Mariya Nikolova

Asst. Prof. Mariya Nikolova, PhD is a faculty member in the Department of Didactics, Faculty of Education, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”. She lectures on animation, drama and theatre in education and supervises school-based practice for undergraduate students.

Education:
No explicit degrees are listed in the source; however, her title “PhD” indicates doctoral-level qualification.

Research interests centre on game-based and dramatic strategies in primary classrooms, educational animation, European educational-theatre methodologies, and the design of original social-skills models for pupils, teachers and professionals. She explores how theatrical techniques foster creativity, resolve conflict and enhance social integration, especially for at-risk children.

Across fifteen peer-reviewed works published between 2013 and 2020, Nikolova has consistently investigated the intersection of performing arts and pedagogy. Her scholarship spans conceptual frameworks, practical models, and empirical studies, demonstrating a clear trajectory from foundational theory to classroom-ready applications and teacher-training formats.

Projects & Grants:

• Project Manager, “Educational Theater at School – a Scene for New Ideas in Learning”, Contract № 80-10-98.
• Project Member, “Approval of a model for teamwork between students, teachers and actors for the production and presentation of creative educational performances”, Contract № 243/2016, led by Assoc. Prof. Radka Vasileva, PhD.

Laboratory / Groups:
While no dedicated lab is mentioned, her project leadership and master-class delivery imply active collaboration within the Faculty’s teacher-education and outreach clusters.