The Association of Banks in Bulgaria (ABB) organizes for the first time the participation of Bulgaria in the European Money Quiz. ABB’s key partner for the implementation of the initiative in Bulgaria is the Association of Economic Schools in Bulgaria (AIUB). The European Money Quiz is an initiative of the national banking associations in Europe to promote financial literacy among high school students and is coordinated by the European Banking Association. The cooperation between ABB and AUIB is being implemented as a next step of the memorandum concluded between ABB and the UNWE. It was officially announced at a special event held at the UNWE. The pilot project will include 5 schools from Sofia, Plovdiv and Burgas and over 100 students from the lower secondary school.
The round table dedicated to the European Money Quiz was attended by Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov, Rector of the UNWE, Assoc. Prof. Dr. James Yolovski, Secretary General of ABB, Prof. Dr. Daniela Feschiyan, Chair of the Association of Economic Schools in Bulgaria, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yanko Hristozov, Vice-Rector for International Affairs of the UNWE, Ms. Emilia Ivanova, Vice-Chairman of AIUB, Director of the National School of Commerce and Banking, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Irina Kazandzhieva, Director of Banking Policies and Analyses at ABB, Ms. Maya Gesheva, Member of the Coordination Council of AIUB and Director of the National School of Finance and Economics, Dr. Petya Gerasimova, Director of the National School of Commerce – Plovdiv, Mr. Pavel Chepov, Director of the School of Commerce in Burgas and Ms. Gergana Nikolova, Deputy Director, Department of Vocational Education of the National School of Commerce – Plovdiv.
The Association of Banks in Bulgaria, as a member of the European Banking Federation (EBF), is a partner and coordinator for the implementation of EMQ at the national level. One of the main directions in which ABB and its members work is to increase the financial literacy of the population in our country. Knowledge of personal finances, the economy and risks for the population is crucial for managing daily expenses, dealing with challenges, avoiding fraud and building a sustainable financial future for generations.
“UNWE is a leading business university and we work every day to strengthen the role of cooperation between the academic community, secondary education and business. The initiative we are talking about today is something qualitatively new, because we have AIUB, on the one hand, another very powerful and respected organization – the Association of Banks in Bulgaria, and our university, which is helping the school-university-business connection to happen again. Therefore, it is not surprising that our students are getting good results, business is interested in them and we have a record number of candidate students,” said the rector, Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov.
“For the banking sector, financial literacy is an exceptional priority. Therefore, it is important to encourage students from an early age to develop in this direction, to present the development of banking activities and professions in the banking sector in a way that is attractive to them and orients them in their future career development,” said Assoc. Prof. Dr. James Yolovski, General Secretary of ABB, and added that students from 8th and 9th grades from more than 35 countries participate in the European Money Competition. “With its 10-year experience in implementing competitions in the field of economics, as well as with the successful preparation of students for participation in them, AIUB is a key partner in conducting Bulgaria’s pilot participation in the initiative. After the completion at the national round, according to the competition regulations, the two laureates with the highest results will be determined, who, together with their two teachers, will go to Brussels, where they will take part in the finals of the competition with all national laureates. At the same time, they will visit the European Banking Association, a number of European institutions and will be part of many other events and activities.”
Prof. Dr. Daniela Feschiyan, President of the Association of Economic Schools in Bulgaria, emphasized during the event: “This meeting is extremely significant and is the worthiest way to celebrate our 10th anniversary by placing a new beginning for our country on the European map of economic competitions, which I am convinced will bring huge results and effects on young people in Bulgaria, on our future. For ten years, the Association of Economic Schools in Bulgaria has been showing the modern image of academicism – desirable, respectful and inspiring trust. In its tenth year, it meets an exceptional partner in the person of the Association of Banks in Bulgaria. I hope that together we will not only elevate this image of modern academicism, but also do what the AEB has always worked for – to build the next foundation in the bridge between secondary education, university and business.”
“In my capacity as coordinator of the memorandum of cooperation between the UNWE and the Association of Banks in Bulgaria, I am extremely satisfied that we are actually showing that this agreement is starting to work and I am sure that the two associations will act in sync and will certainly achieve very good results,” noted Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yanko Hristozov, Vice-Rector for International Affairs at UNWE.
