News

Three students from Kozloduy took management positions in State Enterprise Radioactive Waste which joined the yearly initiative of Junior Achievement – Manager for a day. Alexander Hristov stepped into the role of the Chief Engineer of Specialised Division Units 1-4 Decommissioning. Alexander Zapryanov took the place of the Chief Technologist in the same division, and Alexander Dimchovski travelled to the Company’s main office in Sofia to become a SERAW executive director for one day. He attended also the ceremony for the initiative opening, which took place in Hall Royal of Sheraton Sofia Hotel Balkan. Almost a thousand young people, their mentors as well as representatives of various government institutions were at the event. For one day Alexander stepped took the place of Dilyan Petrov – the executive director. He was introduced with the work of the both deputy directors of SERAW. At the end of the day the young future manager shared: “This was a very exciting day for me. I saw what the managers are dealing with every day. I learned a lot about their work and I think that the most important for the success of the manager is to know how to think and express yourself the right way and to make accurate decisions. After this day I reconsidered my personal goals and I think of another field for my future. To my classmates I wish to success in life, not to be poor and without any job, yet this can be achieved with hard work”.
Alexander Hristov and Alexander Zapryanov started the day with a regular working briefing of the managers of the Specialised Division for the decommissioning of the shutdown nuclear units, where they learned about the progress on various assignments and subsequent operations were planned. Within the working day they were accompanied and guided by their mentors, whose positions they normally occupy – Plamen Petkov – Chief Engineer SD Units 1-4 Decommissioning and Momchil Kazakov – Chief Technologist. The two young managers visited the Turbine Hall of Units 1 and 2 and saw closely the decommissioning activities, examined Reactor Building through an observation glass met workers and watched their work. The both participants of the initiative Manager for a day were put in real situations where they were required to make important decisions.
The day proved to be particularly useful for the SERAW managers and for the students, which have further professional education ahead and career choices to make.
Alexander Hristov, a student in Professional School for Nuclear Energy Igor Kurchatov, specialty RES: said: “I was very pleased with my participation in this initiative. The Chief engineer showed me how his workday really goes. The activities performed here are very specific. I noticed that all are separated into small teams and work together. This is not my first time to participate in the initiative Manager for a day but the visit in SERAW went beyond expectations. I never realised what exactly is the decommissioning, but now I can say that I have a real understanding of this field”.
Alexander Zapryanov a student in Professional School for Nuclear Energy Igor Kurchatov in Electric Power Engineering: “I participate for a first time in the initiative and I am very impressed of the great responsibility of people who we tried to replace. There is no room for mistakes and everyone is busy with certain tasks which should not be delayed. I never imagined the things in the enterprise to be like this. In theory it seems easy but what I saw impressed me”.
Manager for a Day is among the most popular initiatives of Junior Achievement Bulgaria. It is held annually in more than 100 countries worldwide. It always involves both senior government leaders and proven managers from all areas of business and public life. These leaders give rise to the career of thousands of students around the world, and in return receive satisfaction from the transmitted experience and collaboration, as well as inspiration from innovative and fresh ideas of motivated young people. The initiative is designed for students from the end of secondary school and for students from the first years of university – 16-23 years old. Organising the Manager for a Day is fully in line with the educational policy of the European Union – to have more practical education in order to enable young people to gain real preparation for the real world of business relations.