27.05.2022
The Faculty of Economics and Business Administration and the Center for Educational Services of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” has been partnering with the Bulgarian E-Commerce Association (BEA) for more than three years for the preparation and development of talents for the e-commerce industry. Over 20 of the BEA members were guest lecturers in the disciplines “e-business” (for bachelors in Business Administration), “m-business” (for masters in “Digital Marketing”) and “E-commerce” (for masters from Entrepreneurship and Innovation and Bachelors in Computer Engineering at the Faculty of Physics), led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Todor Yalamov and Ms. Janet Naydenova, President of BEA. Ms. Naydenova is a regular external member of the commissions for the defense of diploma theses in the MBA program in Strategic Management in English at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.
A total of over 350 students received free access for one academic year to the SaaS platforms Shopiko.bg (brand of Superhosting) and Gombashop.bg, which are among the members of BEA. Students receive mentoring support from prominent specialists in the field of e-commerce (including Mr. Nikolay Bakalov from the Board of Directors of BEA), meet with Bulgarian entrepreneurs and managers from major international companies. About 50 small family businesses have indirectly benefited from student support, building, or improving their web presence and digital marketing.
The contribution of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” for the development of personnel for the e-business industry is highly appreciated by BEA. FEBA was accepted as an honorary member of the Association by the Board of Directors with 100% of the votes in May 2022. This decision for more sustainable institutionalization of the partnership opens the door for new joint initiatives to provide higher added value for students and doctoral students, to develop practical skills and conduct joint research and development.
The membership of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration in BEA is part of a longer-term strategy of two consecutive dean's manuals for institutional integration of the Faculty in the business community in Bulgaria. FEBA is a member of a number of business associations and / or participates in their management boards: Srednogorie Industrial Cluster, Electric Cars Industrial Cluster, German-Bulgarian Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Bulgarian Facility Management Association, EuroFM, Bulgarian Fintech Business Association and Association and technologies – AIBEST, National Committee of Bulgaria in the World Energy Council, Bulgarian Network of the UN Global Compact, Bulgarian Association of CSR Specialists, etc.
The Faculty of Economics and Business Administration is already partnering in independent programs and with individual members of BEA as Serpact for SEO Academy (postgraduate qualification through the Center for Educational Services of Sofia University “St. Kl. Ohridski”).