04.05.2026
On April 21, the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration welcomed more than 25 students from the Private Secondary School “Sveta Sofia”, distinguished by their high achievements in national and international Olympiads across various scientific fields. The teenagers impressed with their curiosity and strong interest in topics related to the future of society, the economy, and technology.
The students were welcomed by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Marina Stefanova, Vice-Dean for Sustainability, Empowerment and Engagement, who opened the meeting with a brief introduction to the history and mission of Sofia University, as well as the educational opportunities at the Faculty. She also presented the prospects for an academic career—from in-depth study in a specific field to development as a researcher and lecturer.
In her presentation, Assoc. Prof. Stefanova focused on the topic of sustainable development, presenting it in an accessible and relatable way. Through everyday examples, she demonstrated that sustainability is not an abstract concept but part of real-life choices and actions—from the way we consume resources to the decisions we make as citizens. This helped participants realize that the topic is not unfamiliar to them; on the contrary, they already interact with it intuitively in their daily lives.
Following the introduction, the students took part in the presentation of the interactive installation G80—an art installation where economics, technology, and imagination intersect. Through visualization and active participation, they explored how various factors—such as artificial intelligence, global warming, inequality, and energy sources—influence one another and shape possible future scenarios.
In the next part of the program, the students gained a deeper understanding of the logic behind the G80 interactive installation. Interest in the “machine of the future” was exceptionally high—participants actively asked questions, sought connections between different factors, and discovered new ways of understanding how economic, technological, social, and environmental processes are closely interconnected. For many of them, this was their first encounter with a comprehensive model of the world.
The event became a true source of inspiration for the young participants—a meeting that introduced them to the academic environment and encouraged them to seek interconnections and recognize the importance of understanding complex systems for the decisions they will make in the future.
