Technical University – Sofia and "National Electric Company" EAD signed a memorandum of cooperation

On 14.11.2022, Prof. Dr. Eng. Ivan Kralov – Rector of the Technical University – Sofia and Eng. Martin Georgiev, Executive Director of "National Electric Company" EAD, signed a memorandum of cooperation between the two organizations. The memorandum provides for TU – Sofia and NEC to cooperate and work jointly mainly in the following areas: 

-Providing better opportunities for career development and realization of students from TU-Sofia, including through organizing site visits to NEC buildings and facilities, meetings with practitioners and expert employees of NEC, organization of educational and pre-diploma internships and practices, job fairs, and other initiatives;

-Supporting the quality of education for students and doctoral students at TU – Sofia through organizing public lectures and discussions, providing opportunities to ask questions on the educational content according to curricula and programs, and other initiatives of joint interest;

-Partnership in conducting studies and scientific research in the field of electrical engineering, network management and planning, and others.

-Conducting joint scientific events, training, competitions, and other matters of common interest

The cooperation between the partners may also include joint applications for projects/programs in areas of mutual interest, organizing public events to present best practices, and information exchange.

Before signing the memorandum, Prof. Králov emphasized that the Technical University – Sofia is the leading higher education institution not only in the country but also in the region, having trained over 160,000 engineers who have built the country's economy and are working for its development and modernization. "Our university initially prepares broad-profile specialists in the most modern fields – intelligent systems and artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data analysis, and in the upper years, students specialize in their application in specific industries such as energy, transport, communications, etc. We strive to meet business needs when developing curricula and include their representatives in the educational process. In recent years, we have established and participate in 5 Centers of Excellence and Centers of Competence. The equipment there is of the highest world level, and our researchers further develop technologies and create tools for their practical application. TU – Sofia is part of the European Technological University, which unites eight universities from different parts of Europe; our students will study for at least two semesters in different campuses and will receive a unified European diploma. The goal is to establish a confederal university by 2030 under the motto "Technologies for People." Thus, we will fulfill our social commitment," stated Prof. Králov. "The goal of this memorandum is to make the profession of electrical engineer more attractive, which can be achieved, for example, by organizing visits to NEK facilities for students, schoolchildren, teachers, and parents. Competitions and quizzes can also be organized. It is especially important to involve secondary schools; we have successful experience with two such schools in our structure. Thus, together with NEK, we will be able to provide both material and methodological assistance in order to achieve the set goals," added Prof. Králov.

On his part, Eng. Georgiev pointed out that the memorandum only sets the beginning of a fruitful cooperation, which will be filled with content through the first concrete steps. "We need an innovative approach to ignite young people's interest in the profession of electrical engineer, which is why we are currently actively working with secondary and higher education institutions in regions. This is why signing the memorandum of cooperation with the leading technical university is so important for us. TU – Sofia has provided many specialists and managers to NEK. The successful combination of theory with practice, which you have achieved, is a guarantee of the high professionalism of the personnel we need. Together, we must raise the image of the energy industry, as there is a wide field for professional realization for young people there".

After the signing of the memorandum, the guests visited with interest the National Center for Mechatronics and Clean Technologies, the "Student City" campus, located on the territory of TU - Sofia, and were convinced on site of the possibilities for scientific research and practical training offered by the university.