/ world today news/ Specially for KMG, we are talking to the rector of UNSS (University of National and World Economy), Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov, who introduces us to some basic aspects of the international cooperation of the most authoritative Bulgarian higher business educational institution, and in particular with relations with Chinese counterparts and the prospects for this interaction. Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov has been rector of UNSS since 2019, having previously held various leadership positions – dean of the “Economics of Infrastructure” faculty (2015-2019), head of the “National and Regional Security” department for 16 years . He himself graduated from the same university.
“UNSS is the largest, oldest and most authoritative business university not only in Bulgaria, but also in the whole of Southeast Europe. Established way back in 1920, since its establishment until now it has been a leader in Bulgarian education, as its graduates have been representatives of the Bulgarian and world elite,” says Prof. Dimitrov at the beginning of our conversation. He explains that the university also has specialized research centers and is a preferred place for young people who want to get a modern education and at the same time combine what they learn with practice. The university also has long-standing contacts with several Chinese higher education institutions.
Q. Prof. Dimitrov, please tell us more about the international cooperation of UNSS, with which countries in Europe and beyond do you have good relations or are you working on joint projects? What is the interest shown by young people from abroad in UNSS?
Prof. Dimitrov: We can divide the university’s international activity into several levels, the first of which is the well-known traditional international program “Erasmus+”, which exchanges students and teachers, mainly between European countries. At the same time, we also have mobility of teachers and employees outside the European Union. The other level that we have been developing especially lately is the participation of our university in the prestigious alliance of nine leading European business universities ENGAGE.EU – we are developing very serious cooperation with our colleagues from France, Italy, Austria, Germany, Norway, working on joint programs related to sharing educational resources, virtual mobilities and others. Virtual contacts were quite widely advocated during the covid-pandemic, but the trend remained and we will continue. The idea is that in the future this alliance will become a single structure like a European University with over 100,000 students, specializing in business studies. This is a big project and we just recently received confirmation that it will continue in the future.
The other traditional international activities of UNSS are related to the admission of foreign students. Of course, there are many peculiarities here, both for Bulgaria and for other countries. Language is also one of the influencing factors. And it seems that the section for joint dual programs between our university and some foreign universities is the most successful. Because it is quite a difficult task to attract foreign students – either from China or from other countries and precisely through the so-called dual programs implementation is now easier.
Q. Please tell me what programs you offer for foreign students and how willing young people from China can study at UNSS?
Prof. Dimitrov: We offer six bachelor’s programs in English and several more master’s programs, also in English. So, English proficiency is paramount and aspirants who come individually can enroll in these programs. They can study the Bulgarian language for one year, and then enroll. We also have such an opportunity.
Q. Tell us more specifically about cooperation with Chinese higher education institutions, what are the current practices and what prospects do you see?
Prof. Dimitrov: Regarding our relations with China, we have many good examples of successful dual programs. As one of the most recent examples, I give the Master’s program in International Business and Management taught in English. According to it, we have a very good virtual cooperation with the Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and we have been working for several years now. The program is included in the “International Economic Relations” department. Here in our country, students study for two semesters and then two semesters in Shanghai. During the Covid-pandemic, this training was online, but our idea is to have it in person. This is one feature that we will continue to develop from here on out.
Another program that has been running for several years now is a 4-year, undergraduate program in economics jointly with the Tianjin Foreign Studies University (TFSU). Several students are enrolled each year, and the program is run jointly between the two universities. Currently some of the students are in China.
We expect the first students from China to come in the autumn and study in Bulgaria. They will receive a double diploma – from the two rectors – from Bulgaria and from China. The teaching is in English and the interest in this program is quite high. Annually, about 100 students from China participate in it, and there are no Bulgarian students in it. Our professors from the Department of Economics and from other departments are quite active in conducting the lectures, and despite the time difference between the two countries and the problems of the covid-pandemic, the program has started and is already going well.
It is also important to say that not all students who enroll in this program will come to Bulgaria – they can continue their studies in China as well. But, most Chinese students will come to get their double diplomas – from Bulgaria and from China.
We have already held several special student award ceremonies in conjunction with Tianjin University, together with their parents, to properly mark the students’ progress.
