28.11.2024
From January 17 to April 11, 2025, the third edition of the Academy for "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion" will take place—the only certification program in Bulgaria dedicated to these topics. The Academy is organized by the Council of Women in Business in Bulgaria (CWBB) and the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration at Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski", with support from Lidl Bulgaria.
Recognized with the "Quality Mark" of Sofia University in the "Significant Innovation" category, the Academy is also a finalist for the prestigious AMBA & BGA Excellence Awards 2025 in the category "Best Culture, Diversity, and Inclusion Initiative".
The seven modules of the Academy, covering 56 hours of training, address topics such as belonging, the benefits of diversity and inclusion, overcoming unconscious bias, inclusive communication and leadership, legal aspects of diversity, and more. Among this year’s lecturers are experts with extensive experience in these fields, including Dr. Eng. Boryana Manolova, Dr. Shirley Knowles, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ivan Angelov, Kamelia Slaveykova, and others. The full program is available here.
Registration for participation is now open. Graduates of the Academy will receive a certificate from the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration at Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" and will have the opportunity to become associate members of the CWBB or join the organization’s Alumni Club.
Lidl Bulgaria is providing five full scholarships for the Academy. Applicants for these scholarships must submit a brief motivational letter by December 1, 2024, to weiterbildung@lidl.bg. The letter should include:
- Their motivation to join the program and how they plan to share the knowledge gained;
- Contact details;
- A link to their LinkedIn profile.
The winners will be selected by a jury consisting of Lidl Bulgaria employees and experts in the field. The scholarship recipients will be announced on December 16, 2024, on jobs.lidl.bg and womeninbusiness.bg.
A total of 43 participants completed the first two editions of the Academy. In 2024, over 95% of participants expressed high satisfaction with the program. Watch their experiences here.
"As someone who entered the second edition of the Academy thinking I was well-versed in the topic, I quickly realized there was so much more to learn—from nuances in communication to foundational questions and a current global overview of diversity efforts, paired with local cultural nuances in Bulgaria. I highly recommend applying for the third edition, as the lectures and discussions with experts expand horizons and contribute to personal growth", commented Alexander Tomov from Lidl Bulgaria.
Lidl Bulgaria will cover the participation fee for five Academy participants through a competitive process. Applications will be accepted from November 1 to December 1, 2024 (inclusive). Late submissions will not be considered.
- Candidates must email weiterbildung@lidl.bg with:
- A brief motivational letter detailing their interest in the program and how they plan to share the acquired knowledge;
- Contact details;
- A LinkedIn profile link.
Applications will be reviewed by Lidl Bulgaria management representatives and subject matter experts. The names of the five selected participants will be announced on December 16 on the websites jobs.lidl.bg and womeninbusiness.bg.
By entering the competition, applicants consent to their submissions being reviewed and evaluated by the company’s jury.
For information on personal data protection, read more here.