The Department of Sociology, Faculty of Philosophy, at Sofia University has initiated an international conference to mark the 50th anniversary of the department’s establishment, which is also the beginning of sociology as an academic discipline in Bulgaria. The Department of Sociology is not only the first sociology department within an academic institution but also remains to this day the leading educational institution in Bulgaria in the field of social sciences. The department has achieved distinction not only as an educational unit but also as a research institution, as demonstrated by its participation in national and international research projects and by the publications of its faculty members across all areas of sociology in both Bulgarian and international academic journals. The established position of the Department of Sociology enables it to create a space for dialogue between Bulgarian and international sociologists, as reflected in the expressions of interest to participate in the forum. This will not only increase the visibility of sociology in Bulgaria but also create conditions for future research and educational collaborations within both the Bulgarian and broader European academic communities. The organization of such an international forum by an institution firmly established in the field will provide an opportunity for profound academic debates on the following: • current challenges for contemporary societies; • the methodological foundations and orientations of current sociological paradigms; • the history of sociology, as well as the history of Bulgarian sociology. The planned international scientific conference would be of interest not only to researchers, scholars, and students, but also to a wider audience.
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