AI has turned things around and those who ask the right questions to get the right answers will be successful, Varna University of Economics Rector Prof Evgeni Stanimirov said during a local conference as part of BTA's Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills project. The conference took place at the BTA National Press Club here on Monday.
Stanimirov added that the emphasis should now be on skills, and not so much on knowledge, as recent studies show that knowledge becomes obsolete within 18 months. He stated that the university is participating as a beneficiary or partner in 18 projects, adding that the last four projects were approved at the end of 2024 and are worth a total of over BGN 2 million. The rector noted that for the programming period 2021 – 2024, the university has attracted over BGN 5.1 million in projects.
He presented two of the university's projects, whose target groups are people working in the field of tourism and IT and are funded under the Education programme. 14 doctoral-level courses are also to be developed, and trainings are planned for the academic staff to upgrade their teaching skills and the training of doctoral students. The university is awaiting the launch of the project From Higher Education to Employment, funded under the Education programme, which, in addition to familiar practices in a working environment for students, also raises the topic of dual training in higher education, Stanimirov emphasised.
He stressed that the university also plans to upgrade its alumni tracking system. “Currently, an electronic environment has been created at the Varna University of Economics for interaction between our successful graduates and students, which works as a bridge between generations and continues the idea of the Society of Graduates of the Higher School of Commerce in Varna, founded for a period of 99 years on July 12, 1930, which is unprecedented among higher education institutions,” Stanimirov stated. He said that for three years now, students from the university have been successfully participating in the ConSIMium project of the Council of the EU, which is taking place in Brussels.
Stanimirov also added that the modernization of the university's library is imminent, which is the second-oldest and largest scientific library in Bulgaria after that of the Sofia University. The approved funding for the project is worth BGN 460,000 leva. The basis is interaction, Stanimirov concluded, adding that this is the fastest track for the transfer of know-how. "It is imperative to free ourselves from thinking based on old operating models," the rector emphasised.
BTA's Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills project aims to raise public awareness and foster open dialogue about cohesion policy, local achievements, and the implementation of the EU's policy priorities. The project kicked off with a conference in Veliki Preslav in November 2024. The schedule of conferences until the end of September 2025 includes events in the following cities: Blagoevgrad, Burgas, Varna, Veliko Tarnovo, Vidin, Vratsa, Gabrovo, Dobrich, Kazanlak, Kardzhali, Kyustendil, Lovech, Montana, Pazardzhik, Pernik, Pleven, Razgrad, Ruse, Samokov, Svishtov, Sliven, Smolyan, Sofia, Stara Zagora, Troyan, Targovishte, Haskovo, Shumen, and Yambol. Cross-border conferences will be held in Belgrade, Bosilegrad, Bucharest, Edirne, Skopje, and Thessaloniki. The project builds on the Europe in the Balkans: A Common Future and Europe in Bulgaria: A Common Future projects, implemented by BTA in 2023 and 2024, respectively.
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