Prof. Elka Todorova , Ph.D.
Present Position
- Professor and Director of Master Program “European Social Policy and Social Work” at New Bulgarian University
- Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Sociology, Department Sociology of Labour and Social Policy at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.
- Advisor on Social and Educational Issues to the Chairman of the National Assembly of Bulgaria.
- Part time job: Visiting Professor at City University and International University.
Education
Psychology (MSc); Master of Public Administration (MPA); Social Psychology (Ph.D); Sociology and Social Work (D.Sc.)
Harvard University - John F. Kennedy School of Government
May 2000 to June 2001
Master of Public Administration (MA)
Mason Fellow in Public Policy and Management
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences - Institute of Sociology
October 1997 to January 2000
Doctor in Sciences in Sociology (D.Sc.)
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences - Institute of Sociology
September 1982 to May 1985
Philosophy Doctor in Social Psychology (Ph.D.)
Moscow State University - Faculty of Psychology
September 1975 to June 1980
Degree In Psychology (MSc)
Language Skills
English, Russian, German, French
Membership of professional bodies
- Union for Private Enterprise (Member of the Consultative Board)
- National Agency for Vocational Training (Member of the Executive Board)
- Bulgarian Sociological Association
- Bulgarian Psychological Association
- European Association of Experimental Social Psychology
Key Qualifications
- More than ten years of expertise in coordination and development of international and national scientific and educational projects (E.g. Bulgarian-Israeli comparative forum, Aggression at school, Dissemination of social science production); and management of projects dealing with practical social work for groups in risk, incl. staff training, professional education for social assistants, etc.
- Top managerial experience within governmental and nongovernmental research and educational administration (E.g. Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Sociology; Varna Free University, Dean, Vice-Rector; Director of Balkan Center for Social Activities and Neighbourhood Center for Social Help); NBU, Director of Graduate program in Social Policy and Social work.
- Educational management, teaching and research on undergraduate and graduate courses in applied social sciences at national and international universities (E.g. USA, the Netherlands, Germany, Israel);
- Expert consultancy , analysis and assessment of social impact of political and economic changes; preparation and approbation of sociological tools; sociological data processing and analysis (E.g. Coordinator of research on elements of political culture in Bulgaria in comparative project for the countries of the Mediterranean basin; member of research teams working on social assessment projects); HRM:selection of top executives (HVBank Biochim); training of bank and company employees in team working, communication skills, self and other assessment (Bulbank, Company “Kenar”).
- Training of bank and company employees; HRM:selection of top executives - HVBank Biochim; communication skills, team working, self assessment and empowering (Bulbank, Company “Kenar”, Gerb-Burgas);
- Preparation and Approbation of Sociological and Social Psychological Tools for sociological and social psychological research and assessment projects.
- Micro and Macro Sociological Data Processing and Analysis E.g. Research on Labour Migration, Social Inclusion Strategies for Unemployed; Research on political culture development in Bulgaria in comparison with countries of the Mediterranean basin; Research and work on social assessment projects of Ministry of Labour and Social Policy; Research on Ecology and Energy affectivity policies.
Teaching Experience
Undergraduate courses
- Theory and History of Social Work ( Sofia State University )
- Social Psychology and Applied Social Psychology (in Bulgarian) (NBU)
- Human Development and Social Environment (in Bulgarian) (NBU)
- Human Resourse Management: Development and Debates (IU)
- Effective Organization ( City University )
- Psychology ( DL-City University )
Graduate courses
- The Science and Art of Influencing (in Bulgarian) (NBU)
- Psychology of Private and Public Opinion (in Bulgarian) (NBU)
- Leadership for change and transformation ( IU, NBU)
- "Analyses, Management and Advocacy" and "Managing People: Self, Relationships and Teams"( Harvard University , K ennedy S chool of G overnment , TF).
Guest Lecturer at
- Yale University, Department of Psychology
- Salem State University, School of Social Work;
- Boston College, School of Social Work;
- Universite Paris VII;
- University of Geneve;
- Katholieke Univeristeit Brabant, Tilburg;
- INED, Paris; Center for Politological Studies,
- EKKE, University of Thesaloniki;
- Institut of social work and social politics, Skopje University;
- Jerusalem University at Mount Scopus
- Beer-Sheva University at the Negev
- Tel Aviv University
- Tracian University, Komotini;
- University of Timisoara;
- International University Center Dubrovnik;
- Pedagogical Academy of Sciences - Moscow
Promoter for Master Thesises at NBU and Promotor and In structor of Ph.D Thesises at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Project Experience (last five years)
EU:Leonardo II
1999-2000
Trans-Urban Development: Marseille, Padova,Aix-en Provence , Varna , Seville , Patras.
