Dr. Yordan Karapenchev is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Communication, Public Relations and Advertising within the Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communication at Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski". He has been in this position since 2022. Education highlights: Bachelor's degree in Public Relations (2013) Master's degree in Business Management, Technology and Innovation (2016) through a joint program between VUZF University and the University of Sheffield Doctorate in Public Communications and Information Sciences (2020) His research focuses on digital communication, brand journalism, integrated marketing communications, and modern approaches to web copywriting. Recent publications examine: Comparative analysis of Moodle platform attitudes during the pandemic Functions of copywriting in marketing communications Trends in press release creation for new media Use of conversational language in online writing Professional affiliations: Member of Bulgarian Society for Public Relations (BSPR) Member of Union of Scientists in Bulgaria (USB) Editorial board member of "Media and Language" scientific journal (since 2017)
Irena Nikolova is an Associate Professor in the Department of Economics at New Bulgarian University (NBU), specializing in World Economy and International Economic Relations. She has held progressive academic positions at NBU since 2010, advancing from Assistant to Associate Professor. Her administrative roles include serving as Director of the Doctoral Program in Economics (2020-2023), program director for multiple bachelor's and master's programs, and Erasmus+ departmental coordinator. Her research focuses on international finance , currency risk management , EU economic integration , and digital transformation in trade and education . She actively explores the impacts of globalization, transition economies, and emerging fintech solutions. Her publications demonstrate sustained focus on Bulgaria's economic transformation, EU trade frameworks, and responses to global crises. Recent works emphasize digital currency risks , pandemic-related trade disruptions , and educational innovation , with consistent attention to Central European economic development. Administrative and project experience includes: Leading NBU's distance learning quality improvement project (2013-2015) Serving as expert for the 'Economics Education Foundation' project (2013-2015) Erasmus+ teaching mobilities in Spain (2018) and Portugal (2017) She teaches extensively in international economics, trade finance, and EU policies across bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs, including joint programs with the University of York and University of Urbino.
Assoc. Prof. Lubka Aleksieva is a faculty member at Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski", Faculty of Educational Sciences and Arts (FEES), teaching mathematics didactics and information technologies in primary grades since 2011. She holds the position of Associate Professor in the Department of Foreign Languages and Cultures and currently serves as Deputy Director of the Distance Learning Center (since 2022). Her educational background: Bachelor's in Primary School Pedagogy and Foreign Language (FEES) Master's in Information Technologies in Primary School (FEES) Specialization at IOE, UCL London Her research focuses on digital learning, innovations in mathematics education, and STEM education. She has authored two monographs and over 45 publications, with more than 15 indexed in major scientific databases. She developed Ministry of Education and Science approved mathematics learning kits for grades 1-4 (4 textbooks, 20+ teaching aids). Dr. Aleksieva has participated in 19 research projects (7 international, 12 national). She serves as International Quality Observer for TIMSS/PIRLS at IEA (since 2015), expert evaluator for the Ministry of Education and Science (since 2018), and reviewer-editor for Frontiers in Education's Digital Learning Innovations section.
