On the eve of the Day of the People's Awakeners, the University of Library Science and Information Technologies - UniBIT, gathered with words, thoughts and love for knowledge in the National Library "St. Cyril and Methodius" scientists, students and friends - people for whom books, science and humanity are a path and a philosophy of life. The 23rd scientific conference "The Knowledge Society and Humanism of the 21st Century" met generations who believe that in the era of artificial intelligence the most important thing is to remain human.
The holiday began with a solemn ceremony at the National Library of Library Science and Information Technologies. The official guest of the celebration was Mrs. Iliyana Yotova, Vice President of the Republic of Bulgaria. The UniBIT celebration was honored by two Ministers of Education and Science - Dr. Emilia Lazarova and Mrs. Natalia Mihalevska, the historiographer Mr. Stoyan Raychevski, the journalist Ms. Valeria Veleva, the Deputy Director of the Agency “Customs“ Mr. Plamen Pavlov, Ms. Edelina Kaneva, Director of the State Musical Theater, Mr. Emil Spahiyski, Director of the State Publishing House “Az-buki“ and others.
The celebration was opened by Prof. Stoyan Denchev with the ringing of the bell and the national anthem. On behalf of the Rector Prof. Irena Peteva, a speech was delivered by Prof. Tereza Trencheva – Vice-Rector for Research and International Affairs.
She emphasized the importance of the holiday as a symbol of spirituality, knowledge and responsibility towards the future, emphasizing the role of the university in continuing the work of the awakeners through education, scientific events and inspiration for young generations.
In the official address to the participants in the forum on the occasion of the Day of the Awakeners of the People, Vice President Iliana Yotova delivered a strong, inspiring and profound message: “Whoever relies on knowledge has a future“.
In the spiritual home of Bulgaria, as she called the National Library, Ms. Yotova emphasized that there are no ready-made recipes in history, because every time gives birth to its trials and its heroes, but Bulgarian history has bequeathed us the greatest wealth – the responsibility to preserve the spirit, culture and humanity.
The Vice President spoke about humanism as the core of Bulgarian spirituality, as what makes us a people with a mission - a people that does not simply exist, but creates meaning. She recalled that our national culture is our Bulgarian key, through which we open doors to the future, because it contains the wisdom of the centuries.
With special feeling, Ms. Yotova focused on the power and historical wisdom of the Bulgarian language - a language that is a combination of letters, writing and faith, a mosaic of Slavism, and a living memory of the spirit that connects us with our roots and with all who carry the Cyrillic alphabet in their hearts. She spoke out against nihilism and indifference that corrode values, and called for a return to the power of speech, culture and knowledge.
Vice President Ms. Yotova defined the scientific conference dedicated to the knowledge society and humanism of the 21st century as a valuable and necessary meeting between the past and the future, a forum that continues the work of the enlighteners, seeking answers about the direction of man, knowledge and spirituality in the modern world, and placed emphasis on its 23rd anniversary. In her words, she reminded that enlightenment is a living mission and that those who guard the light of knowledge and humanity also guard the soul of Bulgaria.
The business part was decorated with the ceremonies of awarding honorary titles and academic awards “Acad. Blagovest Sendov“.
Valya Balkanska – whose voice embraced the Cosmos, was awarded the honorary title of “Doctor Honoris Causa“. When her name was announced, the hall erupted in applause. The legendary singer, whose performance of “Izlel e Delyo hajdutin“ sounds among the stars on the golden record of “Voyager“, came out slowly, with dignity and that earthly modesty that has always distinguished true folk revivalists. She accepted the title as recognition for the spiritual mission of her voice - a voice that has turned Bulgarian song into a message to the Universe. In her short speech, Balkanska thanked with tearful eyes: “Thank you for making me feel part of something that is not measured in words, but in faith and love. Bulgarian song is a prayer, and today it is once again praying for knowledge, light and kindness. Whether we deserved this award or not – I don't know, but I know that we should be with our heads held high as Bulgarians“.
The audience sent her off on her feet, and in the eyes of many shone that quiet pride that they were contemporaries of a woman who turned the voice of the Rhodope Mountains into a symbol of humanity.
After the emotional recognition for Valya Balkanska, the stage welcomed another symbol of the Bulgarian soul - Petar Yanev, the man whose bagpipe sounds like a prayer to the earth. He was awarded the honorary title of "Honorary Professor" - he does not teach in academic halls, but teaches generations how to love Bulgaria through music and how to preserve the Rhodope spirit. In his hands - an old Rhodope bagpipe, in his eyes - gentleness and dignity. His smile is the kind of smile that does not seek recognition, but simply thanks fate for giving him the gift of bringing people together through the sounds of his bagpipe.
