Department of Health Care and Social Work (DMED)

Affiliated Research areas

• Health care, including care for the ageing population
• Public health and epidemiology
• Social integration, exclusion, prosocial behaviour
• Social policies, welfare, work and employment
• Personality and social cognition; emotion
• Language learning and processing (first and second languages)

Scientific Areas

• Public health
• Medicine
• Speech therapy
• Speech pathology
• Social sciences
• Healthcare management
• psycho-social interventions
• Language learning and processing (first and second languages)
• Cognitive basis of human development, developmental disorders; comparative cognition

Keywords

• Child development disorders
• Communication disorders in children and adolescents
• Interpersonal interactions
• De-institutionalization and social integration of children
• Telemedicine
• Speech and Language Therapy
• Psychotherapy
• Art therapy

Partner Organizations

• Norwegian University of Science and Technology
• Victor Babeş University of Medicine and Pharmacy
• Ubiquitous Computing Lab at HTWG Konstanz (Germany)
• Balkan Institute for Labor and Social Policy Balkan Institute for Labor and Social Policy

Summary

The Department of Health Care and Social Work at New Bulgarian University was established by a decision of the Academic Council on 21 January 2013. It unites all programs focused on health and its changes - both in individual and societal context. Its main mission is to prepare specialists who combine in-depth theoretical knowledge, practical skills and ethics necessary for work in the field of health care, social work and support of people with different needs. The Department is a place where innovations in education and practice intertwine to meet contemporary societal challenges.
One of the key units within the Department is the Centre for the Therapy of Communication and Emotional Behavioural Disorders in Childhood, established in 2009 by a decision of the Academic Board. The Centre operates as a clinical unit providing specialised speech therapy for approximately 35-40 children per week. In this environment, faculty and students work together, applying modern therapeutic methods to work with language and speech disorders. The center not only provides therapeutic services for children and their parents, but also serves as a training platform for future professionals. Here, students have the opportunity to gain real-world practical experience under the guidance of their professors. In addition, the centre plays an important role in the development of innovation in therapy, combining clinical practice and research.
Another significant centre within the department is the Centre for Supporting Students with Special Educational Needs. This centre is dedicated to creating an inclusive and adaptive environment for students with special needs. It provides support in all aspects of academic life, from teaching and assessment to administrative support and participation in cultural events. The centre also works to adapt the academic and physical environment to the individual needs of each student, providing opportunities for full inclusion in university life. Its main priority is to create an environment that meets modern requirements for inclusive education while raising awareness and understanding of people with special needs.
The Department of Health and Social Work plays a key role in the development of health and social services in Bulgaria. It integrates education, research, and practice to prepare professionals who can meet society's needs. Through its programmes and centres, the department not only offers high-level education but also actively participates in community development. This vision, coupled with a commitment to innovation and sustainability, makes the department an academic and socially significant leader in its field.
The Know-How Centre for Alternative Childcare is a research and consultancy organization within the Department of Health Care and Social Work dedicated to supporting government policy on the deinstitutionalization of childcare in Bulgaria. It aims to improve the lives of children, their parents and the communities in which they live by creating a culture of partnership and dialogue between all those involved in the process of transforming care. The centre's activities include creating knowledge in partnership with stakeholders, integrating this knowledge into practice, sustaining a culture of learning from changing environments, ensuring the rights of all involved and enhancing the capacity of social workers and child welfare professionals. The Center works to raise the quality of research and the standard in the use of quality research methods, and to create and sustain partnerships with academia, organizations, and individuals, contributing to the achievement of its mission.
Applied Living Lab is a laboratory of the Department of Health Care and Social Work that develops and implements innovative products, services and solutions in the field of health and social care, in close partnership with the Balkan Institute of Labour and Social Policy, focusing on the creation of sustainable and personalized approaches to improve the quality of life. Through collaborative research, technology and best practices, the lab promotes inclusiveness, accessibility and efficiency in the delivery of health and social services.