Prof. Krasimir Petkov serves as Rector of the National Sports Academy 'Vasil Levski' since December 2023, following roles as Dean of the Faculty of Sports (2016-2023) and Head of the Department of Weightlifting, Boxing, Fencing and Sports for All (2008-2020). A faculty member since 1990, he holds the academic rank of Professor with a Doctor of Sciences degree (2017). His educational background includes: Master's degree in Coach & Physical Education Teacher from National Academy of Sciences 'Vasil Levski' (1984-1989) Doctoral degree in Theory and Methodology of Physical Education and Sports Training (2005), dissertation on épée fencing biomechanics Associate Professor appointment (2007) and Professor rank (2014) Research focuses on biomechanical analysis of sports techniques, particularly in fencing, weightlifting, and boxing. With over 110 publications including textbooks and monographs, his work bridges sports science and practical training methodologies. He serves on editorial boards for 'Sport and Science' (ISSN 1310-3393) and 'Applied Sports Sciences' (ISSN 2534-9597), contributing to academic discourse in sports pedagogy and adaptive training systems. As project leader, he has secured funding from the Ministry of Youth and Sports and NSA for educational initiatives including distance learning implementation (2008-2012) and the Adaptive Semester program for non-sports Master's candidates (2008-2016). His leadership extends to Bulgarian Fencing Federation (Chairman 2010-2011) and CSKA Sofia (Coach 1989-1990). Organizational roles include: Expert Council for Academic Work at NSA (2008-present) Program Council for 'Sports and Security' Master's program (2008-present) Chair of NSA Fencing Club (1994-2023) Working group leader for Master's program coordinators (2008-2016)
Pencho Petrov Mihnev serves as Senior Lecturer at the Department of Information Technologies, Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics, Sofia University 'St. Kliment Ohridski', where he has driven e-learning innovation since 1997 through course development and policy design. His academic foundation includes: MSc in Educational and Training Systems Design, Universiteit Twente, Netherlands (1997) Specialisation in Informatics, Sofia University (1990) MSc in Mathematics, Plovdiv University 'Paisii Hilendarski' (1982) His research synthesizes educational theory with technology implementation, specializing in instructional design frameworks, distance education policy formulation, and ICT integration across Bulgarian higher education and K-12 systems. He prioritizes practical solutions for resource-constrained environments while maintaining international alignment through EU project collaborations. Publications from 1995-2002 reveal consistent focus on Bulgaria's educational technology adoption, featuring policy analysis for Ministry of Education-level distance learning frameworks and cross-national ICT infrastructure assessments. His work emphasizes systemic implementation challenges over theoretical exploration. Mihnev has executed 20+ funded projects as expert, trainer, or developer: EU initiatives: weSPOT (FP7-ICT), KeyToNature, KALEIDOSCOPE Bulgarian HRD Operational Programme projects (2009-2014) World Bank's Education Modernization (1999-2001) These centered on e-learning platform development, curriculum redesign, and educator capacity building. He established Sofia University's Moodle infrastructure for courses like 'Instructional Design for e-Learning' and managed portals for EU projects including KeyToNature's biodiversity training platform.
Boris Bankov is a software developer and academic professional currently serving as an Assistant Professor at the Department of Informatics in the University of Economics - Varna. His work combines web development expertise with educational innovation. PhD in Informatics and Computer Science Deputy Director at Center for Electronic and Distance Learning Laureate of John Atanasoff Award (2022) His research interests focus on web development, gamification in education, and the intersection between game design principles and enterprise web applications. He has extensive experience working with technologies including PHP Laravel, MySQL, Bootstrap, and Unity/C# game development. Key publication areas include: Learning Management Systems in higher education, Gamification frameworks for educational environments, Responsive web design solutions, and NFT technology analysis. His work has been published in various academic forums since 2017. John Atanasoff Award of the President of Bulgaria (2022)
Prof. Dr. Habil Pencho Stoyanov Penchev is a distinguished Professor at the Faculty of Economics of St. Cyril and St. Methodius University of Veliko Turnovo. With over three decades of academic experience, he has established himself as a leading expert in management theory, sustainable development, and public administration. His extensive research portfolio demonstrates deep engagement with both theoretical frameworks and practical applications in organizational management. Prof. Penchev's research interests span multiple critical areas of modern management science, with particular focus on sustainable development implementation, regional governance, strategic business organization, and management of small and medium enterprises in the Bulgarian food industry. His scholarly work consistently addresses the intersection of theoretical management principles with real-world administrative challenges. The analysis of Prof. Penchev's 15 most recent publications reveals a strong thematic focus on sustainable development (appearing in 5 of the 15 works), organizational management (7 publications), and regional governance (3 publications). His work demonstrates a consistent evolution from theoretical management frameworks toward more applied regional development strategies, with increasing emphasis on sustainability challenges in recent years. Prof. Penchev has led significant research projects including "Management competencies of young managers and entrepreneurs" (2014) and "Priorities of operational programs and needs of Veliko Tarnovo municipality" (2009), demonstrating his active engagement with practical management challenges facing Bulgarian institutions and businesses. His academic contributions extend to developing educational materials for distance learning in organizational development and sustainable development, reflecting his commitment to advancing management education through innovative teaching methodologies.