Bulgaria
November 2001-February 2002
Sofia City Development Strategy: Survey Of Sofia Business Community, part of the broader initiatives, undertaken within the Sofia City Development Strategy Project, financed by the Cities Alliance and carried out jointly by the World Bank and Sofia City Municipality (SCM), assigned to Club "Economika 2000" by the World Bank.
Bulgaria
June 2002 - August 2002
Social Assessment Of The Effect Of Expected Changes In The Energy Prices In 2002, assigned to Club "Economika 2000", Board of Ministers and the World Bank.
Bulgaria
July 2002
Return And Reintegration Of Asylum Seekers From Central And Eastern Europe Currently Residing In Belgium , Ireland And Netherlands (RCAII): Capacity Building Action Plan For Bulgaria , International Organization Of Migration.
Albania
August 2002
Teaching Module in International Balkan School for Public Administrators in Social Work.
Bulgaria
2003-2004
Social Work For Women-Traffic Victims: IOM
Bulgaria
2003 - 2004
Social Assessment Of Poverty Alleviation: National Survey On Teacher-Student Relations; Representative Sociological Survey Of Aggression In School (Mo Education), assigned to Club "Economika 2000", Ministry of Education, financed by DFID ( UK ) and DESA (UN).
Bulgaria
April 2003
Development of a National Strategy and Action Plan for Poverty Reduction and Social Exclusion: Education Policy Expert, Board of Ministers, UNDP, World Bank.
Bulgaria
October 2003
Social Services Against New Employment (SANE): Social Services Adviser, UNDP, MLSP
Bulgaria
March 2004
The Effects Of Corruption On Bulgarian Business Relations: Union for Private Enterprise
Bulgaria
May 2004
Assessment of Attitudes in Ecology (with Forum for Sustainable Development): Ministry of Ecology
Central European University - Germany , Makedonia
December 2004
University Course Development on Corruption at New Bulgarian University : Curriculum Resource Center - CEU
Germany/ Macedonia
January 2005
Developing Community Social Policies For Mental Health Clients: DAAD
Bulgaria
March 2005
Social Science Products Application: the Global Practice
Bulgaria
February 2006
Strategy for Influencing Work Migration within the Region of Plovdiv
Bulgaria
February 2007-2008
Use of Third sector in monitoring, evaluation and control of EU legislation in the public administration.
Professional experience
2002 - Present
Director Graduate Program "European Social Policy and Social Work" at New Bulgarian University
2002 - Present
Chief of Board of Foundation "Balkan Center for Social Activities"
2001- Present
Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Sociology , Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
1998-2000
Vice-Rector, Varna Free University
1996 present
Founder, Director Member of the Board of Neighborhood Center for Social Help,Varna, Sofia
1996-2000
Dean of Faculty of Social Work, Varna Free University
Publications
Click here for a detailed list.
Articles, studies, research reports (over 35) published in:
- Sociological problems
- Sociological Review
- Philosophical Thought
- Population
- European Journal of Experimental Social Psychology
- Social Behavior
- Cross-Cultural Psychology
- Journal of European Social Work.
Books:
- Contemporary Theories for Family Analysis, Sofia : Nauka I Izkustvo, 1988;
- Social Psychology and Identity Problems, (Ed), Sofia: Kl.Ohridski Press, 1990;
- The Group and the Individual, (Ed), Sofia : Nauka I Izkustvo, 1990;
- Ethnicity and Politics in Israel and Bulgaria , (Co-Ed.), UK : Avebury, 1993.
- Marriage and Family Reader, (Ed), Sofia : Prosveta, 1994.
- Social Psychology, VSU Publ.House, 1995,1996,1997.
- The Real Help: Professionalization and Establishment of Social Work. Sofia : Albatros, 2000.
Awards, Grants, Honors
- MC/MPA Scholarship at Harvard University , Kokkalis Foundation, KSG in 2000-2001;
- MASON Fellow for Public Policy and Management at KSG, Harvard University, 2000-2001;
- FULBRIGHT Fellow at Salem State College, School of Social Work in 1998;
- PIET, Boston University , Boston College , Simmons College in 1995;
- UNESCO Scholarship for family planning research at University of Tilburg and University of Leuven in 1987.