution. It is an assessment not only of the educational process, but of everything the institution itself provides from the moment of the start of studies until graduation. The evaluation certificate was awarded to the Rector of the UNWE Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov by the President of the National Evaluation and Accreditation Agency Prof. Eliza Stefanova.
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For a consecutive year the UNWE won the Academic Oscar. The rating system of higher education institutions defines the University as "Higher Education Institution with the highest institutional accreditation according to the NEAA and the most prestigious higher education institution in the professional field of Economics according to employers and lecturers in the higher education institutions". The prize was awarded by Anna Pancheva, Recruitment and Employer Brand Manager at Kaufland Bulgaria.
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The UNWE is the first Bulgarian higher education institution certified for information security on ISO 27001:2022. This international standard ensures that the University meets all legal requirements regarding the information security as well as the best global practices in the area. The certificate was was awarded to the Rector of the UNWE Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov by the Manager of Bureau Veritas Bulgaria Stanimir Smilkov.
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UNWE Graduates in the National and World Elite
In its 105-year history the UNWE lecturers and graduates have always been prominent scientists, statesmen, prime ministers, ministers, MPs, politicians, ambassadors, representatives in the government, business and non-governmental sectors, representatives of our country in prestigious international organizations and financial institutions, mayors, public figures, businessmen, bankers, etc. Among them is the first Bulgarian Commissioner after the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, the first Bulgarian Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, the first Bulgarian Director General of Eurostat.
Over the years there have been 10 Prime Ministers of Bulgaria graduated from the UNWE, including the first woman Prime Minister. Among the graduates of UNWE are also 4 Presidents of the National Assembly, 108 Ministers and 10 Governors of the Bulgarian National Bank. Their names are engraved on the Wall of Fame in the University lobby.
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The UNWE was established in 1920 by 11 prominent professors, businessmen and public figures, historians, sociologists and lawyers as the Free University of Political and Economic Sciences. The founder and first Rector was Prof. Stefan Bobchev - European graduate, patriot, Minister of National Enlightment, associate member of several foreign academies of sciences. In 1940 the Free University of Political and Economic Sciences was transformed into the State Higher School of Financial and Administrative Sciences. In 1947 it was transformed into the Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences at Sofia University. In 1952 the independence of the University was restored under the name Higher Economic Institute /HEI/ and in 1953 it was named Karl Marx Higher Economic Institute. In 1990 Karl Marx Higher Economic Institute was transformed into the University of National and World Economy by the Decision of the National Assembly.
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The Academic Council of the Free University until 1928-1929: In the first row from the left to the right: Prof. D. Mishaykov, Prof. P. Stoyanov, Dr. N. Ivanov In the second row from the left to the right. Prof. A. Ishirkov, Prof. T. Kulev, Prof. Stephan Bobchev, Prof. P. Bogaevsky |
Mission and Vision
The UNWE forms highly educated individuals who lead the society towards a more perfect, humane and sustainable world. It is responsible for maintaining and developing a highly talented academic staff of distinguished, nationally and internationally recognized lecturers and scholars. The University has a moral responsibility to establish and develop itself as an undisputable, respected and valuable part of the national and European educational and research area.
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The New Century
The UNWE has eight Faculties: General Economics, Finance and Accounting, Management and Administration, Economics of Infrastructure, International Economics and Politics, Applied Informatics and Statistics, Business Faculty and Law Faculty; 36 Departments; 4 Institutes; 32 Research Centers, etc.
There are 871 full-time and visiting lecturers.
The University has a quality management system for education certified by NQA according to the International Standard ISO 9001:2015.
The UNWE has high competitive positions. Nearly 19 thousand students study at the UNWE in 53 Bachelor's and over 90 Master's degree programmes, the latter are divided into 5 Professional Fields: Economics; Administration and Management; Political Science; Sociology, Anthropology and Cultural Studies; Public Communications and Information Science.
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Projects
The UNWE successfully implemented a project with European funding for the digitalization of economic education - Economic Education in Bulgaria 2030 under the EU procedure Modernization of Higher Education Institutions.
The UNWE participates in the project Digitalization of the Economy in a Big Data Environment with an objective to build a Research Centre of Competence on the Digitalization of the Economy in a Big Data Environment. The main computing resources will be located on the territory of UNWE and will connect with the systems of the partner universities from home and abroad and the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.
