A lecture on energy management from representatives of the Diplomatic Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria took place in ZNU

Experts on energy diplomacy visited ZNU on October 22-23, among them was Atanas Georgiev, associate professor of the Faculty of Economics, Business Administration of Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski and chairman of the board of directors of the Energy Management Institute, member of the board of directors of the EURELECTRIC association, member of the National Advisory Committee of the Bulgarian Diplomatic Institute Slavcho Neykov, who has 25 years of uninterrupted experience in the energy sector.  Leading experts in the energy sector shared with students the knowledge and unique practical experience of “energy diplomacy”.

This meeting took place in the framework of cooperation with the Bulgarian Diplomatic Institute, which is implementing an educational project on the study of energy diplomacy in the context of the program of the US Government "Foundation for Solving the Problems of New Donors". The program aims to support initiatives related to energy security and energy diversification in the countries of the Western Balkans, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia and Armenia.

It should also be mentioned that this meeting was held with the organizational support of vice-rector for scientific work of ZNU Hennadii Vasylchuk, head of the Department of Entrepreneurship, Management of Organizations and Logistics of ZNU Liudmyla Bukharina, and the coordinator of the iC project consumed in Ukraine Iryna Omelianenko.

During the opening of the meeting, the organizers noted that such events contribute to the close cooperation of Ukraine and Bulgaria, provide an opportunity to join the European community and gain invaluable experience and knowledge, in particular in the field of energy policy.

The event was attended by professors and students involved in the direction of the international economy, energy lawmaking and study international law, international relations, international economics and law, energy management, etc.

Thus, within the framework of their visit to ZNU, the guests gave lectures to the students of the economic, legal, historical faculty and the faculty of management on the main trends in energy policy at the EU level, detailed information on relations between Ukraine and the EU, with an emphasis on energy aspects;  exchange of Bulgarian experience on the entry of Bulgaria into the EU and the subsequent period.

In general, the project provides a series of lectures on energy diplomacy for students of leading Ukrainian universities and meetings with business representatives and local authorities.  In particular, the lectures in ZNU were devoted to issues that are associated with the latest developments in the field of EU energy policy, and also took into account the current situation in Ukraine.

Moreover, the students learned about the economic, political and business basics of energy independence, the benefits of energy cooperation at the regional, national, European and global levels, energy security in the world and in Europe, etc.

In addition, students of ZNU listened to a lecture on the topic “Energy diplomacy - what it means for Ukraine” and had the opportunity to take part in the discussion of this topic.

During the meeting, students actively asked questions to the lecturers.  In particular, they were interested in the issues of energy cooperation between Ukraine and Bulgaria, relations between Ukraine and Russia in the economy and the energy sector, ways to resolve the conflict in Ukraine-Russian relations, as well as the impact of Brexit on the EU energy policy, and the like.

It has to be mentioned that at the end of the lectures, all students received textbooks in printed form with comprehensive lecture materials and certificates confirming attendance of this course.