27.03.2026
Between 17 and 19 March 2026, the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration (FEBA) at Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski hosted a series of events related to the quarterly meeting of its International Advisory Board (IAB).
The IAB brings together distinguished international scholars and professionals from leading universities and organisations, supporting the Faculty’s strategic development through expert guidance and active engagement in key initiatives.
Its composition includes members from Europe, Asia, North America and South America (see full IAB members list below).
The programme featured academic, institutional, and partnership-oriented activities aimed at strengthening the Faculty’s international profile and long-term strategic positioning.
A key highlight was the FEBA Academic Seminar, held on 18 March with the support of the TWIN4ECO project (www.twin4eco.eu – investment with Reg. No. BG-RRP-2.005-0001 "Twinning for scientific excellence: Stimulating sustainable energy economy and promoting research in the field of innovation management in Bulgaria" under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan) and chaired by Prof. Dr. Georgi Mengov. The seminar featured three consecutive presentations, bringing together leading faculty members, PhD candidates, and students. Three members from the IAB presented their research:
- Prof. Ken Matsuno – Long-Term Organizational Growth Following Disasters: The Role of Collective Empathy
- Assoc. Prof. Plamen Nenov – Stock Market Wealth and Entrepreneurship
- Assoc. Prof. Veneta Andonova – Beyond Elite Advantage in Entrepreneurial Ecosystems: Social Capital Configurations and the Role of ESOs
Each presentation was followed by lively and in-depth discussions, highlighting the strong academic engagement and interdisciplinary research potential within the FEBA community.
During the visit, the IAB members also held working meetings with Vice-Rectors of Sofia University – Prof. Dr. Madlen Danova (Educational Affairs) and Prof. Dr. Reneta Bozhankova (International Affairs), focusing on further advancing internationalisation and institutional partnerships.
The programme also included a meeting with the CEO of Sofia Tech Park Mr. Martin Danovsky and his team and a visit to the Discoverer supercomputer, offering insights into Bulgaria’s leading research and innovation infrastructure and exploring opportunities for future collaboration.
The programme culminated in the International Advisory Board meeting on 19 March, focusing on enhancing FEBA’s international visibility, accreditation development, and strategic priorities. The Board members engaged in a substantive and forward-looking discussion on internationalisation, providing valuable recommendations and committing to concrete actions in support of the Faculty’s development.
The leadership of FEBA expresses its sincere gratitude to the members of the International Advisory Board for their commitment, expertise, and continued support for the Faculty’s sustainable development and international positioning.
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FEBA International Advisory Board – 2025-2028
Chair of the International Advisory Board:
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Veneta Andonova, Dean (until 2024) of the Universidad de los Andes School of Management (triple accredited by AMBA, AACSB and EQUIS) in Bogotá, Colombia – one of the leading universities in Latin America. She is a leading lecturer, researcher and consultant in the field of business strategies and entrepreneurship. Member of the Board of the Global Business School Network and member of the Advisory Board of UN PRME. Alumna of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration at Sofia University.
Members of the International Advisory Board:
- Dr. Eng. Boryana Manolova, CEO of Siemens for Bulgaria and North Macedonia.
- Prof. Dr. Ken Matsuno, Professor and Dean (2019-2024) at Babson College in Massachusetts (USA)
- Prof. Dr. Pengfei Wang – Professor and Dean of Peking University’s (Times Higher Edu #13, QS #14) HSBC Business School (PHBS) – a triple-accredited business school at a leading international research university.
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Plamen Nenov, Secretary of the Council for Economic Analyses at the Bulgarian Council of Ministers, Chief Research Economist at the Norwegian Central Bank (Norges Bank) and Adjunct Associate Professor at BI Norwegian Business School.
- Tanya Mihaylova, Director of the Diplomatic Institute at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Teodor Radonov, Head of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group Office in Bulgaria.
IAB Administrative Secretary: Ms Zornitsa Plugarova