The Magna Charta Observatory, of which our university is a signatory, has announced the winners of this year's essay competition on the topic How might students exercise more influence in enabling their universities to make a more effective contribution to society?”, among them Diana Stefanova-Slobodiana, a 4th-year student at the Faculty of Preschool and Special Education.

         97 essays from students from 24 countries of the world took part in the competition. The essay was independently evaluated by an international jury consisting of 5 judges from among the representatives of the student body and management of foreign educational institutions and organizations:

-Caroline Sundberg (Chair) Brussels representative - Lärosäten Syd/ EU Policy Officer at Lund University and Former Member of the Governing Council of the Magna Charta Observatory

-Cristina Demaria, Rector’s delegate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion of Alma Mater Studiorum – The University of Bologna and Member of the Governing Council of the Magna Charta Observatory

-Peter Kwasi Kodjie, Secretary General All-Africa Students Union (AASU), Ghana, and Member of the Governing Council of the Magna Charta Observatory

-Marcelo Knobel, President Insper, Brazil, and Member of the Governing Council of the Magna Charta Observatory

-Catharine Stimpson, Professor and Dean Emerita of the Graduate School of Arts and Science, New York University, USA, and Member of the Governing Council of the Magna Charta Observatory

         The organizers of the competition noted the potential significance of participation in the competition for the development of their own universities and their effective contribution to society.

         The winners of the competition will be invited to the MCO 2023 Anniversary Conference, which will be held on October 23-25 in Łódź, Poland, where they will be able to present their essays and participate in discussions on the topic "Universities and Urban Renewal: The Role of Research and Education".