Assoc. Prof. Nikolay Chudomirov Netov serves as Head of the Department of Statistics and Econometrics at Sofia University's Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, with over fifteen years of experience in international scientific, applied, and educational projects across global collaborations. His research spans critical interdisciplinary domains: Financial Risk Modeling (Value at Risk, Black-Scholes algorithms, stock market forecasting) Transportation Analytics (telecom data-driven public transport optimization, passenger flow modeling) Public Policy & Digitalization (e-government services, citizen sentiment analysis using transformer models) Public Health (vaccination patterns, screen time evaluation, autoimmune disease modeling) Recent publications reveal accelerating convergence of advanced computational techniques with societal challenges, particularly through: Transformer-based NLP for granular public sentiment/emotion analysis in government domains Anonymized telecommunications data applications for sustainable urban mobility solutions Hybrid mathematical-statistical frameworks for financial and biological systems Scientific recognition includes: Annual award for "Career in IT" project (2014) Responsible Business Award in "Investor in Knowledge" category (2015) Netov actively bridges academia-business divides through project leadership, notably as Board Director of FEBA's Alumni Association (Bulgaria's largest with 7,000+ members). His "Career in IT" initiative exemplifies successful NGO-business-academia partnerships, while current research focuses on data-driven public service optimization and financial risk modeling. Departmental leadership combines with international project coordination to advance Sofia University's research profile in computational social sciences.
Silvia Shandurkova is a Lecturer at the National Sports Academy (Sofia, Bulgaria), affiliated with the Department of Theory of Sport Training under the Faculty of Sport. She specializes in statistical methodologies, sport training theory, and distance education applications in sports. Her academic roles include teaching 'Statistical Methods in Sport Science' and 'Theory and Methodology of Sports Training,' focusing on practical data analysis, training periodization, and performance prediction for elite athletes. She has extensive experience in educational projects involving GPS tracking systems for military championships and orienteering training. Her research spans sport physiology, technology integration in coaching, and student engagement in e-learning platforms. Notable contributions include studies on aerobic capacity improvement in primary school pupils through swimming and the sociocultural aspects of orienteering communities. Shandurkova holds a PhD from the National Sports Academy (2008) focusing on distance learning applications in sports education. She has authored/co-authored over a dozen peer-reviewed articles since 2007, covering topics from statistical analysis methods to GPS navigation in orienteering. Her work often bridges quantitative research with practical sport training methodologies. Her professional background includes forestry project management (2000–2005) and primary school teaching (1999–2000), demonstrating interdisciplinary expertise. She is an active athlete and coach, holding national and Balkan championships in orienteering disciplines.
Assoc. Prof. Mariya Neykova, PhD, is a full-time academic at New Bulgarian University's Center for Computational and Applied Linguistics, affiliated with the Department of Anthropology. She holds an Associate Professor rank since 2020 and specializes in English language teaching methodology. Her research focuses on strategies for scientific text reading, learning strategies, and e-learning innovations. She has extensive administrative involvement, including director roles in academic programs and consultancies in linguistics departments. Education: BA in English Philology from Sofia University (1991), PhD in "Developing Strategies for Reading Scientific Texts" (2010). Professional memberships include Bulgarian Association of English Teachers and IATEFL. Research interests emphasize blended learning, active learning, and the integration of mobile technologies in language education. Her publications explore pedagogical frameworks for skill development and institutional adaptation to digital education trends.
