The semester and academic year program offers courses (taught in English and Bulgarian) and optional internships for qualified students.
Courses are held at the University of Economics (UEV).
Internships are organized at various companies and organizations in Varna.
Most courses are the equivalent of 3 credits.
Internships are 3 to 6 credits, depending on time commitment.
Program transcripts are issued by UEV or KEI's university of record (accredited in the USA).
Selecting Courses The Balkans: Regional Studies Seminar is required, serves as a foundation course for the program and integrates cultural excursions.
All other courses are optional.
Students can enroll in up to 18 credits per semester.
Note that some courses listed on this page may change or may be offered during a different semester.
Contact KEI for the most updated list of courses.
COURSES & DESCRIPTIONS
Click on the course title to view the description.
Contact KEI if you need syllabi for credit transfer approval at your university.
Fall & Spring Semesters The Balkans: Regional Studies Seminar
This is a survey course of the Baltic, its geopolitics, history and culture.
The course focuses on Bulgaria's role in the Baltic, including its influence on the cyrillic alphabet, art and literature.
Bulgaria, European Union & the World
This course introduces students to the political economy of Bulgaria.
"Political economy" refers to a strongly interactive process of economic factors driving political decision-making, and political decision-making determining the development of national economic factors.
The course begins with an examination of the Command-Administrative Economy during the Soviet era and an analysis of its structure.
Building on this, it proceeds to an examination of post-Soviet times with a focus on Bulgaria's role in the European Union and the world.
Bulgaria: Past & Present
Bulgarian civilization; major political, social, cultural and economic developments from the prehistoric to the present.
Study of values extant in selected incidents in Bulgarian history which were characterized by severe conflicts.
Bulgarian Literature Bulgarian Language (Beginner)
This course aims to help the student to acquire some knowledge of basic Bulgarian, so that s/he can communicate with Bulgarians, using basic vocabulary and grammar to express him/herself.
Bulgarian Language (Intermediate)
This course aims to help the students enhance their knowledge of Bulgarian language and expand their vocabulary.
Bulgarian Language (Advanced)
This course suits the needs of students who would like to achieve proficiency in communicative skills, to master grammar and to enrich their vocabulary. It is also for teachers of Bulgarian as a foreign language who want to improve their professional competence.
Professional Internship
Internships allow students to gain practical experience not attainable in a classroom setting.
Placement is based on available positions and student interest.
See INTERNSHIP section for more information.
Community Service Internship
Internships allow students to gain practical experience not attainable in a classroom setting.
Placement is based on available positions and student interest.
See INTERNSHIP section for more information.
Fall Semester Macroeconomic Theory & Policy for Managers
Introduction to macroeconomics principle, theories of output, consumption, inflation, unemployment, fiscal and monetary policy, international monetary system.
Relationship Marketing
This course is designed to provide students with an in-depth understanding of the complex needs associated with he marketing of services.
It focuses specifically on service marketing issues such as the service environment, customers, delivery & quality, relationship marketing, marketing mix strategies for service and much more.
It is specifically designed so that students can build on the technical, theoretical and practical aspects of marketing already featured in previous marketing modules.
In particular it looks as the broad range of marketing decisions and the factors that influence these decisions within a wider business context.
International Logistics
The nature of international problems associated with the supply, distribution, and sourcing of products, the operational support of market development in foreign countries, international sourcing and the management of supply and distribution activities.
Development Economics
Development economics studies different aspects of human development, such as inequality, poverty, education, population growth, land relations, labor, capital, trade policy, informal and formal norms and institutions. Over 80 percent of the world population live in countries facing most of these issues. While studying each of these topics, we ask: What determines the success of a policy (by government, international and non-governmental organizations)? What policies have been tried out? Which of them have led to improved welfare?
During the last decades the developing countries are playing a greater role in the global economy. Their success or failure affects also the fortunes of the industrialized world. Thus we will pay a greater attention to the leading emerging markets of China, India, Brazil, Mexico and Russia. Finally, we will explore the interdependencies between developed and developing countries stemming from sharing one environment and common natural resources.
Multinational Enterprises & Regional Development
The process of economic globalization erodes the effectiveness of national fiscal policy and increases the importance of the regions for the development of the national economy. At this point the overall liberalization makes regional economies more dependent on activities of MNE as well as more bound together through value added chains of MNE. The aim of this course is to introduce students to the major new trends and dependencies, analyzing MNE and globalization influence on regional development as well as the possibilities for implementation of effective regional policy toward FDI and MNE.
The course includes the following main topics: the role of the region and regional development under the conditions of economic globalization; conventional and contemporary approaches toward regional development; motives and strategies for MNE penetration in host economy; spatial distribution of MNE; primary and secondary linkages of MNE with local economy; forecasting and evaluating of MNE impact on local economy; regional policy toward FDI and MNE. The students follow balanced syllabus that includes theory and practice, discussions on case studies and selected documentaries.
