13.05.2024
The renovated auditorium 420 "Acad. Prof. Dr. Nikola Popov" officially opened at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration of Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski". The event was held on May 10, 2024. The funding for the renovated hall was provided by the Bulgarian technology company Euro Games Technology (EGT), which is among the global leaders in the gaming industry.
The event was attended by the Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Atanas Georgiev, and Mr. Vladimir Dokov, CEO of EGT. They unveiled the hall to the guests - professors, students, and partners of the faculty.
"This hall represents a new step in our desire to provide quality education to our students, and we are extremely pleased with the final result. It is a pleasure for us to collaborate with modern companies like EGT, which are actively engaged in improving the learning environment", shared Assoc. Prof. Dr. Atanas Georgiev.
"Knowledge and professionalism are things that we, as a company, highly value. They are part of our philosophy. I am delighted that students will be able to develop their skills in an environment that supports their success," said Mr. Vladimir Dokov.
The Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, located in Block 3 of 125 Tsarigradsko Shose Blvd., inhabits a building that was not originally designed as a university educational facility, but as a dormitory. Contemporary architectural science, as well as behavioral economics, suggest different approaches to transforming the purpose of public spaces, which should support the main goal - more effective learning and the development of the social capital of students, researchers, and professors. Architect Yana Krumova demonstrates an original approach to solving this task with mirrors that optically conceal triggers, acoustic ceilings, zonal lighting, and blinds. The hall follows the trend in the best universities in the world to be reconfigured through the arrangement of mobile chairs and tables, screens, and cameras.
Auditorium 420 is named after the former rector (1989-1991) of Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" Acad. Prof. Dr. Nikola Popov. Acad. Popov is an economist, a graduate of Sofia University, and a teacher there since 1948. During the period 1961-1966, he was also a deputy rector of the University. He initiated the restoration of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration after the regime change in 1989.
Renovating and transforming the architectural environment of the faculty is part of the strategy to obtain a "triple crown" of accreditations in the field of economic education and to consolidate the position of the faculty as a leading global economic school. In 2023, the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration was recognized as one of the top 300 business schools in the world by the Association of MBAs (AMBA). The Faculty of Economics and Business Administration has been a member of the Global Business School Network (GBSN) since 2024.
The modern interior of the new hall and its functional capabilities allow for a wide range of events beyond classical teaching, such as business conferences and training, round tables, etc. Euro Games Technology's investment is part of the company's strategy for development and training of personnel, which includes organizing and participating in various initiatives in the field of technology and business in the form of training, lectures, and events. During informal conversations, interest was sparked in the company's insourcing strategy as a counterpoint to mass outsourcing.
In May, the "premiere" of another hall is expected at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.