Dr. Alexey Potebnya serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Business Administration at Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski"'s Faculty of Economics. He currently holds the position of scientific secretary for his department and administers the Digital Marketing Master's Program, which transitioned to become the Faculty of Economics' first fully distance learning program in the 2024/2025 academic year. Additionally, he leads the innovative "Gamification in Business, Public and Non-Governmental Sectors" master's program, exploring game mechanics applications across management domains. Dr. Potebnya earned his Bachelor's degree in Geography (2005) followed by a Master's in Business Administration with marketing specialization. His academic journey at Sofia University began in 2015 as a part-time assistant, progressed to full-time assistant in 2021, and culminated in his promotion to Assistant Professor in 2023. Fluent in Bulgarian, Russian, and English, he teaches across multiple faculties including Economics, Journalism, and Geology and Geography. His research bridges digital technologies with marketing practice, focusing on gamification techniques, AI applications, and consumer behavior in digital environments. Dr. Potebnya pioneers innovative educational approaches through gamified platforms and narrative-based learning, examining how folk tales and fiction can enhance marketing education. His work consistently integrates theoretical frameworks with practical implementation to address contemporary marketing challenges in the digital transformation era. Analysis of his publications reveals a cohesive research trajectory centered on digital marketing innovation, with increasing emphasis on gamification's educational applications. His recent work demonstrates how game mechanics can transform learning experiences while developing practical frameworks for optimizing digital brand presence and building consumer trust in online environments. Dr. Potebnya supervises master's students across multiple marketing specializations, emphasizing the integration of theoretical knowledge with practical applications. Combining academic work with over 15 years of industry experience, he has consulted for major Bulgarian and international brands, bringing real-world insights to his teaching and research. He actively contributes to significant research initiatives including "Gamification in training for building an effective system of competencies in the context of Industry 5.0" and the SUMMIT program's "Gamification in Education and the Workplace" project funded through the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism. Previously (2019-2023), he contributed to "TechnoMagicLand," Bulgaria's first all-Bulgarian STEM center applying gamification in informal science education.
Nevena Marinova is a Senior Lecturer at the National Sports Academy "V. Levski" Sofia since 1996. She holds a Master's degree in English Philology from Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" (1989). Her academic roles include positions at Sofia University, "Democracy" Newspaper (International Department, 1990-1991), ICHS Sofia (English Language Instructor, 1991-1993), and currently at NSA. Born in Sofia on 31.10.1963 Phone: +359 2 4014 165 Email: nevena.marinova@nsa.bg Her research interests focus on: Error Theory in language learning Application of Artificial Intelligence in education Methodology of Foreign Language Teaching Marinova's publications (1994-2024) demonstrate interdisciplinary research combining: Language technology integration (1994-2024) Sports-related linguistic phenomena (2001-2002) Professional language teaching frameworks (2000-2003) Online educational material development (2022) Her work represents a unique intersection of linguistics, educational technology, and sports studies , with a particular emphasis on digital tools for language acquisition and specialized English applications in sports management and business contexts.
