South-West University "Neofit Rilski"
| Югозападен университет “Неофит Рилски” | |
 |
|
| Type | Public |
|---|---|
| Established | 1975 |
| Rector | Ivan Mirchev |
|
Academic staff
|
470 |
| Students | 12,579 |
| Location | Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria |
| Website | www.swu.bg |
Coordinates: 42°1′6″N 23°4′38″E / 42.01833°N 23.07722°E
The South-West University "Neofit Rilski" (Bulgarian Югозападен университет “Неофит Рилски”) is a university in Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria. It was founded in 1975.
The patron of the university in Blagoevgrad is the patriarch of the new Bulgarian education: Neofit Rilski / Neophyte of Rila.
The university was first founded as a branch of Sofia University. The first 200 students admitted in 1976/77 had two specialties: pedagogy for the preparation of teachers for kindergartens and for primary schools. In this way, for the first time, Bulgaria started preparing teachers with university degrees for kindergartens and primary schools. The tutorials were realized by three professors, two associate professors and thirteen assistant professors.
With Act No. 2296, 4 August 1983, of the State Council of the Republic of Bulgaria (State Newspaper No. 62/1983), the branch was transformed into separate institute. The institute was looking for own image and own way in the preparation of teachers. Two years later in 1985, the Scientific Council started functioning. It has the right to elect associate professors in Pedagogy, Psychology, Defectology and Methodology of Teaching. Many new specialties like Mathematics, Physics, Bulgarian Language and Literature, Bulgarian Language and History found places in the study programmes. In 1990 the university realized the education of full- and part-time students in five faculties and in ten specialties.
The institute more and more confirms itself as higher school of university type and starts admission of foreign students.
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Wikipedia