UNWE is part of the global project of the European economic universities - ENGAGE.EU, which implements joint training programmes and research networks in partnership with eight of the leading European universities in the field of Economics and Social Sciences. These are the University of Mannheim /Germany/, LUISS University /Italy/, NHH Norwegian School of Economics /Norway/, Tilburg University /Netherlands/, University of Toulouse 1 Capitol /France/, WU Vienna University of Economics and Business /Austria/, Universitat Ramon Llull /Spain/ and Hanken School of Economics /Finland/. The established university network ENGAGE.EU provides various opportunities for scientific events and projects in the broad field of social initiatives and solving various current challenges. The new platform, aimed at researchers, identifies eight main themes on which the representatives of the nine partner universities can collaborate.
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The UNWE cooperates with nearly 180 universities and research networks from all over the world, with which it works on joint Master's degree programmes and research projects, exchange of students and lecturers, etc.
It is incorporated a credit system which provides the opportunity for student mobility both between the different specialties and to other universities in the country and abroad.
The University has one of the highest annual assessments according to the policies set by the Ministry of Education and Science.
Joint Master's degree programmes with universities in the country are provided – with Dimitar Tsenov Academy of Economics, Svishtov, Thracian University, Stara Zagora, Vasil Levski National Sports Academy, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University of Veliko Tarnovo, agreements with other universities are also provisioned.
The UNWE supports, organizes and coordinates the participation of students in the international exchange under the EU Erasmus+ Programme, providing them with the opportunity to study for one or two semesters in universities from 30 European countries. The mobility is implemented on the basis of concluded bilateral agreements for student exchange between the UNWE and the partner universities that have adopted the Erasmus+ University Charter.
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Double Master`s Degree Programmes
The University has new dual Master's degree programmes that provide the opportunity to obtain diplomas from the world-renowned universities, including leaders in the international MBA education. The joint programmes with Northern Illinois University /USA/, Abertay University in Scotland, the University of International Studies /Italy/ and with Shanghai Zhao Tong University /China/ enable graduates to obtain diplomas from both universities. The training is face-to-face and it is conducted at the UNWE by joint teams of lecturers.
The establishment of a new university network under the auspices of UNESCO with the UNWE as its center is under preparation.
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Doctor Honoris Causa of UNWE
Holders of the honorary title of Doctor Honoris Causa of UNWE are prestigious personalities from Europe and the USA, including Prof. Joseph Stiglitz and Prof. Paul Krugman, winners of the Nobel Prize in Economics, Franz Fischler, European Commissioner for Agriculture, Prof. Václav Klaus, President of the Czech Republic, Prof. Danuta Hubner, European Commissioner, Prof. Francis Gurry, Director-General of the World Intellectual Property Organization, Jean-Claude Trichet, Governor of the European Central Bank, Prof. Taleb Rifai, Secretary General of the UN World Tourism Organization, Irina Bokova, Director General of UNESCO, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the IMF, Valdis Dombrovskis, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, Dimitar Radev, Governor of the BNB, Prof. Thomas Puhl, President of the Governing Board of the European University Alliance ENGAGE.EU, etc.
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Guests and lecturers
Over the years, guests to the UNWE have been the President Rumen Radev, the Minister of Energy Rosen Hristov, the former Prime Minister of Greece Georgios Papandreou, the American diplomat Jonathan Bayat, Head of the Administrative Section of the US Embassy in Bulgaria, the Ambassador of South Africa to Bulgaria H. E. Mr. Thabo Tahe, Mr. Seamus Boland, President of Group III - Civil Society Organizations in the European Economic and Social Committee and many other important public figures.
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Guest lecturers at the UNWE have always been prominent personalities from the government of the state and business such as the Vice President Iliana Iotova, the Minister of Tourism Dr. Ilin Dimitrov, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy /2001-2003/ Nikolay Vassilev, the Head of the European Investment Bank Office in Bulgaria Teodor Radonov, the Head of the European Commission Representation in Croatia Ognian Zlatev, experts from the IBM Bulgaria, the Director General of BTA Kiril Valchev. Lectures to students have also delivered Their Excellencies the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain in Bulgaria Alejandro Polanco Mata, the Ambassador of the Republic of Argentina in Bulgaria Alfredo Atanasoff, the Ambassador of the Czech Republic in Bulgaria Lukáš Kautsky, etc.