Ivan Slavchev serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Management and History of Sports at Vasil Levski National Sports Academy, where he leads research and teaching within the Sector of Sports Management. His academic career spans over a decade with continuous contributions to sports administration education and practice. His educational foundation includes: Bachelor of Science in Kinesitherapy with Pedagogy of Physical Education (2007) Master in Sports Management (2009) Ph.D. in Sports Management (2012) focusing on athletics competition organization in Bulgaria Dr. Slavchev's research critically examines sports management through technological and analytical lenses, with emphasis on event operations, digital transformation, and strategic communications. His work bridges theoretical frameworks with practical applications in sports organizations, particularly addressing risk mitigation and facility optimization challenges within European contexts. He advocates for evidence-based decision-making through logical analysis frameworks. His publication portfolio reveals strong thematic convergence around technology integration in sports ecosystems, with growing emphasis on data-driven management solutions across events, facilities, and officiating systems. Recent projects demonstrate applied research extending from athletics competitions to broader sports sector professionalization. Dr. Slavchev actively contributes to sports governance through European associations and institutional committees. His project leadership in Erasmus+ initiatives demonstrates commitment to advancing sports management education globally, while his referee experience with European Athletics provides practical grounding for academic work. He directs significant collaborative efforts including: ICT4DC project addressing digital conference solutions during global crises ONSIDE and WINS initiatives developing sports officiating competencies S2A Sport program professionalizing sports organizations through work-based training Bulgarian national projects modernizing distance learning in sports education His institutional impact extends through the proposed 'Center for Technology Transfer in Sports' and ongoing leadership in the 'New Stars' international athletics tournament organization since 2015.
Dr. Tereza Stefanova is an Associate Professor in the Department of Telecommunications at the Faculty for Basic Education of New Bulgarian University (NBU). She has been a tenured faculty member at NBU since 2003, teaching courses in telecommunications and computer technology at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Previously, she served as a part-time/honored faculty member from 1998-2003. Her educational background includes: Doctorate in Professional Field 5.3 "Communication and Computer Technology" (2013) Doctorate at NBU in "Theoretical foundations of communication technology" (2008) Engineer in Electronics and Automation from Technical University, Sofia (1988-1993) Professional Pedagogy from Technical University, Sofia (1994-1995) English Language specialization (1994) Dr. Stefanova's research focuses on Electronics in Telecommunications , Modern Radio Transmitters , and Educational Technologies . Her work spans both theoretical aspects of telecommunications engineering and practical applications in educational settings. She has extensively studied the implementation of modern teaching methods in engineering education, including blended learning, distance learning, and the integration of multimedia technologies in the classroom. Her recent research has increasingly focused on emerging technologies such as 5G networks, Internet of Things (IoT), and the application of artificial intelligence in telecommunications. She has published numerous articles analyzing employment trends for ICT specialists and the alignment between educational programs and industry needs. Dr. Stefanova has been actively involved in educational projects, including: Project "Improving interdisciplinary skills and business interaction of telecommunications specialists" (2013-2015) Project H2020-MSCA-NIGHT-2018-818757 K-TRIO 3, "European Night of Scientists" (2018) Development of multimedia teaching formats at NBU Projects for improving educational infrastructure for telecommunications courses She has held several administrative roles at NBU, including Program Consultant for the "Telecommunications and Computer Technologies" Bachelor's program (2016-2018) and member of the Accreditation Committee since 2012. Dr. Stefanova is also a member of the Bulgarian Federation of Radio Amateurs (BFRA).
Assoc. Prof. Blagovesna Yovkova, PhD serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Didactics , Faculty of Education , Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” . She lectures at both bachelor’s and master’s levels, focusing on the integration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in education, with special emphasis on children and students with special educational needs. Research Interests Her scholarly work revolves around three interconnected themes: E-learning design and implementation , particularly capacity-building for academic staff in pedagogical faculties. ICT-supported education for learners with special educational needs , including hearing-impaired and deaf children. Interactive educational multimedia and distance education , aimed at enhancing accessibility and learning outcomes. Projects & Funding Assoc. Prof. Yovkova has led or co-led significant externally-funded initiatives: Increasing the academic staff’s capacity of pedagogical faculties at Sofia University in the e-learning design and implementation (Structural Funds, 2012–2014). TeSLA – An Adaptive trust-based e-assessment System for Learning (Horizon 2020 ICT-2015-20, 2016–2018). Publications & Trends Her recent publications (2011–2019) consistently explore the intersection of technology, assessment, and inclusive education, demonstrating an evolving focus on authentication systems, academic integrity, and attitudinal factors among both students and faculty. Contact Email: b.yovkova@fp.uni-sofia.bg
