The department was established in 2012 on the basis of the Department of Kinesitherapy, which was opened in 1992, and conducts training for Bulgarian and foreign students in the specialty of Kinesitherapy. In 2006, the country's first bachelor's program in OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY was opened for her. Since 2012, the department has been accredited in another scientific direction - SOCIAL ACTIVITIES, and began training in the master's course CLINICAL SOCIAL WORK.


30 years Kinesitherapy specialty at the University of Ruse

"Kinesitherapy" specialty at the University of Ruse celebrated its 30th anniversary. The anniversary was marked with a solemn meeting. For contribution to the development of the "Kinesitherapy" specialty, the dean of the faculty Prof. Nikola Sabev, PhD presented special awards, and the first to be awarded was Acad. Beloev, DscEng.

Kinesitherapy training at the University of Ruse began in the academic year 1992/93, when the first students were admitted. Today, the University of Ruse has accumulated 30 years of experience in kinesitherapy training. During the period from the opening of the specialty to today, more than 1,200 bachelors and more than 700 masters have graduated from 25 graduations in kinesitherapy. Students graduate with a very good success rate and find adequate professional fulfillment at home and abroad.

Graduates of the specialty today are university professors, managers and representatives in leading pharmaceutical companies, owners and managers of rehabilitation, wellness and fitness centers. Physiotherapists who graduated from the University of Ruse work in their specialty in a number of medical and social institutions, in sports clubs and complexes, national teams in various fields of sports and others. Healthcare and sports structures offering activities related to prevention and rehabilitation. Many graduates of the specialty receive professional recognition and realization abroad.

Since the opening of the Kinesitherapy specialty at the University of Ruse, its head has been Prof. Kolyu Kozhuharov, PhD for 12 years. A significant contribution to the development of the specialty is also made by the professors, Yavor Vazharov, PhD, Bozhidar Rusev, PhD and Radoslav Raychev, PhD; associate professors Lyubomir Todorov, PhD, Lyuben Hristov, PhD, Dencho Tsonevski, PhD, Penka Barakova, PhD, Lyudmila Venova , PhD and a number of others. Many of the doctors in Ruse also make a significant contribution to increasing the quality of education. Among them are Prof.  Pencho Kosev, PhD, Assoc. Prof. Georgi Georgiev, Pencho Chobanov, PhD,  Konstantin Kolev, PhD, Assoc. Prof.  Neli Petrova, PhD and others. There are over 200 teachers who worked and are working today in the "Kinesitherapy" specialty at the University of Ruse.

During its 30-year development, the specialty has always enjoyed strong support from all rectors' leaderships - the teams of Prof. Atanas Mitkov, PhD, Prof. Boris Tomov, PhD, Associate Professor Marko Todorov, PhD and now Prof. Hristo Beloev, PhD.

Today, the Kinesitherapy specialty is among the regulated professions in Bulgaria, which is directly related to Kinesitherapy practice. Physiotherapists are highly qualified specialists trained to perform functional diagnostic, preventive, curative and rehabilitation activities for persons of all age and professional groups, including health education, promotion and prevention of health and sports. For practical training of the students, the bases of Medical facilities "Medika",UGHAT "Kanev" -  Ruse, the centers for social services on the territory of the city of Ruse are used. A large number of medical institutions in the country are also partners of the University of Ruse, with which the university has signed a cooperation agreement.

Currently, the Kinesitherapy major at the University of Ruse is managed by the "Public Health" department at the Faculty of Public Health and Health Care, which is a member of the European Kinesitherapy Training Network ENPHE. Permanent presence of the specialty is one of the first wishes of prospective students. proof in favor of the fact that the development of the Kinesitherapy specialty at Ruse University fills a certain vacuum in the social needs of the northeastern region.

10 years the specialty Occupational Therapy at the University of Ruse

On 16th December, 2016, students, teachers, partners and active occupational therapists celebrated 10 years since the establishment of the Occupational Therapy specialty. Since its establishment in 2006, the discipline "ergotherapy", completely unknown to Bulgaria, has gained considerable experience and received serious recognition on the international stage.

The University of Ruse is the only one in Bulgaria that trains students in occupational therapy in the pure form of the specialty. It is recognized by the European Occupational Therapy Network and accredited by the World Federation of Occupational Therapy.

Since its inception, 93 occupational therapists have graduated in this specialty. Recognition of the innovative role of the University of Ruse is the foreign students who were on internship at the university. A total of 61 foreigners have chosen Ruse University as a place to gain additional experience and knowledge in the field of occupational therapy.

Haneke van Bruggen, Executive Director of the European Network for Occupational Therapy in Higher Education was a special guest at the celebration. She presented a report in which she highly appreciated the role of the Ruse team in the promotion of the occupational therapist profession.