STUDENTS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY AND SECURITY AT VFU "CHERNORIZETS HRABER" CARRIED OUT AN INTERNSHIP AT THE KOZLODUY NPP

22 July 2022

Third- and fourth-year students majoring in National Security Protection and Combating Crime and Public Order Protection at Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar" visited the Nuclear Power Plant in Kozloduy as part of their internship. The future experts, who are trained in the university's bachelor's programmes, got acquainted with the main systems located at the Kozloduy NPP site and the Nuclear Power Plant Accident Management Centre. They met with the experts and talked about topics related to the operational safety and security in the country's largest electricity producer. Topics related to the future of nuclear energy and Bulgaria's energy strategy, the environmental aspects of energy on a global scale, energy efficiency and the need for highly qualified experts in the field of energy and security were discussed.

The students' internship at the Kozloduy NPP is led by Assoc. Prof. Stefko Burdzhiev, PhD, head of the department of Security and Safety at the Faculty of Law. The partnership of VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar" with the Kozloduy NPP dates back to 2013, when a partnership agreement was signed, and this year the document has been renewed.

Students majoring in National Security Protection and Crime Prevention and Combating Crime and Public Order Protection also conduct practical classes at the Centre for Professional Qualification at the Regional Directorate Fire Safety and Population Protection - Montana and at its training ground.
Varna Free University is the first non-departmental higher education institution in Bulgaria, in which, as early as 1995 and 1997, the majors in National and Corporate Security and Combating Crime and Public Order Protection were launched, preparing personnel for the field of security. The two majors are accredited for the fourth time in a row by the National Assessment and Accreditation Agency for the maximum six-year period. The Department of Security and Safety has over 25 years of experience and traditions in the training of specialists and an excellent material and technical base. Alive and extremely valuable connection is kept with practicing alumni working in the security structures, in the rapid response services and in the administrations of the central and local executive authorities.

The majors prepare suitable personnel for work in the structures of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, State Agency "National Security", State Agency "Technical Operations", Service "Military Police" of the Ministry of Defence, State Agency "Intelligence", National Security Service, probation services at the Main Directorate "Execution of Punishments", the commissions for anti-social behaviour of minors and juveniles at the municipalities, the commissions, councils and staffs for public order protection in the event of natural and man-made disasters at the municipalities, specialists in the implementation of alternative forms of correction and resocialization, etc.

The training in the Defence of National Security and Combating Crime and Public Order Protection bachelor's programmes meets the needs of specialists with higher education in the system of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, for countering conventional, economic and organised crime and public order protection. The training is conducted by highly qualified lecturers and proven practicing experts. Traditionally, the two majors are among the most preferred by prospective students and in the university's campaign this year.