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Integrating Finno-Ugric Studies in Europe: Innovative resource pooling for a low-volume discipline
Date du début: 1 sept. 2015, Date de fin: 31 août 2018 PROJET  TERMINÉ 

The project “Integrating Finno-Ugric Studies in Europe: Innovative resource pooling for a low-volume discipline“ (InFUSE) has established a strategic partnership between eight European universities (Munich, Hamburg, Vienna, Szeged, Helsinki, Turku, Tartu and Uppsala) focusing on a specific discipline, ostensibly minor, but important in the wider European context: the Finno-Ugric languages are the second largest language family in Europe and include both national languages of nation states (Finnish, Estonian and Hungarian) and a broad spectrum of endangered minority languages spoken in diverse multilingual communities. Finno-Ugric Studies are an inherently international discipline and have characteristically European research traditions. Still, in comparison to major European philologies like Germanic, Romance or Slavic, Finno-Ugric Studies are represented at only few universities in relatively small institutes that are highly specialized in different aspects of the field (languages, literatures etc.); their limited resources limit the range of teaching and thus the prospects of students in their future career. Moreover, institutional developments and economic pressure affect Finno-Ugric Studies in the same manner they affect other research-oriented disciplines with typically very few, but highly dedicated, students: on a local or national level and on the basis of quantitative criteria, they will be unjustly disadvantaged. The project proposed to alleviate these problems through long-term international resource pooling between universities that already have long-standing contact, both within the Erasmus framework and through other international projects. This radically new superstructure is now connecting the leading Finno-Ugric institutes in Europe in a cost-efficient way, allowing each partner institution to develop and share their special expertise. By giving students access to the full spectrum of the discipline and by introducing and disseminating innovative (especially ICT) methodologies and best practices, the project will promote student employability by encouraging active use of their acquired languages and practical application of their skills, as well as providing them with the means to gain experience in international and intercultural communication while still students. Several types of teaching activities were planned in this project and combined to a well-rounded programme: one specialized e-learning course per semester, annual Winter Schools and Blended Mobility Summer Workshops. They will include current topics presented by prominent specialists from different universities as well as presentations of students’ own research results, but will also focus on aspects of practical application of theoretical knowledge (such as translation, knowledge management, intercultural transmission). As a result, 1. students will have the opportunity to participate in innovative courses provided by partner universities which they normally could not take part in for geographical or mobility reasons; 2. students will develop and broaden their digital competence due to the web-based modules/components, and 3. students can individualize their study programmes through access to a pool of high-quality courses beyond their usual curriculum. By virtue of inter-university cooperation, the partners can disseminate better teaching practices and develop more serviceable ICT features in their teaching. One of the key aspects of the Strategic Partnerships as envisaged by Erasmus+ is the promotion of language learning and linguistic diversity. Other strategic goals include building a basis for development of a Joint Master Degree and international doctoral study programmes. The project can also be considered a case study, the results of which other European philologies and research-oriented disciplines taught at partner universities can benefit from.

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