University of Economics – Varna hosted the Dukenet network annual meeting for the first time. The Dukenet network is a prestigious international consortium of business schools. The event was held on 26 and 27 June 2025 and it gathered representatives from 15 European universities, who exchanged expertise, ideas and visions for the future of our international academic cooperation.
In his welcome address, Prof. Evgeni Stanimirov, Rector of University of Economics – Varna, emphasized the impact of educational institutions in their drive towards innovation, international cooperation and sustainable development.
The meeting’s agenda focused on an extensive range of topics related to developing the Dukenet network. The participants presented key findings from current Dukenet international educational programmes such as Marketing Simulations, BrandY, PROMINENCE, Magellan, Mercuri, EMBS, etc.
Attendees discussed opportunities to expand the network with new HEIs, and planned future joint initiatives, including the Erasmus+ SHERLOCK project, which focuses on marketing research and collaboration.
The meeting further involved strategic planning for the 2025/2026 academic year, and a financial rules update towards greater transparency and efficiency, along with the election of a new Dukenet Vice President and Treasurer.
The university representatives also held an official handover ceremony for the Dukenet presidency. They discussed ideas for strengthening the organization’s presence on social media such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram for better academic community visibility and engagement.
We are delighted to share that UE – Varna has been selected to host two Dukenet international student training intensive programmes in the academic year 2025/2026:
Not only is Dukenet a network that connects universities from across Europe, focusing on marketing, international business and entrepreneurship collaboration, but it also installs a sense of a community.
UE – Varna’s contribution to the Dukenet network is yet another step towards establishing the university as an international educational institution.
We would like to thank all participants for the exchange of inspiring constructive ideas and for their contribution to creating a friendly atmosphere.
We look forward to the next joint Dukenet initiatives!
For more information, please contact Dr. Petar Petrov, University of Economics – Varna Dukenet Ambassador, email: p.k.petrov@ue-varna.bg.
07 Jul 2025