Comparative Economic Systems
The course is focused on analyzing market diversity and its characteristics on regional and national level. It includes three parts – the theoretical one which deals with defining, summarizing and clarification of different market models and their basic characteristics, revealed by means of a group of 9 criteria (5 economic and 4 non-economic). The second and third parts are practically oriented. The second examines the market diversity in 6 developed countries, while the third part experiences the same systematic analysis on Bulgarian economy, trying to answer the question to which of the existing models the country gravitates.
Spring Semester Managerial Economics
Managerial economics is designed to provide a solid foundation of economic understanding for use in managerial decision making. The fundamental goal of the course is to show students how the microeconomic theoretical concepts can actually be used in the real-world decision making. The main problems discussed during the lectures will be as follows: Basic optimization techniques, Demand analysis and estimation, Production theory and cost analysis, Market structure analysis and the role of government in the market economy.
Financial Investment
Investment principles and practices, investment policies, security analysis, mechanism and mathematics of security purchases, long-and short-term fluctuations of security prices, functions of securities markets and regulatory bodies, individual investment needs; quantitative and qualitative aspects of risk and return associated with investment decisions, and fundamental, technical, and random-walk approaches to valuation.
Marketing Communications
An exploration of the nature and purpose of advertising and sales promotion in accordance with an integrated marketing communications perspective, shows how these activities will fit into the general process of marketing management, and specifically addresses marketing objectives and budget, target audience selection, communication objective, creative strategy, integrated communication strategy and media strategy.
Corporate Finance
Characteristics and roles of international financial markets, foreign exchange markets, financial cross border trade, currency risk and portfolio diversification, introduction to derivative markets and international monetary systems affecting the management of multinational business corporations.
Business Communication
This module is specifically designed to develop key communication skills necessary of today's business manager. Emphasis is placed on how to develop and enhance these skills both within an individual and group context. Ultimately, once these skills have been successfully acquired, it leads to greater personal and professional development.
International Economics
The aims of this course are to instil in the student an understanding and appreciation of how the global economy operates, provide the student with the ability to use theories and models to make sense out of the real world, and to suggest policy solutions to economic problems.
Consumer Behavior
Introduction to theories of consumer behavioral analysis, consumer decision-making process, consumer psychological processes and their impact on marketing decision, and social and cultural dimension in the consumer purchasing process.
The summer program offers courses (taught in English) and an optional internship for qualified students.
Courses are held at the University of Economics (UEV).
Internships are organized at various companies and organizations in Varna.
Courses and internships are 3 credits.
Program transcripts are issued by UEV or KEI's university of record (accredited in the USA).
COURSES & DESCRIPTIONS
The Bulgarian Studies Seminar is required, serves as a foundation course for the program and integrates cultural excursions.
Students can enroll in one additional course and an optional internship.
Internships require an extended stay (total of 2 months).
Course syllabi will be available on this page in the near future.
In the meantime, contact KEI if you need a syllabus for credit approval at your university.
The Balkans: Regional Studies Seminar
This is a survey course of the Baltic, its geopolitics, history and culture.
The course focuses on Bulgaria's role in the Baltic, including its influence on the cyrillic alphabet, art and literature.
Bulgaria, European Union & the World
This course introduces students to the political economy of Bulgaria.
"Political economy" refers to a strongly interactive process of economic factors driving political decision-making, and political decision-making determining the development of national economic factors.
The course begins with an examination of the Command-Administrative Economy during the Soviet era and an analysis of its structure.
Building on this, it proceeds to an examination of post-Soviet times with a focus on Bulgaria's role in the European Union and the world.
Bulgarian Language (Beginner)
This course aims to help the student to acquire some knowledge of basic Bulgarian, so that s/he can communicate with Bulgarians, using basic vocabulary and grammar to express him/herself.
Six students must enroll for the course to be offered.
Private language lessons can be organized for an additional fee.
Bulgarian Language (Intermediate)
This course aims to help the students enhance their knowledge of Bulgarian language and expand their vocabulary.
Six students must enroll for the course to be offered.
Private language lessons can be organized for an additional fee.
Professional Internship
Internships allow students to gain practical experience not attainable in a classroom setting.
Placement is based on available positions and student interest.
Students must extend their studies by one month (until mid August) to accommodate the internship.
See INTERNSHIP section for more information.
Community Service Internship
Internships allow students to gain practical experience not attainable in a classroom setting.
Placement is based on available positions and student interest.
Students must extend their studies by one month (until mid August) to accommodate the internship.
See INTERNSHIP section for more information.
Internship placement is based on professional and personal interests.
Positions are available in business, marketing, communications, commerce law, humanitarian aid and community development.
A significant portion of your work may also deal with English translation or English-language support at your organization.
Below is a list of possible placements.
Actual placement may be at a different company or organization
Citycast Ltd.
Balkan Trust for Democracy
Bilkprom Ltd.
Natura
HIT-06
Karagitlievi Ltd.
Bulgarian language proficiency is not required.
Internships can be organized in English.
However, students who speak Bulgarian at an intermediate or better proficiency have more options.
As an intern in Varna, you will need to conform to Bulgarian business standards.
Most internships require a commitment of at least 120 hours.
Students must plan their academic schedule accordingly.
Learn more about internship guidelines...