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Our Joint Home
In the building of the UNWE there are 120 auditoriums, computer halls and offices, 367 study rooms, Maxima Aula and Ceremonial Hall, where the graduates receive their diplomas, modern conference and scientific halls, the first in Bulgaria University Center for all the year-round admission of documents, the only one of its kind in the country Test Center for electronic entrance, semester and state exams with 1000 computers, Publishing Complex, bookstore, bank branch, etc.
From 2021 a modern campus is also used for study activities and its building is a new generation of construction and approaches the passive buildings in energy efficiency.
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The University Library has 100 computer seats with free Internet access and an electronic library. The large-scale renovation has transformed the Library into a modern center for information and knowledge and for the provision of modern services for students and lecturers.
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The University also has attractive places to eat and relax.
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Cultural Centеr
The UNWE develops also as a cultural center in the Student Town. A number of events are held, such as the theatrical production On Folk Art by Kamen Donev, the popular Bulgarian film In the Heart of the Machine, the documentary Morality is Good, the Bulgarian film Gundi - Legend of Love, which is at first place in the ranking of the most watched films in Bulgaria /over 500 000 viewers/, overcoming the world cinema icons such as Avatar 2: The Nature of Water /475,823 viewers/, Avatar /474,403 viewers/ and Titanic /458,729 viewers/, the concert of Lyubo Kirov, the music and poetry show The Spirit Makes the Power, etc. It is also a tradition to hold a University Book Week, to organize exhibitions, poetry recitals and celebrations on the occasion of Baba Marta, Christmas, etc.
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Our Student Dormitories
The University has 12 student blocks for 5100 students, and the blocks are constantly being renovated. The new Video Surveillance Centre ensures the safety of residents. Payment of rent and supplies is easy and convenient via the Web Student Information System.
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Four of the student blocks are in the Family Dormitories category and two of them have specially equipped children's rooms.
The Student Canteens and Dormitories Units is proud of providing comfortable conditions for living and resting and opportunity to continue the learning process outside the auditorium.
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The UNWE is an institution committed to a sustainable future. A number of energy efficiency projects have been implemented in various faculties, units and dormitories. Our university is also the coordinator of the National Sustainable Development Solutions Network SDSN Bulgaria, established by the United Nations to promote the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals of the world organization.
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The UNWE has two photovoltaic parks built on the roof and parking lot of the university building that makes it the first Bulgarian energy independent university with a Smart Home System for managing these resources.
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There are also charging stations for electric cars.
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Digitalization and Cyber Security
UNWE is the Bulgarian university with the highest degree of digitalization of educational, research and administrative activities. The educational process is supported by computer systems. Conditions for innovative scientific research have been created.
All processes have been digitized - from the online admissions to the ranking and enrolment. The application process for student dormitories has also been digitized. Students use 21 online services and they are the first students in Bulgaria receiving an electronic Student File, which is already in the phone. It can optionally be combined with an international bank card and the International Student Identification Card /ISIC/. A computerized student services system and a digital Register Book have been set up at the UNWE, and the University is also the first one issuing an e-certificate, which is included in the state register of e-services.
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A digital assistant from the category of social robot and attraction is assigned to the "staff" to provide information and support the educational process.
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Career Development
At the UNWE operates the first and the only Inter-University Centre for Career Development /ICCD/ in Bulgaria with 20 years of history, which has three Units - Career and Professional Development, University - Business and Specialized Unit for Practical Training. The Center supports the career guidance and practical training of students as well as their career development and realization.
Through their registration on the ICCD website, each student could apply for the advertised internship and job positions as well as receive information about the current competitions, scholarships and events. The application can be done directly from the student's profile in the system. Several career forums demanded by the business community are held each year at the UNWE.
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StartUpHub
The first of its kind university center supporting the student entrepreneurship - StartUpHub – also operates at the UNWE.
The best projects have the opportunity to receive funding from the Fund of Funds.
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Alumni
In 2020, the UNWE Alumni Center was established to engage former and current alumni of the University through professional, scientific, cultural, sports and other initiatives. The Center organizes an event Made in UNWE with the participation of authoritative personalities and established figures in the business community who are alumni of our University.
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