The academic year for the first class in the new international master’s program “Nuclear Technologies, Management, and Innovations” was inaugurated in room 420 at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration (FEBA) of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”. The new program is conducted entirely in English and is jointly created by FEBA and the Faculty of Physics. Twenty-one candidates applied for the program, out of which seventeen were enrolled. The program’s co-directors are Assoc. Prof. Dr. Atanas Georgiev, Dean of FEBA, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Plamen Petkov from the Faculty of Physics of Sofia University.
The master’s program “Nuclear Technologies, Management, and Innovations” is created under professional field 3.7 “Administration and Management” with a duration of four semesters and is entirely conducted in English. The program’s courses will be taught by faculty members of Sofia University, distinguished practitioners, as well as guest lecturers from foreign and Bulgarian scientific organizations, institutions, and companies.
The event was opened by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Atanas Georgiev, Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, who introduced the official guests – Corresponding Member Prof. Dr. Tony Spassov, Vice-Rector of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski,” Prof. Dr. Georgi Raynovski, Dean of the Faculty of Physics at Sofia University, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Plamen Petkov from the Faculty of Physics, Tsanko Bachiytski, Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Agency, Valentin Nikolov, Executive Director of NPP “Kozloduy” EAD, Martin Georgiev, Executive Director, NEK EAD.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Atanas Georgiev noted that one of the ideologists of the program is Assoc. Prof. Dr. Plamen Petkov. According to him, implementing the program is a lengthy process of accreditation by INMA of the International Atomic Energy Agency. The requirement is for the program to have a specific set of competencies related to both technical knowledge and management, leadership, and process management in the nuclear field.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Georgiev expressed his joy that together with colleagues from the Faculty of Physics, they have managed to create a balanced program. The Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration pointed out that in the process of recruiting participants, they have received support from various organizations, with the greatest support coming from NPP “Kozloduy” EAD. He expressed his pleasure that all those enrolled in the master’s program demonstrate a sustainable interest in the subject. The Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration also emphasized that the interaction with the Faculty of Physics and the program demonstrates that no matter how different the topics they work on, together they can create many useful and interesting initiatives.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Georgiev also noted that Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” through its Faculty of Economics and Business Administration has been accepted into the Global Business School Network (GBSN) – a prestigious network of over 156 leading business schools from 58 countries committed to impacting sustainable global development through education, research, and community engagement. According to him, this is another recognition that the programs at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration and the partnerships they provide have exceptional national, regional, and international significance. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Georgiev thanked the entire team from the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.
The first module of the distance learning program in English will take place during the week of March 25-29, 2024, with summer semester classes entirely held at FEBA. In the autumn, during the second semester of the program, the curriculum will primarily be delivered by instructors from the Faculty of Physics.
Earlier this year, during the week of February 5-9, 2024, FEBA and the Faculty of Physics of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” hosted the final accreditation mission of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) regarding the newly established master’s program. During the February visit, the readiness of Sofia University to receive accreditation from INMA of IAEA with the new master’s program “Nuclear Technologies, Management, and Innovations” was highly praised. The official decision on accreditation is expected to be finalized in the spring of 2024.
The programs included in the INMA initiative are aimed at current and future managers working in the nuclear energy sector, as well as for non-energy applications. INMA is part of the knowledge management activities of the IAEA’s Department of Nuclear Energy. So far, only 10 universities worldwide have received accreditation from the IAEA for education in such programs: KEPCO International Nuclear Graduate School, South Korea; Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Hungary; North-West University, Republic of South Africa; Texas A&M University, United States; University of Tokyo, Japan; University of the Witwatersrand, Republic of South Africa; University of Idaho, United States; University of West Bohemia, Czech Republic; National Polytechnic University, Armenia; National Research Nuclear University (MEPhI), Moscow, Russia.