On February 21–22, students from the Master’s Program “Economics and Management of Public Resources” took part in a Public Sector Financial Management Practicum.

On the first day of the practicum, the guest lecturer was Ms. Dimitrinka Dimitrova, Director of the Economics and Commercial Activity Directorate at Sofia Municipality. She introduced the students to best practices in managing the municipality’s commercial enterprises. Real-life cases were discussed, including auditing and validating financial statements, as well as the responsibilities and tasks of representatives in boards of directors, supervisory boards, and the Municipal Council. The system for validating the financial reports of municipal enterprises was also presented.

The program continued with a guest lecture by Dr. Eng. Denitsa Savova-Georgieva, Head of Education at Esri Bulgaria. Students received access to the specialized web-based mapping software ArcGIS Online (arcgis.com) and guidance on using its various functionalities, including the creation of interactive maps. Attention was drawn to significant GIS projects implemented in the Bulgarian public sector and the benefits of applying GIS technologies. Students actively discussed different examples of GIS applications in municipalities, public enterprises, and state institutions.

On the second day of the practicum, the guest lecturer was Ms. Daniela Ushatova, Head of the Local Policies and Finance team at the National Association of Municipalities in Bulgaria (NAMRB). Students analyzed real municipal practice scenarios and defended positions in the roles of mayor, municipal council, citizens, business, and the state. Cases related to municipal financing and interactions with central authorities were examined. Different budget scenarios were presented and analyzed from the perspective of key stakeholders.

The practicum continues with desk research and site visits to partner organizations.

The practicum is a course within the Master’s Program “Economics and Management of Public Resources”. The program is open to both economists and non-economists, is one year in duration, and delivered in a part-time format. The Master’s Program “Economics and Management of Public Resources” (MP EMPR) is designed for prospective students seeking careers in public administration, consulting companies, municipal sectors, and other state and public institutions.