UNWE Welcomed 62 Participants from 9 Countries for the First ENGAGE.EU Student Conference
The first ever ENGAGE.EU Student Conference took place between April 3-5 at the University of National and World Economy. The Bulgarian partner in our Alliance welcomed 62 participants from 9 countries during the official opening in UNWE’s Conference Hall. Among them are the participants in the conference, the winners of the Alliance’s online student competition, members of the Board of Learners, and volunteers from UNWE.
During the opening ceremony the participants were greeted by the Rector of the hosting University, Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov, the Secretary General of the Alliance, Sabine Sainte-Rose, the Institutional Coordinator of ENGAGE.EU at UNWE, Assoc. Prof. D. Sc. Michael Musov, the Chairperson of the Student Council at UNWE, Mr. Iliyan Chabukliyski, the Chair of the Board of Learners at ENGAGE.EU, Giulia Tranchina, and the main organizer of the conference, Daniel Zhelyazkov, a BoL member from UNWE.
Rector Prof. Dimitrov welcomed the participants: “Dear students, dear guests, it is my pleasure to welcome you to UNWE for the First Student Conference within the framework of ENGAGE.EU. This year we celebrate the 105th anniversary of the University and I am glad that this event is part of its celebration. This year we remember the successes of our alumni, who are now ministers, hold important positions in international organizations and in business. But their path began as students – just like you. So, we will expect you to repeat and surpass their successes in the future and make us proud. I am happy that you showed initiative to participate in this conference and I believe that uniting so many students from leading business universities in Europe will be a step forward for everyone. Your presence fulfils the main goal of our Alliance – joint work, European values and future development.”
Sabine Sainte-Rose, Secretary General of ENGAGE.EU added: “My heart is full to see so many participants and their enthusiasm and commitment. We are building an Alliance that is a huge and complex machine, but our ultimate goal is global citizenship. This is a concept that is often misunderstood – that it is elitist and only valid for a select few, but I am glad that you are making it accessible and spreading it to everyone. I strongly believe that international education has a role to play in building a better world.”
The ENGAGE.EU Institutional Coordinator for the UNWE, Assoc. Prof. D. Sc. Michael Musov also welcomed the participants: “Our university is the proud host of this first edition of the student conference, uniting students from all universities in the alliance. You already know the motto of UNWE – “The spirit makes the power”. But why does it say exactly that? Because the spirit can be transmitted to students only by people who carry it within themselves. These are my colleagues at the University, as well as our guests today.”
The first session included the keynote presentations – by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Svetla Boneva, who presented to the students the topic Emigration of Young People – a Problem or an Opportunity for Bulgaria’s Economic Future, and Sabine Saint-Rose on issues related to Introduction to European Perspectives: European Universities in a Shifting World and Leading and Speaking across Cultures.
During the two days of the conference, the students continued discussions and joint work on non-verbal communication, public speaking and debates with Prof. Ignacio Rigau, as well as collaboration and work in an international environment with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Plamen Ralchev, Head of the Department of International Relations at the UNWE. At farewell, the gathered for a party where they also observed some local traditions, music and dances.
