I’m confident that the EMBA program at AUBG is the ideal place to connect with great individuals, exchange ideas and experiences, and achieve success together. That is why I am doing it, and that is why you should do it too!
NOVA EMBA Scholarship
Full scholarship competition for social entrepreneurs.
Key dates
Application opens
May 23
Application closes
September 15
Finalists presentations
October 5
Awarding ceremony
October 17
For the second consecutive year, NOVA Broadcasting Group and the American University in Bulgaria have partnered for a unique opportunity – one social entrepreneur will receive a full EMBA scholarship to help bring their idea to life.
Award
NOVA and AUBG will grant one €17,900 scholarship, covering 100% of the academic fee for the AUBG Executive MBA program.
Competition
Participants have until September 15 to develop and submit their social entrepreneurship projects. A special jury will review all applications and select five finalists. The finalists will then present their projects live to the jury members at the Elieff Center for Education and Culture in Sofia, home of the AUBG EMBA, on October 5.
The winner will be awarded on October 17 on a special awarding ceremony.
Application Steps
The NOVA EMBA scholarship offers a fantastic opportunity to receive financial support for your Executive MBA studies at the American University in Bulgaria. To be considered for this scholarship, however, there’s a specific application process to follow.
- Apply and Gain Admission to the AUBG EMBA Program: The first step is to ensure you meet the eligibility requirements and submit your application for the AUBG EMBA program. Completing the EMBA program application is crucial, as scholarship consideration only happens for admitted students.
- Submit Your Social Entrepreneurship Project Proposal: Once accepted into the AUBG EMBA program, you can submit your project proposal for the NOVA EMBA scholarship.
Social Entrepreneurship Project Guidelines
Prospective students should apply for the NOVA EMBA Scholarship by preparing a 5,000 to 6,000-word business plan that highlights their entrepreneurial initiative with a social focus.
The business plan should be about starting or building on an existing business that solves a social problem of applicant's choice. It is expected that the prospective student will provide the necessary level of detail to present their entrepreneurial idea. Additionally, applicants must attach a professional resume. The business plan should contain the following elements:
Mission
Social or environmental mission
The social entrepreneurship project must have a well-defined mission that addresses a specific social or environmental problem and includes a clear value proposition.
Innovation
Innovation
This may involve developing new products, services, or business models that help achieve the project's mission.
Sustainability
Sustainability
The project must be able to generate enough revenue to cover its costs and continue operating in the long run, while also considering its impact on the environment and society.
Engagement
Stakeholder engagement
Social entrepreneurship projects involve multiple stakeholders, including customers, employees, investors, and the local community. The project should demonstrate how it will effectively engage these stakeholders to ensure its success and achieve its social or environmental mission.
Measurement
Social impact measurement
The data on the project outcomes must map the key performance indicators of its social or environmental impact and provide a coherent strategy for measuring them.
Management
Financial and operational management
Financial and operational management shall include a well-articulated business plan comprising financial projections of cash flows, profit and loss statements, capital budgeting, and compliance with relevant legal and regulatory requirements.
Feasibility
Project feasibility
The project should demonstrate coherence with available resources, financial sustainability, proven market demand, compliance with the legal framework, and identification of present and future constraints.
Partnerships
Collaborative partnerships
The project should state the expected benefits from partnerships in leveraging expertise, resources, and networks in order to effectively achieve the project's mission and embed it in the existing ecosystem of social enterprises and initiatives.
Requirements
Applicants for the NOVA EMBA Scholarship must meet all requirements for enrollment in the EMBA program.
Interested applicants should apply and gain admission to the AUBG EMBA Program.
Applicants for the scholarship must provide proof of their English language proficiency, as the program is conducted entirely in English.
The NOVA EMBA Scholarship cannot be transferred to a third party and will be awarded only to the individual recipient as determined by the jury.
If the recipient cannot begin the program, the admissions committee may decide to award the scholarship to the next ranked participant.
The scholarship will be received only as a credit toward tuition, applied directly to the student’s account, and cannot be received in cash.
Jury members
J.D. Mininger, Ph.D.
AUBG Provost, Chair of the Jury
Krasimira Vasileva Hadzhiyska
Chief Operating Officer at Nova Broadcasting Group
Vyara Ankova
New Content and Strategy Development Chief Officer at NOVA Broadcasting Group
Neli Koleva, Ph.D.
Chief Officer of Public Partnerships, Teach for Bulgaria
Social Entrepreneurship Professor at the AUBG EMBA
Dina Jebali (EMBA ’23)
Director Managed Services, Yettel Bulgaria
Momtchil Karpouzanov, Ph.D.
Academic Director of Graduate Programs at AUBG
