On 5 June 2026, a National Meeting of Economics and Finance Educators was held at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration (FEBA) of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”. The event was organized by the Department of Economics and brought together more than 70 participants from universities, research institutions, the business sector, and public institutions across Bulgaria.

Representatives of Sofia University, the Economic Research Institute at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, the University of National and World Economy, the University of Economics – Varna, the “Paisii Hilendarski” University of Plovdiv, the Agricultural University – Plovdiv, the Trakia University, the “St. Cyril and St. Methodius” University of Veliko Tarnovo, the South-West University “Neofit Rilski”, the “Angel Kanchev” University of Ruse, the University of Forestry, the International Business School, the Burgas Free University, and the Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar” discussed the current state, challenges, and prospects of economics and finance education in the context of dynamic economic developments and contemporary technological transformations.

The academic forum was opened by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Atanas Georgiev, Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, who welcomed the participants and highlighted the challenges facing economic education. He emphasized that Bulgaria needs not merely economists, but highly qualified economists capable of supporting economic development in an increasingly complex and rapidly changing environment.

“One of the key questions before us today is what kind of economists we need, because those of us gathered here bear a significant responsibility for shaping them”, Assoc. Prof. Georgiev noted.

He also stressed the importance of discussing the impact of artificial intelligence on education and research in economics, as well as the broader transformation of economic systems driven by technological progress.

Prof. D.Sc. Sonya Mileva-Bozhanova, Vice-Rector of Sofia University, addressed the audience on behalf of both herself and the university leadership. She expressed her satisfaction that the Faculty was hosting an event bringing together representatives of diverse institutions and research fields. According to Prof. Mileva-Bozhanova, professionals in economics and public administration constitute a key partner in the dialogue with strategic decision-makers and should play a more prominent role in public discourse. She emphasized that the academic community has a unique responsibility not only to advance research but also to educate and prepare the future professionals who will form the backbone of the economy and society.

The event continued with a presentation by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dimitar Zlatinov, who outlined the key questions that motivated the organization of the National Academic Meeting.

He noted that 2026 marks several important anniversaries in the history of economic thought, including the 250th anniversary of the publication of Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations, a work that laid the foundations of classical economic analysis and modern political economy. Modern macroeconomics commemorates the 90th anniversary of John Maynard Keynes’ The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money, the 70th anniversary of Robert Solow’s seminal article A Contribution to the Theory of Economic Growth, which stimulated the development of neoclassical growth theory, and the 50th anniversary of Robert Lucas’s influential critique that transformed the understanding of macroeconomic policy, expectations, and economic behaviour.

At the national level, 2026 is also of particular significance due to Bulgaria’s accession to the euro area on 1 January 2026, a development that deepens European economic integration and reshapes the institutional framework for economic policymaking.

According to Assoc. Prof. Zlatinov, the advancement of economic education requires a close connection between scientific research, curriculum modernization based on new knowledge, and the meaningful integration of contemporary technologies into the educational process. In this context, the interaction between scientific knowledge, academic teaching, and innovative educational approaches is becoming increasingly important for the preparation of future economists and finance professionals.

The academic meeting continued with presentations by Prof. Dr. Daniela Bobeva from the Economic Research Institute at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aleksander Mihailov from the University of Reading, and Chief Assist. Prof. Dr. Teodora Varbanova from Sofia University, followed by a discussion.

Prof. Bobeva examined transformations in the international economy and their implications for teaching international economics. She questioned several established assumptions of economic theory in the context of growing geopolitical uncertainty, challenges facing international institutions, changes in global trade, and shifts in capital flows. Her lecture highlighted the need to update curricula to better prepare students for the emerging realities of the global economy, including the militarization of production, resource dependencies, and new technological and geo-economic challenges.

In his presentation, Assoc. Prof. Mihailov traced the evolution of economic theory over the past 150 years, emphasizing major developments in both short-run and long-run economic analysis—from general equilibrium theory to modern heterogeneous-agent models and the evolution of social institutions. He stressed the need for economic education to address contemporary global challenges, including the green transition, artificial intelligence, deglobalization, and changing international economic conditions, while maintaining strong links between theoretical foundations and real-world economic processes.

Chief Assist. Prof.Varbanova focused on the growing importance of artificial intelligence and automation in data analysis, financial research, and education. She presented practical examples of AI applications in developing educational materials, generating and analyzing data, building task-specific agents, and automating content creation. Her central message was that economics and finance education must foster not only analytical and statistical competencies but also the skills required to work effectively with intelligent technologies that are increasingly involved in analysis and decision-making.

The National Academic Meeting concluded with a productive discussion during which participants exchanged ideas and perspectives on the future of economics education in Bulgaria and abroad and identified concrete opportunities for strengthening academic cooperation.