Last year, together with H.E. Dong Xiaojun – Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China in Bulgaria, we opened one of our newest dormitories, in which the students from China are planned to be accommodated, and the conditions in them are very good. We also maintain constant contacts with the rector’s staff of the University of Tianjin. Together with your ambassador, we also opened a Management Center for the Dual Bachelor’s Program in Economics with Tianjin Foreign Language University (TFSU).
C. UNSS, together with colleagues from some Chinese universities, also works on a number of research programs. Can you introduce us to the more important ones?
Prof. Dimitrov: Yes, we also conduct scientific research, which is under the National Research Fund. Our colleagues have good relations and cooperation with the University of Shanghai, not long ago a Bulgarian delegation visited the university there and discussed various issues related to these studies. About two years ago, in our university, we even had a representative of the University of Shanghai, on a special project, who conducted Chinese language courses. But Covid-19 started and things stopped.
In practice, there are very good relations between the UNSS and our Chinese partners, which we will continue to develop because they have great potential.
Q. What are the most sought after majors and programs preferred by Chinese students?
Prof. Dimitrov: This is primarily the economics program – master’s and bachelor’s degrees. If there is another mechanism for them to come to Bulgaria or apply, the specialties could increase and be much more. We have an international program, also in English, on nuclear security – “Economics of Defense and Security” with specialization “Nuclear Security” taught in English, which is supported by the International Atomic Energy Agency. So far we have not had Chinese students, but we hope that the interest will increase, we have had students from Indonesia, from Vietnam, from almost all of Africa and from a number of Arab countries. I was personally in China in 2019 on behalf of the International Atomic Energy Agency and specifically on nuclear security, and then we visited their Nuclear Security Center of Excellence. And there we also discussed issues about Chinese students in our university. Since this program is quite specialized, it accepts one student from each country, and it is also in English.
C. UNSS recently concluded a Memorandum for joint activity with the Center for Promotion of Cooperation in Agriculture between China and CEE under the Ministry of Agriculture. Where do you see the place of the university and what do you foresee and expect as a result of this collaboration?
Prof. Dimitrov: As a business university, UNSS has at least a dozen specialties related to agrarian economy and business, we have several bachelor’s and master’s programs related to digitalization, information technology, innovation. We know that in all branches of the economy we have digitization and use of new technologies – this is characteristic of the global world in which we live.
Together with the director of the Center for the Promotion of Cooperation between China and CEE, Dr. Momchil Stanishev, we agree that this agreement provides new opportunities for the implementation of new forms of cooperation – for example, public lectures of our students, use of the expertise of the Center with us, but also to experts from China who come to Bulgaria on different occasions at the invitation of the Center and to participate in various events organized by it within the framework of the China-CEE Cooperation Initiative. This is a very good opportunity to strengthen cooperation, because there is a lot of potential – what agriculture and farming are facing is the need to digitize all processes. All this requires very good control and arrangement in the chain, and the business must know well the requirements and possibilities of digitization and new technologies. In my opinion, the task of a business university like UNSS is to be a part of all these activities. Here I would like to remind you that at the university we have the so-called Big data center It is the economy of big data that is the most relevant direction at the moment. And if we want everything we plan to happen, to have appropriate projects and things to develop consistently, our Center, which has a huge capacity, could actively participate in the digitalization of agriculture and farming not only in our country, but also in a number of other countries.
We are waiting for the launch of the Big Data Project, and in this direction, one of the important elements, especially for Bulgaria, is related to security issues – generally speaking. Road traffic, video surveillance, analysis of all these data can be included here.
Prof. Dimitrov added that UNSS is also a member of the “National Competence Center within the framework of EuroHPC JU phase 2”. The EuroCC2 project aims to develop in the most efficient way a network of national competence centers within all European countries in the field of HPC+ and artificial intelligence technologies. The ambitious goal at the European level is to build a capacity of technologies and competences to be provided as up-to-date services to help business, public administration and academia.
As a conclusion, I can say that we have good prospects for the development and combination of education and its practical application, and in this direction we also have the potential for good cooperation with China and the CEE countries.
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