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Students to Step into the Role of Managers for 90 Minutes at Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar”
22 October 2026
Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar” will challenge high school students to make management decisions, assign tasks and resolve conflicts in the educational competition “Manager for 90 Minutes.” The competition will be led by Prof. Dr. Velislava Nikolaeva, a lecturer in the Department of Administration and Management. She has experience in management, leadership, coaching and educational management, and is a certified mediator specializing in school mediation and coaching.
Over the course of 90 minutes, students will progress from the fundamental principles of management to their practical application. They will explore decision-making, the delegation of authority and tasks, and approaches to managing team conflicts. The emphasis will be on taking responsibility both for choosing a course of action and for implementing it.
Divided into teams, the students will work on management case studies that present them with challenges drawn from the operations of an organization. They will analyze problems, discuss possible courses of action and defend their decisions. In doing so, they will test their ability to persuade, plan, justify their positions and reach agreement. Unexpected twists may also arise during the game.
Participants will present their management decisions to a four-member jury and consider the question of how heavy the “crown” really is when you are responsible for people, tasks, budgets and achieving a common goal. All students will receive recognition for their participation, while the winners will receive awards.
The format gives students an opportunity to explore university studies in the degree programmes within the professional field of Administration and Management through practical assignments and teamwork. The knowledge and skills they gain will be useful both when choosing a future career and in situations that require initiative, cooperation and a willingness to take responsibility.