Kristian Vigenin to students: To succeed in your professional and personal path, you have to have a social purpose

“The future diplomatic and economic elite of the country is being formed at the University of National and World Economy. More than 10,000 students and more than 200 doctoral candidates have passed through the International Economics and Politics faculty at the university, and this is not simply statistics, it is a guarantee for the sustainable development of the country.” With these words the head of the Delegation of Bulgarian Socialists and former foreign minister Kristian Vigenin addressed the students and lecturers on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the faculty.

“I have the exceptional honour and pride of being one of these graduates. But what matters is that here we did not only study politics and economics, here we were also taught values that I still carry in my professional and personal mission. Values such as integrity, respect and tolerance for a different opinion, critical thinking, analytical skill, responsibility and, not least, a sense of duty to society. I think this is perhaps the most important thing that everyone who leaves here should remember, that to succeed in your professional and personal path you have to have a social purpose, no matter how small or large it is,” Vigenin told the audience from the perspective of his own student years at the university.

He recalled that he graduated in 1998, a time of transition, change and hope: “That was the time when Bulgaria was only beginning to look for and find its new place in international political and economic relations. The new international ambitions of the country called for people who were prepared, motivated and competent. And it was here, in this faculty, that such people were formed and continue to be formed.”

Vigenin told the students that this is not only the start of their professional development, but that future successes for Bulgaria begin here too. He wished the lecturers to carry on shaping the future political and economic elite of Bulgaria with responsibility and satisfaction.

Kristian Vigenin presented an award for contribution to the development of the International Economics and Politics faculty at the university to the former dean Prof Georgi Genov.

The celebration was attended by the rector of the university Prof Dimitar Dimitrov, the dean of the International Economics and Politics faculty Assoc Prof Svetla Boneva, lecturers, diplomats and former graduates of the academic institution.