The Academy Strengthens Its International Dimension: Raphael Röttinger Awarded a PhD Conducted in English

On May 8, 2025, a successful defense of the doctoral dissertation of Raphael Röttinger from Ulm, Germany, took place at the D. A. Tsenov Academy of Economics in Svishtov. The research was conducted within the doctoral program “Organization and Management Outside the Sphere of Material Production (Public Administration)”, delivered in English at the Department of Strategic Planning. The academic jury, which unanimously voted to award Raphael Röttinger the educational and scientific degree of Doctor (PhD), was composed of: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mihail Chipriyanov (Chair), D. A. Tsenov Academy of Economics – Svishtov, Prof. Dr. Galina Kurteva, Burgas Free University, Prof. Dr. Kristiyan Hadzhiev, New Bulgarian University – Sofia, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gergana Dimcheva, Higher School of Telecommunications and Posts – Sofia, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Plamen Petkov, D. A. Tsenov Academy of Economics – Svishtov. 

Raphael Röttinger is the first successfully graduated international PhD student of the Department within the English-language doctoral program. This achievement marks an important milestone in the development of the Department of Strategic Planning and the Academy as a whole. For the Academy, this is the second international doctoral candidate to successfully defend a dissertation in English, following Emre Güney from Turkey, who completed his PhD within the program of the Department of Industrial Business and Entrepreneurship.
The Department of Strategic Planning continues to actively expand its educational portfolio, particularly in the field of doctoral programs. In addition to the program in “Public Administration,” the Department also offers a doctoral program in “Planning,” likewise delivered in English. With growing interest from international applicants, primarily from Greece and Germany, the D. A. Tsenov Academy of Economics is further establishing its position as an internationally oriented academic institution. The successful defense of Raphael Röttinger’s dissertation is yet another testament to the high quality of education provided and the strong support the Academy offers to its doctoral students from both Bulgaria and abroad.

 

Raphael Röttinger teaches in both bachelor's and master's degree programs and is actively involved in education in the fields of security and public administration. He has a solid career in the private sector in Germany. Since 2011, Mr. Röttinger has served as Managing Partner of the holding company Roettinger Unternehmensgruppe, which he leads together with his father and an outstanding team. This successful family-owned business currently employs approximately 600 people. The group comprises seven subsidiaries with offices in Ulm and Cologne, and serves well-established clients such as FC Bayern Munich, FC Augsburg, Ratiopharm Ulm, the Bregenz Festival Hall, as well as numerous large-scale events with over 30,000 attendees. His entrepreneurial success highlights his strategic vision, leadership skills, and operational excellence. 

 

We congratulate Doctor Raphael Röttinger on his well-deserved academic success and wish him continued professional achievements in the future!