“The bagpipe is a living soul - you breathe with it, cry with it, rejoice with it”, said Yanev while accepting the award. “It does not speak with words, but with the heart. And if in this world full of machines, there is something truly human, it is the sound of a bagpipe and the laughter of a child.“
The applause for him was both a greeting and recognition that for decades he has kept the pulse of the Rhodope Mountains alive and with noble modesty carries his music as a mission.
The moment when the annual academic awards “Acad. Blagovest Sendov“ for contribution to education and science were presented was particularly touching. The honorees were Mrs. Elka Bozhikova, director of the “Yane Sandanski“ Primary and Secondary Education School – Gotse Delchev, and Prof. Dr. Nikolay Vitanov from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences – names that symbolize dedication to knowledge and hard work behind the scenes of success.
The teacher and the scientist – two different paths, but the same mission. Bozhikova accepted the award with the words:
“Every day at school is a chance to awaken in children what the world needs to hear most – the voice of reason and the heart“. Bozhikova told with trepidation how 25 years ago she welcomed Acad. Sendov to the school she runs, and how now fate has brought her together with him again – already as the winner of the award bearing his name.
Prof. Vitanov, for his part, thanked with his typical academic restraint, but also with a smile in his unconventional, slightly provocative style. He specified that “librarians are his people“, and he himself wrote a foreword to Edward Luttwok's book “The Coup d'état: a practical guide“, and it will soon be on the Bulgarian market. Vitanov shared that he was inspired by Ms. Yotova's speech and that after his books about Japan and China, his next book will be about Bulgaria, with all its oddities, beauty and challenges. And as they greet in Osaka: “May you be alive and well and earn well!“, concluded Prof. Vitanov.
“Science is not about laboratories and numbers. It is about people – for their future, so that they can live better, more meaningfully.“
When the ceremony ended, the hall stood up. There was applause, hugs, flashes of cameras – but also something else, more elusive: the feeling that at that moment Bulgaria remembers who its true heroes are – the people of knowledge, of spirit, of light. Against this background, the European anthem was performed as a message to the future by the Guards Representative Brass Band, conducted by Maestro Lt. Gen. Radi Radev, who was awarded an honorary plaque by UniBIT on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the university.
A honorary plaque for the 75th anniversary of UniBIT was also received by Vice President Mrs. Iliyana Yotova.
The official opening ended with the words of Prof. Stoyan Denchev - long-time rector and now chairman of the Board of Trustees of UniBIT: “Humanism is not a concept, but a way of being human - every day, in every word, in your attitude towards knowledge and towards others. And these words echoed in the hall as a call and promise that enlightenment is not only a past, but also a present choice.
By tradition, the scientific forum continues in the halls of UniBIT, which in an open platform for the exchange of knowledge and ideas, unites the humanities, cultural heritage, information technologies and national security.
The first section of the forum – “Literature and Humanism“, focused on library resources, literary sociology and philosophy. Among the highlights were the hypertext architecture of UniBIT as a megaresource for 95 years, the updating of copyright policy and discussions on the political philosophy of Niccolo Machiavelli. The lecture on the influence of artificial intelligence on literature and innovation, presented by Leona Aslanova, aroused interest.
The second section – “Cultural Heritage – history, modernity and perspectives“, united historical and spiritual themes. Highlights included discussions of archaeological sites such as Gebekilise, the historical authenticity of the “Thessaloniki legend“ and the spiritual heritage of the Orthodox revivalists. The discussions highlighted the importance of cultural tourism, the digitization of archives and the interdisciplinary approach to promoting cultural heritage.
The third section was dedicated to information technologies and digital transformations of knowledge. Among the main topics were the integration of artificial intelligence in library services, the use of chatbots and blockchain, digitalization of learning processes and the impact of AI on UX and creative practice. The lectures emphasized the role of technologies in modern university education and scientific research.
In the fourth section – – Security - challenges in the 21st century“, the focus was on national security, cyber threats and strategic leadership. Participants discussed organizational models for management, control over strategic resources, transformations in the profile of victims of domestic violence, as well as the opportunities and challenges of steganography and AI in the media.
The last section gave the floor to students, doctoral students, postdoctoral fellows and young scientists who presented innovative research. Among the highlights were AI in the university library, digitization of manuscripts such as “Slavo-Bulgarian History“, management of intercultural education, and analyses of leadership and the geopolitical consequences of the war in Ukraine.
The forum demonstrated the successful combination of traditional humanitarian values with digital technologies, emphasizing the importance of humanism and knowledge in the modern world. The discussions and lectures provided a wide range of ideas for innovations in education, librarianship, cultural heritage and national security, establishing the forum as an important platform for the exchange of scientific knowledge, said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nina Debrune, Chair of the Conference Organizing Committee, at the end of the forum.
The forum showed how digital technologies and artificial intelligence are transforming librarianship and cultural heritage, while preserving historical and spiritual values, responding to contemporary security challenges and inspiring young scientists to create innovative international projects, summarized Prof. Tereza Trencheva.