In 2019 AFEAS completed the project Transcultural Dialogues: American Studies in Bulgaria in the Beginning of the 21st Century
Project Manager: Alexandra Glavanakova
The project was funded through the small grants program of the US Embassy in Bulgaria.The project’s main aim was to provide opportunities for continuing and intensifying the transatlantic dialogue between Bulgaria and the U.S.A. Two major activities were carried out to fulfill this goal. Firstly, the international conference “Traditions and Transitions,” which was held on September 28-29, 2018 at Sofia University. The conference was dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the Department of English and American Studies at Sofia University and the 130th anniversary of St. Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia. The 85 participants in this forum focused among other issues on intercultural communication, on the complex relationships between East and West in order to enrich the teaching, research and practice in the area of American Studies.
Secondly, a significant increase in the quality of education in the area of American studies at the Department of English and American Studies at Sofia University is expected as an outcome of the addition of new educational resources and tools in the British and American Studies Resource Center (BASRC) http://www.basrc-su.com/. The depository of BASRC was enriched with essential recent academic publications in the fields of American Studies, US history, culture and literature; transcultural studies and intercultural communication; the digital humanities, reading and cognitive science, language studies, science fiction studies, as well as with many award-winning fiction books by contemporary American writers. The purchase of these over 250 new titles with the grant money will prove to be an invaluable contribution to the development of American Studies at DEAS and at Sofia University.
Introducing Innovative Methods and Technologies for Improving the Quality of Teaching English and American Studies at St. Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia
Project Manager: Kornelia Slavova
Total Project Cost: 252 567 BGN (including VAT, provided by both America for Bulgaria Foundation and Academic Foundation for English and American Studies),
Duration: September 2013 – September 2015
As the very title suggests, the end goal of the project was to improve the quality of teaching English and American studies at Sofia University by making it more engaging, interactive, and collaborative – thus preparing the graduates of English and American Studies to become more knowledgeable and competitive specialists on the transnational job market.
Project Activities:
Part One: Modernizing the educational environment – renovating lecture hall 243
After reconstructing lecture hall 243 (its architectural design, seating facilities and acoustics) it was equipped with state-of-the art facilities (a multimedia system, a huge interactive screen, 11 laptops, web cameras, sound and light equipment, mobile front desk and so on) so that new digital and more interactive forms of education could take place such as screening of film and visual material, video conferences and classes, recording of students’ sessions and presentations, working in groups/ teams, access to the Internet, and the electronic repository of the Department.
Part II: Developing Innovative Electronic Courses and Resources.
In order to achieve optimal utilization of modern digital technologies in the teaching practice of the faculty at the Department of English and American Studies, a new server was purchased (complete with the necessary software and peripheral devices), which was installed at the British and American Studies Resource Centre and connected to the university internet network. This server hosts a customized website and has served as a gateway to the content of the platform for electronic education, including the systems DSpace and Moodle. The library holdings were enriched by purchasing recent electronic and print books as well as two-year subscription plans for a number of academic journals. In addition, the faculty of the English and American Studies Department created 50 new e-courses, blogs and sites, e-textbooks and other online resources, which have served as a core for further expanding the virtual learning environment system.
Results:
The innovative technologies and modernized educational space have improved visibly the quality of education at the Department of English and American Studies at Sofia University. The project funded by America for Bulgaria Foundation has enhanced the teaching performance of faculty who have created considerable electronic educational resources; it has facilitated the exchange of knowledge with partner universities in Europe and the U.S.; it has encouraged students to get involved in a more interactive way in the educational process by developing their presentation, analytical, and communication skills, hence improving considerably their professional qualification for future careers.