30.03.2026
The academic year for the third cohort of the Master’s programme “Nuclear Technologies, Management, and Innovations”, taught entirely in English, was officially opened in Hall 315 of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration (FEBA) at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”.
The program, jointly developed by FEBA and the Faculty of Physics at Sofia University, has official accreditation from the International Atomic Energy Agency under the International Nuclear Management Academy model (Nuclear Technologies Management programs).
The Dean of FEBA and Program Director Assoc. Prof. Atanas Georgiev opened the event and introduced the official guests: Acad. Prof. Toni Spassov – Acting Vice-Rector for Research and Project Activities, Prof. Georgi Raynovski – Dean of the Faculty of Physics, Bogdan Dimitrov – Deputy Executive Director of Kozloduy NPP – New Builds EAD, Deputy Minister of Energy Iva Petrova, who is also a lecturer in the nuclear program, and Tsanko Bachiyski, Chairman of the Bulgarian Nuclear Regulatory Agency. The event was also attended by Assoc. Prof. Plamen Petkov, Program Director from the Faculty of Physics, Chief Assist. Prof. Ivaylo Naydenov – Program Coordinator, students, lecturers, partners, and friends of the program, including representatives of the management of the Bulgarian Energy Holding EAD and the State Enterprise “Radioactive Waste”. The first cohort of the program includes 17 students, the second cohort admitted 13 students, and this year 10 students are enrolled. For the first time, an international student has joined the program, marking a new stage in its development.
Acad. Toni Spassov expressed his excitement at attending the event. According to him, the program is particularly interesting because it brings together lecturers from one of the fundamental natural science faculties – the Faculty of Physics. While some courses are specialized for physicists, there are also many lecturers and subjects in management and organization of technological processes in nuclear energy, risk assessment, energy strategies, and more. “Such a program demonstrates the advantage of a university like Sofia University, which, thanks to its strong scientific potential and established educational capacity, can bring together experts from different fields to create unique specialists. I believe this Master’s programme is one such example”, Acad. Spassov noted. He added that the program will undoubtedly continue to be successful and that graduates will have secure, reliable, and important career opportunities. He emphasized that the program is well-focused and requires motivated candidates who clearly understand the challenges ahead.
He further added that the program is an example of how the university can unite different disciplines to create something new. He expressed his satisfaction that the program continues to attract interest and wished success to all participants.
Assoc. Prof. Atanas Georgiev then gave the floor to Iva Petrova and expressed gratitude, on behalf of the faculty and the university, for the support of the Ministry of Energy over the years, expressing hope that this support will continue.
Deputy Minister Iva Petrova noted that the cooperation between the university and the Ministry of Energy is mutually beneficial. According to her, the Ministry relies on the university not only for training students but also for joint initiatives. She read a congratulatory address on behalf of the Minister of Energy, stating that young professionals are a strategic necessity for the development of nuclear energy, which has the potential to ensure Bulgaria’s energy security and independence.
In her speech, Iva Petrova emphasized that education and the training of qualified personnel are becoming a key priority, for which the Ministry of Energy will continue to work and provide support. As a lecturer in the program over the past two years, she highlighted the team’s commitment to preparing motivated and highly qualified professionals. According to her, there is a unique opportunity to contribute to a significant transformation in Bulgaria’s nuclear energy sector, and the construction of new facilities opens broad prospects for the professional realization of thousands of young specialists.
The Chairman of the Bulgarian Nuclear Regulatory Agency Tsanko Bachiyski stated in his address that he is attending the opening of the academic year for the third time and feels the same excitement each time. He emphasized the usefulness of the program and highlighted the high qualification of its lecturers. He wished success to all.
In his remarks, Bogdan Dimitrov drew attention to the importance of the human factor in the sector and stressed that Sofia University, particularly the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration and the Faculty of Physics, prepares highly qualified specialists for the energy sector. He pointed out that the industry faces a shortage of personnel. “The foundation is laid at the university, and therefore I wish the Master’s programme, the lecturers, and everyone involved in nuclear energy education to maintain their energy, so that a sustainable nuclear program can be achieved—one that develops, adds value to society and the economy, and improves the standard of living”, he said.
Prof. Georgi Raynovski welcomed all students and expressed his satisfaction that the program continues to develop. He noted that it is one of the few programs at the university and in the country with international accreditation from the International Atomic Energy Agency. “It was interesting to obtain it, and we learned a lot in the process”, he said. He added that the sector needs specialists, while expert capacity in this field has significantly declined. He emphasized that the main global challenge in nuclear energy is workforce development. According to him, the quality of the workforce in nuclear energy is essentially what we call nuclear safety. He noted that students will have the rare opportunity to study in two very different faculties and, upon graduation, will have a deep understanding of the technology, enabling them to make informed professional decisions.
Assoc. Prof. Petkov, Co-Director of the program from the Faculty of Physics, also addressed the students. Other lecturers in the program also extended their greetings. The event concluded with the distribution of student books.
The Master’s programme “Nuclear Technologies, Management, and Innovations” belongs to professional field 3.7 “Administration and Management”, has a duration of four semesters, and is conducted entirely in English. Courses are taught by full-time lecturers at Sofia University, guest lecturers from industry, and visiting speakers from Bulgarian and international scientific organizations, institutions, and companies.
The program also receives strong support from employers in the nuclear sector, with some students having their education funded by industry partners.
