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30 Years of the IER Conference: Tradition, Partnerships, and Young Researchers

On May 16, 2026, the Department of International Economic Relations at D. A. Tsenov Academy of Economics held its jubilee 30th Student Scientific and Practical Conference entitled “Global and Regional Dimensions of International Economic Relations.” The academic event was organized in partnership with the related departments from University of Economics – Varna and Angel Kanchev University of Ruse and, once again, brought together students, academics, alumni, and business representatives united by their interest in current issues of the international economy.

Conference attendees seated around a long, green-clothed table in a wood-paneled room. A man in a white button-down shirt is standing and speaking to the seated audience A close-up of a projected presentation slide titled "The Beginning: 1996" in Bulgarian. It details the history of the conference and includes archival photographs of the founders, Prof. Ivan Stoykov and Dr. Simeon Momchev

The conference took place at the Academy’s educational center in the village of Oreshak, Troyan Municipality, and was officially opened by Assoc. Prof. Dragomir Iliev, PhD, Head of the Department of International Economic Relations in Svishtov. In his welcoming address, he traced the development of the forum over the years - from its first edition in 1996, organized on the initiative of Head Assist. Prof. Simeon Momchev, PhD, and Prof. Ivan Stoykov, DSc, to its establishment as a traditional academic platform with interuniversity participation and its own scientific publication.

A man wearing a dark shirt and jeans presents in front of an audience. The projector screen behind him reads "CHALLENGES IN MANAGING INTERNATIONAL TEAMS" in Bulgarian. Promotional banners for the Department of International Economic Relations (MIO) and the MIO Alumni Club stand nearby A woman in a black blazer and jeans presents using a clicker. The projector screen shows a slide in Bulgarian titled "Theoretical Foundations," referencing the Uppsala Model and John Dunning's OLI Paradigm. Banners for the MIO conference and MIO Alumni Club frame the presentation area

Among the key milestones in the development of the conference were the inclusion of partner universities in 2014, the publication of conference proceedings with ISBN registration starting in 2015, followed by ISSN registration in 2021, as well as the establishment in 2024 of the Global and Regional Dimensions of International Economic Relations Journal (GRDIER), recognized as an official publication of the Academy of Economics.

During the official opening session, greetings were delivered by Prof. Veselina Dimitrova, PhD, from the University of Economics – Varna, Head Assist. Prof. Daniela Ilieva, PhD, from Ruse University, and Assoc. Prof. Zdravko Lyubenov, PhD, Vice Rector of the Academy of Economics.

Within the framework of the conference, papers were presented in six thematic areas: international investments, international tourism, global business, international integration and trade, people management, and international marketing. Following a preliminary anonymous peer-review process, 16 papers by 17 authors from the three partner universities and two organizations: BATTI Association - Varna and Broker Ins Ltd., were accepted for participation.

The conference provided students and doctoral candidates with an opportunity to present their research papers, participate in academic discussions, and develop skills in argumentation and defending scientific positions. The participation of business representatives and alumni from the partner universities contributed to strengthening the connection between theory and practice and created opportunities for the exchange of ideas, good practices, and future research initiatives.

A group of four people, three men and one woman, sit together on a sofa, looking at a laptop screen on a low table in front of them A screenshot of the BigBlueButton video conferencing platform. The left panel lists active users. The center shows two video feeds—one of the committee members on the sofa from the previous photo and another of a young woman speaking. The right panel displays a presentation slide about global trade and digitalization

Two of the presentations were delivered in English by students majoring in International Business at Svishtov and Varna, while the research topics covered a wide range of contemporary issues, including cybersecurity in small and medium-sized enterprises, the shadow economy, challenges in African air transport, green transformation and career development in the Danube region, tourism franchising, as well as the business models of H&M and Lindor.

For another consecutive year, the presentations were streamed online through the BigBlueButton platform, which enabled virtual participation and access for a wider audience.

All participants received certificates of participation, and on the evening of May 16, during the official dinner, three of the most impressive presentations were awarded special certificates named after Head Assist. Prof. Simeon Momchev (Moni), PhD. As part of the cultural program of the event, the traditional IER Night of Talents was also held, during which students demonstrated their singing and dancing talents - and witnessed Bulgaria’s triumph in the 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest.

A wide-angle group photo of conference participants standing outdoors in front of a lush green background. Many are smiling and holding up their certificates of participation. A conference roll-up banner stands on the right A medium group portrait of the conference participants taken outdoors among trees. Attendees are posing together, holding their certificates. A promotional banner is visible on the left side

The conference papers will be published in the open-access electronic journal Global and Regional Dimensions of International Economic Relations (GRDIER), published by D. A. Tsenov Academy of Economics and included in the Bulgarian National Reference List of NACID. The materials are available through:

The thirtieth student scientific and practical conference on the topic "Global and Regional Dimensions of International Economic Relations" is organized under the project NF3-2026, financed with funds from the state subsidy for the inherent scientific activity of the Tsenov Academy of Economics – Svishtov. The conference is part of the scientific calendar of the Department of International Economic Relations for 2026 and of the events dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the establishment of the Dimitar A. Tsenov Academy of Economics.