The Regional Centre for Distance Learning in Haskovo, part of the Sofia University of National and World Economy (UNWE), has implemented several European projects in recent years, Dr. Daniela Stoyanova, PR Coordinator at the centre and part-time lecturer, said during a local conference held here on Wednesday. The event was part of BTA’s Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills project.
Stoyanova noted that one project the regional centre has implemented is under the Bulgaria - Greece cross-border cooperation programme and encourages not only UNWE students, but also entrepreneurs from Haskovo Region to increase their business potential and develop certain entrepreneurial initiatives in the cross-border zones of Bulgaria and Greece.
“Its goal is to encourage entrepreneurship by supporting innovative ideas in the cross-border region,” Stoyanova stated, adding that the leading organization is the Alexandria Innovation Zone, while the UNWE, the Aristotle Faculty of Economics in Thessaloniki and the Industrial Zones National Company are partners of the project, which is worth EUR 85,000 and funded under the INTERREG Greece - Bulgaria 2014-2020 programme. As part of this project, master classes were held in two modules in 2022 and 2023. “Initially, they were intended for our students, but in the process of work we expanded the audience and many young people from the region, as well as students from other universities, got involved,” she noted. The graduates of these classes also received special certificates from UNWE.
The regional centre has also implemented a project for the exchange of teachers with the University of Peloponnese, and is currently launching a UNWE project for international training, which will be held at the University of Malta. Stoyanova emphasised that the regional centre is a significant institution that provides an opportunity for young people to upgrade their education and improve their qualifications. "In this way, we work to retain young people in Haskovo, so that they remain and realize their abilities (here)," she pointed out.
Stoyanova added that BTA, as one of the largest public media, has a main function to inform, but also to educate. "In this sense, the UNWE and BTA have a common goal, namely for knowledge to reach a large number of the public", she concluded.
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.
