SDSN Bulgaria и SDSN Romania held an international roundtable

An international roundtable discussion on “SDG Implementation: Local Solutions and the Role of Universities” was held at the University of National and World Economy (UNWE), jointly organized by SDSN Bulgaria and SDSN Romania. The event brought together more than 50 participants from the UNWE, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, VUZF, and Bucharest University of Economic Studies.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Elena Preda, Sen. Assist. Prof. Dr. Atanas Dimitrov, Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sc. Michael Musov and Sen. Assist. Prof. Dr. Gabriela Naskova (from left to right)

Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov – Rector of the University of National and World Economy and Co-Chair of SDSN Bulgaria, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Elena Preda, Manager of SDSN Romania, welcomed the audience. In his words Prof. Dimitrov presented the achievements of UNWE in the field of sustainable development, highlighting the importance of the SDGs for the entire society.

The event was moderated by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sc. Mihael Musov – Co-Chair of SDSN Bulgaria.

Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov, Rector of the University of National and World Economy and Co-Chair of SDSN Bulgaria, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Elena Preda, Manager of SDSN Romania

The event was divided into two panels. The first part focused on the role of universities in achieving the SDGs. The following participants made presentations:

• Prof. Dr. Virginia Zhelyazkova – Head of the International Economics Section at the Institute for Economic Research of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and Professor at VUZF, gave a presentation on the topic “Empowering Circular Economy through Academia: The Role of Universities in Advancing SDGs in Bulgaria and Romania”.
• Prof. Dr. Svetlana Aleksandrova-Zlatanska – Lecturer at the Department of International and Business Studies at the University of National and World Economy, presented current issues in the field of “Climate Change and Sustainable Development”.
• Assoc. Prof. Dr. Elena Preda, Manager of SDSN Romania, presented her point of view on the issue “Teaching for Tomorrow: Sustainability in Business and Economics. The Role of SDSN”
• Sen. Assist. Prof. Dr. Atanas Dimitrov – Manager of SDSN Bulgaria, shared the results of his research on the topic “Promoting Sustainable Development Through Higher Education”.

In the panel “Local Solutions”, an online presentation on the topic “Implementing Objectives of the EU Mission Restore Our Ocean and Waters” was made by Ms. Carmen Neagu, Advisor at the Ministry of Environment, Water and Forestry of the Republic of Romania. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vasil Petkov – Head of the Department of “International Economic Relations and Business”, Senior Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gabriela Naskova – Manager of SDSN Bulgaria, Ilina Mutafchieva – PhD student in the Department of “International Economic Relations and Business”, Nikolay Boshnakov – PhD student in the Department of “Private Legal Sciences” of the UNWE, PhD students, and undergraduate students from the Bucharest University of Economic Studies.

More joint activities are ahead of the two SDSN networks, including educational exchange and joint research projects.

The management of SDSN Bulgaria expresses its gratitude to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Maria Peneva, lecturer in the Department of Natural Resources Economics and editor-in-chief of the “Yearbook of the UNWE” and “Scientific Papers of the UNWE”, for her assistance in organizing the international roundtable.