70 years of the Department of Strategic Planning
In the anniversary year, the Department of Strategic Planning celebrated its anniversary by holding a ceremonial meeting of the Department Council.
At the beginning, a congratulatory address was presented by the Rector of the D. A. Tsenov Academy of Economics - Svishtov, Assoc. Prof. Marin Marinov, PhD in which he congratulated "... the 70th, remarkable anniversary of the Department of Strategic Planning". Seven decades, forged by academic dedication and visionary spirit, are evidence of continuous intellectual growth. The Department is structurally determining for the overall architecture of our higher education institution. Its mission is to form the future management elite, guaranteeing the proactivity and adaptability of the Academy to global challenges. Based on an objective comprehensive assessment (including the number of highly qualified personnel, the number of students trained and the volume of scientific production), the Department of Strategic Planning categorically takes its place in the absolute TOP 3 of our most elite units, along with the Department of Finance and Credit and the Department of Accounting, forming our institutional prestige. What gives it inimitable value is its unique interdisciplinary profile, which easily combines the two key areas: Economics and Administration and Management. At this solemn moment, I greet you all and wish that the spirit of unwavering pursuit of excellence and strategic thought may continue to chart your way forward. Wishing you many prosperous years ahead, dear colleagues!
A congratulatory address was also received from Assoc. Prof. Nedelcho Mitev, PhD long-time head of the department and first dean of the Faculty of Management and Marketing. He emphasized: "I had the chance to come to the Department of Strategic Planning, created and led by Prof. Masticov and Prof. Panayotov. From them we inherited wisdom and dedication to work. The atmosphere in the department respected us. With remarkable diligence, knowledge and science have been created and taught here for 70 years. I thank the creators and all the colleagues with whom I have worked during my 40-year experience at the Academy for their good example and help.“
On behalf of the partner business organizations, Ms. Desislava Alexandrova, Executive Director of "Slancho" AD, stated: "I am addressing you as a representative of the business, which is a direct beneficiary of your long-standing activity, to congratulate you most warmly on the occasion of your 70th anniversary! For us, in the dynamic corporate world, the Department of Strategic Planning has always been a symbol of managerial competence and foresight. Today, however, the challenges require an even bolder vision. It is time to actively improve the educational process in unison with the real needs of the market and industry. We are convinced that the future of our economic development depends on the direct connection between academic theory and practical application. Therefore, we, the representatives of business, extend an invitation to you: let us deepen our partnership in order to ensure that future specialists have the most up-to-date knowledge and skills. In this process, our company is ready to contribute with concrete resources and expertise to turn this vision into reality. Let us work together to build curricula that are not just relevant, but are a direct factor of innovation. We wish you inexhaustible energy and new strategic successes!“
Image of a poster with a hand-drawn strategic planning diagram, including growth charts and graphs. The hands of two people in suits indicate the process of collaboration and analysis.
Assoc. Prof. Evelina Parashkevova-Velikova, PhD, noted that in the conditions of accelerated digitalization, global competition and dynamic changes in the socio-economic environment, higher education is faced with the need for strategic renewal. Strategic planning is a key moment in the sustainable development of both the public and civil sectors. The main emphasis should be placed on the integration between education, science and practice, by encouraging critical thinking, the analysis of real cases and the application of strategic tools in real conditions. The focus should be on the entrepreneurial competencies of students. To continue the work on establishing the department as a research center. In the context of what has been said so far, the prospects for the department are based on the synergy between tradition and modernity, between science and practice.
Prof. Margarita Bogdanova, PhD emphasized the need to follow best practices, especially in the field of scientific research, and that partnership is necessary to achieve success. She wished high motivation and very good results.
Assoc. Prof. Hristo Sirashki, PhD congratulated the department on the occasion of the holiday. He drew attention to the professionalism and passion for scientific research of the lecturers of the department, which motivated him to improve his career development. He expressed support for the outlined prospects, and concluded his statement by saying that he was extremely satisfied with his decision years ago to join the team of a department with a 70-year history.
The reported prestigious positioning of the Department of Strategic Planning is built on a foundation of 9 highly qualified academic members who shape the contemporary face of the department: Prof. Margarita Bogdanova, PhD, Assoc. Prof. Mihail Chipriyanov, PhD, (head), Assoc. Prof. Hristo Sirashki, PhD, Assoc. Prof. Evelina Parashkevova-Velikova, PhD, Head Asst. Prof. Nadezhda Vesselinova, PhD, (scientific secretary), Head Asst. Prof. Yulian Gospodinov, PhD, Head Asst. Prof. Elitsa Krasteva, PhD, Head Asst. Prof. Mariela Stoyanova, PhD, and Assist. Prof. Dimcho Shopov, PhD.
The solemn meeting ended with the unanimous conviction that the 70-year history of the department is a solid foundation for future strategic renewal and the continuation of its mission as a structurally determining factor in the academic and managerial space.