American University in Bulgaria (AUBG) has teamed up with professors from Harvard University and soft drink companies to promote sustainability and responsibility.

The Bulgarian Institute of Soft Drink Producers has launched a sustainability initiative called Crystal Clear and has chosen AUBG as its educational partner, according to a university announcement.

“The American University in Bulgaria is an educational institution with strong affinity for the values associated with sustainable development, so for us it is an honor to be a partner in this initiative," Milena Nikolova, director of AUBG graduate and executive programs and professor of marketing, said in the announcement. "As a knowledge institution, we are naturally the partner that will provide support in the area of education and capacity building in the area of sustainable development."

AUBG's role will be to support development of professionals and to ensure that students learn as much as possible about sustainability. Nikolova said the program will be similar to programs found at top universities around the world.  

The school is connecting with colleagues and specialists from the Center for Health and Global Environment at Harvard University, who will help develop local sustainability programming.

“Our participation in this initiative is an important opportunity to collaborate with colleagues from a world-class academic institution to develop educational content that meets a real need in our society," Nikolova said "In addition to that this partnership with an entire industry in itself is an exciting opportunity because it is based on the most current models for collaboration between industry and universities."