DepartmentNew Bulgarian Studies
The Department of New Bulgarian Studies was founded in 1994. The first Department Chair was Assoc. Prof. Alexander Kyosev, PhD, followed by Prof. Mihail Nedelchev (from 1998 to 2010) and Prof. Moni Almaleh, D.Sc. (from 2010 to 2012). Since May 2012 Assoc. Prof. Plamen Doynov, PhD has served as Chair of the Department.
Strategies
Since the year of its establishment, the New Bulgarian Studies Department has tackled the task of methodologically and thematically renewing the traditional discipline Bulgarian philology, opening it to a broader socio-cultural research field, as well as to new dynamics in the educational sphere. As a result, the Bachelor's programs in Language and Literature, Bulgarian Language and Literature and Bulgarian Studies, the Master's programs in Literature, Publishing, Media and Creative Writing, and the PhD programme in Theory and History of Literature emerged
One major strategy set forth by the Department is to involve the vibrant topical literature into its research and educational project. This is made possible by the work of the writers and the poets who are also members of the Department and the work of some other famous modern Bulgarian writers who give lectures, talks and literary readings to the students on a regular basis. The events take place under the motto “The Writers at the University”.
The Department of New Bulgarian Studies organizes:
Research Programmes:
- "Literature of the People's Republic of Bulgaria (1946-1990)";
- "Contemporary Bulgarian Literature (after 1990)".
The results of the programmes are published in seven series: The Literature of the PRB: History and Theory; Personalities Series; In Red and White: A Literary Archive of the PRB; the Unpublished Collection; the Alternative Canon: The Works; Eye to Eye; and the Presence Series.
Research projects and initiatives:
- Ongoing Departmental Seminar on New Bulgarian Studies and thematic research seminars;
- Educational, Practical and Research Units: Dr. Krastev Literary and Historical School; Academic Center for Orthodox Culture and Literature; New Academy of Verbal Arts with a School of Creative Writing;
- Summer School of Creative Writing with classes in poetry and prose and a class in criticism and journalism;
- Educational trips that include researchers from other NBU departments.
Other collective research projects of the Department of New Bulgarian Studies are the following: “Years of Literature”, “The Literature of PRB: history and theory”, “Personalities”, “In Red and White: A Literary Archive of PRB”, materialized in published collections.
The lecturers at the Department have published numerous studies, monographs, collections of articles influencing the literary context and, generally, the humanitarian context in Bulgaria. Two of them act as Editors in Chief of the major periodic issues of NBU: “To be continued” /Sledva/, and “University Journal” – the newspaper of NBU.
Partners
The Department collaborates with the Department of Russian and Slavonic Studies of the University of Sheffield, UK, the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland, through the international student mobility programme Erasmus. The New Bulgarian Studies Department has good cooperation with the Institute of Literature (BAS), with the relevant units at. Veliko Tarnovo University St. Cyril and Methodius, Blagoevgrad university Neofit Rilski, Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, The Union of Bulgarian Writers. Every year, the Department participates in the Apollonia Festival of Arts with own activities and projects.
The lecturers and students of the Department have won the recognition of various reputed forums and institutions and have won numerous awards.
Results
The quality of teaching in the programs guarantees proficiency in speaking and writing in Bulgarian, as well as improving reading effectiveness.
Students Grants Programme of the Uninhibited Contacts Foundation aimed at newly admitted students in their first year of study in the following programs:
Anthropology; Bulgarian Studies (Bulgarian Language, Culture and Literature); Ancient Egyptian Studies; Arts Studies and Arts Management; History and Archaeology; Classical Languages, Ancient Culture and Literature; Philosophy.
Head of Department:
Assoc. Prof. Moris Fadel, Ph.D.
Building 1, Room 112,
tel.: +359 /2/8110 112
e-mail: mfadel@nbu.bg
Secretary:
Neli Haralampieva
Building 1, Room 112
Tel.: +359 /2/8110132; ext. 11121
e-mail: nharalampieva@nbu.bg