The 50^th anniversary of Commodity Science major

On 19 October 1998 we celebrated the 50^th anniversary of the major of Commodity Science. The Commodity Science major has been established and has developed in Bulgaria only at the University of Economics - Varna and it has not changed its name for 50 years. From the very beginning, the educational goal of the major has clearly been defined, namely: training of highly qualified specialists on commodities. Throughout the historical development, this educational goal has not changed, it has only been complemented in certain cases depending on the changes in the structure of education and the needs of practice.

Ever since the establishment of the major, 20 lecturers have worked in the Department of Commodities Science: 5 Professors, 7 Associate Professors, 3 Chief Assistant Lecturers and 5 Senior Assistant Lecturers. They have all contributed to the training of the students in Commodities Science. The students have also been taught by lecturers from other departments of the University of Economics - Varna teaching special and fundamental subjects. The present department staff consists of 13 full-time lecturers, including 1 Professor, doctor of chemistry, 7 Associate Professors, doctors, 2 Chief Assistants, doctors, 1 Chief Assistant and 2 Assistants.

For the purpose of students training and for research work of both students and lecturers, the Department of Commodity Science has established and equipped 6 seminar rooms and 3 research laboratories. Providing necessary information involves using computers and other technical means, reading specialized science and popular magazines, conference papers magazines, etc.

The lecturers from the Department of Commodities Science have been involved in various intensive research and publication activities. The predominant part of their publications is based on their own experimental research. From 1948 to 1998, the lecturers from the Department had more than 1000 publications including: 242 research papers (treatises, studies) published in Bulgaria, 73 research papers published abroad, 227 articles in science magazines, 177 papers at science conferences in Bulgaria and 44 papers at conferences abroad, 44 inventions, author’s certificates and patents, 34 research developments within the University Research Sector, 109 University textbooks and workbooks and 23 high school textbooks and 11 reference books.

The Department of Commodity Science has organized science conferences with participation from abroad. Since 1970 eight conferences have taken place. Over four hundred papers were presented at the conferences, 226 of which by foreign specialists and 201 by Bulgarian specialists.

Since the establishment of the major till the end of 1998 over 2000 specialists of higher education graduated in Commodities Science. Thanks to the versatile and profound training they get during their studies, all graduates in Commodities Science have been able to make a successful career in the economic field. Some of them have also worked as teachers in Commodities Science and other economic subjects at higher and secondary specialized schools.

Throughout its 50-year existence, the Commodity Science Major has developed and established its reputation in Bulgaria and abroad. This has been achieved mainly on the basis of steady lasting relations with similar departments and majors in the country and abroad. The international cooperation has involved participation in science conferences, joint text-book publishing, defense doctoral theses abroad, students exchange, etc. We have established international cooperation with the Department of Commodity Science at the Economic Academy in Poznan and Krakow - Poland, with MINH “G. Plehanov” - Moscow, the Leningrad Institute of trade, with the University of Economics Budapest, etc.

Through the years of its establishment and development, the major of Commodity Science has encountered various difficulties, as well. These difficulties have been successfully solved with hard work and persistence.

Assoc. Professor Hristo Donchev, Ph. D.

Head of the Department of Commodities Science