XXII national scientific conference with international participation &bdquo ;The society of knowledge and humanism of the 21st century“, dedicated to the Day of People's Wakers, decorated the holiday of wakers at UniBIT. For 22 years, November 1 has been the patron holiday of the boutique higher school – guardian of spirituality and cultural heritage.
The forum was opened in the National Library “ Saints Saints Cyril and Methodius” – the first home of the University of Library Science and Information Technology.
According to tradition since 2019, this holiday begins with an official ceremony of awarding the National Award in the name of Academician Blagovest Sendov, established by UniBIT, on the initiative of Prof. D.Sc. Stoyan Denchev, with the active support of the Union of Bulgarian Teachers and the Ministry of Education and Science.
Selection committees of prominent university professors, scientists, trade union activists, experts in the field of education and science and prominent public figures chose the first winners of the prestigious award. The Award for Contribution to Education and Science for 2024 in the category “teacher” is awarded to Mrs. Elitsa Tsoneva – teacher and Director “Project activities“ in Private Primary School “Thomas Edison“, Sofia,
The same award in the category “university teacher and distinguished scientist” was awarded to Prof. Martin Vechev – Founder of the Institute of Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence and Technology (INSAIT).
With the special award “Acad. Blagovest Sendov“, for overall contribution, Prof. Dr. Stoyan Markov was awarded.
The prize regalia, certificates, Swiss watches and creative gifts from the “Wake Up“ UniBIT was presented by the Minister of Education and Science, Prof. Galin Tsokov, his deputy in the Ministry of Education, Dr. Emilia Lazarova, Major General Staiko Prokopiev, head of the Military Academy “G. S. Rakovski“ and the sculptor Vezhdi Rashidov.
The conference “The society of knowledge and humanism of the 21st century“ is held against the background of the celebration of the historic anniversary - 200 years since the publication of Dr. Peter Beron's Fish Primer. That is why the plenary report of Dr. Boyana Mincheva from the National Library “St. St. Cyril and Methodius“ was dedicated to “Unknown facts about the illustrations in the first edition of the Fish Primer“.
The participants in the scientific forum – 70 authors, including 33 PhD students, 20 of them foreigners, presented their reports and scientific announcements, divided into five sections: “Literature and Humanism“, “Cultural Heritage – history, modernity and perspectives“, “Information technologies and digital transformations in the knowledge society“, “Security – challenges in the XXI century“ and “University Youth Academy for Knowledge Management“ (section for students and doctoral students). Representatives of seven foreign scientific institutions joined the family of scientists from UniBIT.
The plenary session was held in the National Library “St. St. Cyril and Methodius“. Scientific reports were presented in sections at the University of Library Science and Information Technology – the building on "Tsarigradsko Shose" Blvd. No. 119.
The conference gives the scientific community the opportunity to learn about the latest achievements in various thematic areas of knowledge. The author's reports were published in the proceedings of the conference "Knowledge Society and Humanism of the 21st Century", which is included in the reference list of NACID.
Special guests at the conference were the artists from the Academic Mixed Chamber Choir “Gaudeamus“ of the Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts “Prof. Asen Diamandiev“ – city of Plovdiv. They graced the scientific forum with the premiere of the one-act opera “The Morage“ by Luinggi Cherubini – conductor ch. Asst. Dr. Alia Hanse. An exhibition with works by the artist Tatiana Antonova was also officially opened. The teacher of the workshop “Fairytale World” is an example of a true modern alarm clock – devoted her creative and life path to the spiritualization of the nation and education of aesthetic taste and respect for art.
Every nation has great holidays, but only the Bulgarian nation celebrates the Day of its Awakeners as a part of our spirit, of our conscience, as a praise of their work. Exactly 115 years ago in Plovdiv on November 1, the first celebration of the Day of the Wakers was celebrated. For 22 years, on this day, UniBIT has been paying tribute to the creators and guardians of Bulgarian spirituality, preserved in the people's memory, Assoc. Dr. Lubomira Parijkova said in conclusion – head of the scientific team that organized the Conference.
The forum received congratulatory addresses from the President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Rumen Radev, from the Ambassador of the State of Israel, H.E. Yossi Levi Sfari, Chief Commissioner, Dr. Anton Zlatanov, Director of the General Directorate of Public Security, the Ambassador of the Republic of North Macedonia, H.E. Mrs. Agneza Popovska and others.
“Thank you that on this bright holiday – celebration of the national spirit and literature, we are together to pay our respects to the founders of Bulgarian spirituality, education and culture. In times of social upheavals and global uncertainty, it is important not to lose faith in spirituality and to constantly search for the roots of our national foundations”, summed up Prof. Dr. Irena Peteva, Rector of UniBIT.
At the end of the solemn day, Prof. Denchev announced that the rector of UniBIT was awarded the national award "Follower of the People's Awakeners” – a prestigious recognition, which is awarded to eminent persons in the field of education, science and culture in Bulgaria, who with their work, dedication and personal example follow and popularize the work of the Bulgarian people's awakeners – those educators, teachers, writers and spiritual leaders who have contributed to the preservation and development of the Bulgarian spirit and culture.
