Family Entrepreneurship

The Master Degree Programme in Family Entrepreneurship is created:

In response to the growing role of the family business (FB) in the economy and society, taking into account the specific characteristics and needs of the family business, especially in management, development and succession;
On the base of many years of accumulated experience in research, training, consulting entrepreneurship (including family businesses) and in particular in Entrepreneurship bachelor degree programme at the UNWE.

The programme targets that the master students:

To gain knowledge and skills for a dynamic competitive behavior, including international business environment;
To get acquainted with the latest developments in research and consulting in the field of family business;
To understand and manage relationships within families, between family and business, family (majority) and minority (non-familial) shareholders;
To understand and implement the processes of management and development of family businesses as well as internationalization of their activities;
To know, plan and manage the process of succession / inheritance in family firms.

The means of achieving the objectives of the programme include:

Embedding in different disciplines domestic and foreign research results, statistics and analyzes;
Using interactive teaching methods such as management discussion, role games, case study methods, management games, simulations; "face to face" discussions with active entrepreneurs and foreign lecturers, practical experience in family companies, etc.;
Using modern technical equipment such as computer systems, multimedia systems, recording systems, techniques for virtual seminars, etc.

Knowledge and skills to ensure a successful and competitive realization of graduates

Knowledge:

About the role, importance and dynamics of FB in the economy, society and the international business context;
Prerequisites and conditions for a successful launch, management and development of a family business;
Interpersonal relationships and prevention / resolution of conflicts arising in FB;
The main sources of funding / lending and investment in FB;
Successful internationalization FB;
The main phases of the process of succession / inheritance of family business.

Skills:

Analysis and evaluation of the processes and events in the economy and society, problems and opportunities for / of FB
Considering the advantages and disadvantages of particular starting up of a FB;
Management and development of family firms taking into account the specificities and peculiarities in the application of appropriate approaches, forms and instruments;
Analysis and evaluation of interpersonal relationships within the family, between family and business, conflict prevention / management;
Analysis, evaluation, planning and management of the process of succession / inheritance in FB;
Adaptation of foreign good practice in FB accounting with the Bulgarian specific conditions;
Participation in / building business networks, including international involving FB.

Areas of career

Succesful master programme graduates can work as:

Participants and continuers / successors of the family company from which they arise.
Founders of the first generation of their own FB, keeping participation / disengaging from the family mother firm.
Participants in the different structures serving FB (boards, boards of directors, associations, etc.).
Consultants in management, development and succession / inheritance of FB.
Experts, managers and policy makers in various government and non-governmental organizations supporting entrepreneurship, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and FB.
Developers, coordinators and managers of national and international projects in the field of entrepreneurship, SMEs and FB.