The closing of the simulation

The closing ceremony, Cristina Secianski awarding the certificates

Discussion: "How is the Council's work and the EU as a whole relevant to our lives?" led by Professor Robert Phillips

Simulation of the Council of the European Union--Sunday, 29 November 2009

Working session—Council of the European Union in General Affairs and External Relations configuration

... and the audience

The Council's work was based on a summary of the report by the European Comission

Introductory speeches

... were followed by the discussion

Professor Katja Michalak (on the right) advised the organizers and helped select the student prepared best, the most eloquent speaker and the best participant

AUBG student Nadezhda Naydenova chaired the meeting

Simulation of the Council of the European Union--Saturday, 28 November 2009

Lecture: “The Council of the European Union: How Does It Work?” by Professor Cosmina Tanasoiu

Lecture: “Problems of Turkey's Accession to EU: Human Rights” by Professor Nevena Bentz

 

Briefing on the rules of the simulation by Nadezhda Naydenova, AUBG student

The simulation of the Council of the European Union

The activities of the project included a simulation of the Council of the European Union as a body with considerable power, popularity and relevance.

Participants: students from three Blagoevgrad high schools, each representing an EU member state



Location: room 103 (conference room), New Academic Building, AUBG


Topic: accessing Turkey’s progress on the path to EU accession


Timeframe:


Saturday, 28 November 2009 – Preparation for the simulation: lectures explaining the significance and function of the Council delivered by several AUBG professors, and a workshop prepared by AUBG students.


Sunday, 29 November 2009 – the actual simulation; the participants were given the task to debate, negotiate, and vote  


Objectives:


• Develop greater awareness among the students of the role of the major EU institutions, one of which is the Council of the European Union


• Show the importance of decision-making and cooperation


• Help students develop their soft skills, such as research, public speaking, problem solving, consensus building and cooperation.

more photos to follow...

Project description

Meeting Diversity in Blagoevgrad is a project of AIESEC, world's largest student organization, present at over 800 universities in 95 countries and territories. AIESEC aims to be an international platform for young people to discover and develop their potential and have a positive impact in society (more at aiesec.org)

AIESEC Local Committee Blagoevgrad, 1.5 years old, has over 30 active members from the Southwest University Neofit Rilski and the American University in Bulgaria, two incoming and three outgoing exchanges and the experience of organizing the largest international conference in Bulgaria.

This is the second edition of Meeting Diversity in Blagoevgrad. The project's goals are:

• to teach young people the important soft skils overlooked by the school curriculum
• develop their cultural and social awareness

with the help of an intern/intern from abroad, this year--Cristina Secianski from Romania.

Workshop on conflict resolution in the High School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences

A weekly workshop in the High School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences.