For seventh time the graduates of the Entrepreneurship specialty received their diplomas. The Graduation ceremony took place on December 4, 2017 in the Ceremonial Hall of the UNWE. The graduation coincided with 10 years since the creation of the Entrepreneurshi" specialty and the 20th anniversary of the Institute of Entrepreneurship at the University of National and World Economy.

Traditionally, the diplomas were handed out by officially invited guests presenting businesses and supporting institutions and organizations. At this year's ceremony they were:

• Dipl. eng. Ilia Keleshev, Chairman of the Bulgarian Branch Chamber - Machine Building,
• Mr. Lubomir Ganchev, Advisor to the Minister of Economy,
• Prof. Dr. Mitko Dimitrov, ex-director of the Economic Research Institute of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences,
• Dr. Kiril Grigorov, Governor of the Municipal Guarantee Fund for SMEs of the Sofia Municipality,
• Mr. Stefan Gugushev, Attorney-at-Law, Chairman of the Family Business Association - Bulgaria,
• Mr. Stamen Tassev, Executve Director of the Indian-Bulgarian Business Chamber,
• Mr. Zheng Zhong, owner of Terraland Group,
• Mr. Vladislav Ivanov, Attaché at the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Bulgaria,

• Mr. Lubomir Varbanov, Entrepreneur, outstanding graduate of the first class of Entrepreneurship specialty.

A sure sign of the recognition of the importance of the ten-year specialty and the interest in it was the significant presence of many parents and friends of the graduates, for whom it was difficult to find a place in the hall.

The ceremony was opened by Assoc. Prof. Kostadin Kolarov, Head of the Department of Entrepreneurship, who gave the floor for the welcoming speech of the creator and honorary Head of the Department and Entrepreneurship specialty Prof. Kiril Todorov, Vice-President for Bulgaria of the European Council of Small Business and Entrepreneurship and Chairman of the Management Board of the Bulgarian Association for Management Development and Entrepreneurship. Prof. Todorov in his speech addressed the long, difficult and yet successful way of preparing and creating the specialty and its ten-year development as the only one in the country and among the few in the European Union. It is particularly important that training in entrepreneurship in the specialty has international recognition, including as a good practice, recognized by the leading accreditation institution  the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD), Brussels. Along with the bachelor programme Prof. Todorov presented the advantages of the Master Programme in Family Entrepreneurship and the PhD in Entrepreneurship. Highlights in the speech were on the prospects of graduates as present and future entrepreneurs.

Mr. Lubomir Ganchev, Advisor to the Minister of Economy, pointed out the role of the Ministry of Economy to support young entrepreneurs and presented the latest grant program for start-ups with growth potential, whose budget allows the support of about 400 start-up projects of business.

Each of the official guests presented their greetings, guidance and wishes to the graduates, reflecting their specific personal and institutional experience and position.

Along with the diplomas, the graduates received a symbolic gift from the Department of Entrepreneurship - a specially engraved pen, with which to sign their first business contract.

After the ceremony, a DJ party was organized, where the joyful emotions of graduation and future intentions were shared in an informal atmosphere.

Prof. Kiril Todorov and Assoc. Prof. Kostadin Kolarov at the opening of the ceremony

Prof. Kiril Todorov presenting the long way in the promotion of entrepreneurship education, specialty and department at UNWE. In the Presidium (right to the left) - Mr. Iliya Keleshev, Chairman of the Bulgarian Branch Chamber - Machine Building and Mr. Lubomir Ganchev, Advisor to the Minister of Economy.

Ceremonial Hall Sitting - parents and relatives, in the background - graduates

 

Ceremonial Hall. 
On the first line - the guests of the event - entrepreneurs and representatives of institutions

 

At the forefront - future female entrepreneurs

 

Mr. Ilia Keleshev handing in a diploma

 

Mr. Lubomir Ganchev and Prof. Kiril Todorov handing in a diploma

 

Prof. Mitko Dimitrov, long-time director of the Economic Research Institute of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, welcomes the graduates before to hand in diplomas

Dr. Kiril Grigorov, Governor of Municipal Guarantee Fund for SME of Sofia Municipality, handing out diplomas

Mr. Stefan Gugushev, Attorney-at-Law, Chairman of the Family Business Association in Bulgaria, greeting the graduates

Mr. Stamen Tassev, Executive Director of the Indian-Bulgarian Business Chamber, handing in a diploma

 

Mr. Zheng Zhong, a Chinese entrepreneur, introduced the graduates to the entrepreneur's career

The joy of graduates

 

Prof. Kiril Todorov in a conversation with Mrs. Pamela Naidenova and Mr. Lubomir Ganchev,
Advisors to the Minister of Economy

Mr. Vladislav Ivanov, Attaché at the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Bulgaria,
handing in diplomas

 

Mr. Lubomir Varbanov, outstanding graduate of the first class of Entrepreneurship, shares his experience with the graduates