UNWE Signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the NATO Crisis Management Centre

The University of National and World Economy has signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the NATO Crisis Management and Disaster Response Centre of Excellence /CMDR COE/.

The agreement was signed by the Director of CMDR COE Colonel Orlin Nikolov, and the Rector of UNWE and Head of the National and Regional Security Department Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov /in the picture below/.

Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov and Colonel Orlin Nikolov

The agreement sets out the principles and priorities for the future cooperation between both organizations as the main objective includes the use of academic knowledge and military expertise in the fields of emergency management, resilience and disaster response.

Joint activities will also include education and training opportunities, research and the provision of expertise.

The official ceremony was attended by the command staff from the CMDR COE, the Vice Rector of UNWE for Research and International Affairs Assoc. Prof. Dr. Michael Musov, the Head of the International Relations Department Assoc. Prof. Dr. Plamen Ralchev as well as Assist. Dr. Monika Panayotova and Chief Assist. Dr. Ekaterina Bogomilova who will serve as coordinators of the agreement.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Michael Musov, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Plamen Ralchev and Chief Assist. Dr. Ekaterina Bogomilova /from the right to the left/

Assist. Dr. Monika Panayotova

"The fulfilment of the University's mission depends largely on the development of our network of partners. The activities of this cooperation agreement - joint educational programmes, research projects, student internships, etc. - will help us to fulfil our commitment to our society", ponted out Prof. Dimitrov.

Colonel Nikolov expressed his contentment with the opportunity to deepen the cooperation with the UNWE building up the existing cooperation with the International Relations Department. He highlighted the potential areas for joint ventures such as information exchange and project development as well as the participation of UNWE students in CMDR COE courses and internship programmes.

In addition Assoc. Prof. Musov shared that "This partnership is a great opportunity to show the forming role of universities and to reinforce UNWE's commitment to be a responsible university with a great impact on our economy and society."

During the discussion Assoc. Prof. Dr. Plamen Ralchev, Head of the International Relations Department, highlighted the increasingly complex challenges we face in the field of security and defence which require a multidisciplinary approach and close cooperation between the military and the civilian expertise: "That`s why the UNWE International Relations Department initiated today's cooperation agreement with the NATO Crisis Management and Disaster Response Centre /CMDR/ and will work together with the National and Regional Security Department for its implementation."

The participants in the ceremony discussed ongoing EU and NATO projects and other education and training activities taking place at the CMDR COE as well as potential opportunities for cooperation with the UNWE, including student exchanges for existing internship programmes.

The Rector was awarded a plaque from Colonel Nikolov