04.11.2025
On October 30, 2025, in the cozy and friendly atmosphere of FeelBetter Bar & Snack, the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration (FEBA) at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” and the FEBA Alumni Club celebrated a remarkable milestone — 20 years since the launch of the energy programs. The occasion was marked by the traditional FEBA Energy Alumni Networking 2025 event, which this year turned into a true celebration of community, knowledge, and professional growth. The year is especially significant as it also marks 35 years since the re-establishment of the Faculty, a reason for pride and inspiration within the academic community.
The event brought together over 100 participants — students, alumni, faculty members, partners, and representatives of leading companies in the energy sector. The evening was filled with shared memories, inspiring conversations, and the vibrant energy of people dedicated to sustainable development and innovation in energy.
The anniversary celebration was made possible thanks to the general partners: DMT Prime Ltd., Kozloduy NPP – New Build, Kozloduy NPP, Central Energy Repair Base, Westinghouse, and Bulgarian Energy Holding; the sponsors: M-Gas, Electricity System Operator, Gugushev & Partners Law Office, AES Bulgaria, CWP Europe, and Energo-Pro; and the event partners: EVN Bulgaria, Bulgartransgaz, and Veolia Bulgaria, who support the alumni community’s initiatives and actively contribute to the development of the professional energy ecosystem in Bulgaria.
The official part of the evening was opened by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Atanas Georgiev, Dean of the Faculty, Director of the Master’s Program “Nuclear Technologies, Management and Innovations” and former Director of the “Energy Markets and Services” program. In his welcome speech, he emphasized that over the past two decades, the Faculty’s energy programs have become leading educational tracks, preparing professionals who now occupy key positions in business, government, and academia.
“Our strength lies in people — in the community of lecturers, students, and partners standing behind every successful initiative. Twenty years later, we can proudly say that the Faculty’s energy programs don’t just educate — they build leaders”, said Assoc. Prof. Georgiev.
Since its launch in 2005, the first master’s program in energy economics and management has produced over 500 graduates and has hosted numerous guest lecturers from industry. Supported by many companies and associations, the program has become a key driver in the development of Bulgaria’s energy sector and its professionals.
Assoc. Prof. Georgiev expressed gratitude to Chief Assist. Prof. Dr. Mariya Trifonova, current Director of the Master’s Program, for expanding the Faculty’s energy initiatives to involve PhD, master’s, and bachelor’s students in research and applied projects in cooperation with leading industrial and energy companies and institutions. He also honored the program’s founders — Eng. Nikolay Minkov, then Chair of the “Energy and Utilities” Committee at BIBA (KRIB) and visionary behind the program, Prof. Dr. Georgi Chobanov, Academic Director, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Todor Popov, Dean (2003–2007). Georgiev thanked them and all faculty members, visiting lecturers, and administrative staff for their dedicated contributions over the past two decades.
Joining Assoc. Prof. Georgiev were Prof. Dr. Deyan Radev, Chair of the FEBA Alumni Club, Assist. Prof. Dr. Mariya Trifonova, Program Director, and Adriana Branicheva, Executive Director of the FEBA Alumni Association, who all expressed gratitude to alumni and partners who have supported the growth of the academic and professional community throughout the years.
Business representatives also participated with warm greetings, including Yordan Stankov, Managing Director of DMT Prime; Momchil Petkov, Senior Engineer at Westinghouse Bulgaria; Stefka Mancheva and Veselin Mavrodiev from Central Energy Repair Base; Gergana Grozeva from AES Bulgaria; Gergana Manolova from M-Gas; Mariyan Ivanov from Gugushev & Partners Law Office; and Nikolay Vangelov from Veolia Bulgaria.
The FEBA Energy Alumni Networking event traditionally brings together different generations of energy experts to exchange experience and visions for the future of the sector. This year was no exception — the evening featured lively discussions, professional networking, and new connections between representatives from business, government, and academia.
Participants discussed the current challenges of the energy transition, the role of innovation, and the need for integrated solutions for sustainable energy. The event also provided an excellent opportunity for professional networking, fostering new partnerships and project ideas. Current students from the Faculty’s two energy master’s programs also took part.
Over its 20-year history, the “Energy Markets and Services” programs have trained hundreds of professionals who today work in leading energy companies, consulting firms, and public institutions.
They embody how knowledge and practice can go hand in hand in the name of sustainable development. Launched on October 1, 2005, the first academic year of the Master’s Program in Energy Economics and Management began within the Department of Economics — the oldest and most established department in the Faculty — building on the Faculty’s tradition of business partnerships.
The program later became one of the cornerstones of the newly established Department of Industrial Economics and Management, founded in early 2008 by Prof. Dr. Georgi Chobanov and colleagues. Over time, the Department has expanded to include master’s programs such as Facility Management (now Property and Facility Management), Economics and Logistics Management, Economics and Tourism Management, Public Sector Economics and Management, among others. Today, the Department offers the bachelor’s program “International Trade and Investment” (in English), the joint master’s program with the Faculty of Physics “Nuclear Technologies, Management, and Innovations” (in English), and a wide range of programs related to sustainable development, agri-innovation, and public sector innovation, as well as numerous postgraduate qualifications.
In recent years, the Faculty has also expanded its activities in the field of energy transition, including the TWIN4ECO and Twin2Green projects in partnership with four leading European universities, cooperation agreements with top global universities, the Net-Zero Lab and ESG Lab research centers, summer and winter schools in Sofia and Burgas, and various postgraduate training initiatives.
FEBA Energy Alumni Networking 2025 once again demonstrated that the community built over the past two decades is not only growing — it continues to inspire, connect, and create the future.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to all participants, partners, and friends who made the evening unforgettable. Together, we continue to build bridges — between the university and business, between generations, and between knowledge and practice.
Twenty years later — our energy is stronger than ever!