Summer Schools – Centre for Latvian Studies of Daugavpils University - NEWS 2024

International Summer School “Latvia’s Cultural Canon” has concluded

Thu, 15 Aug 2024 13:51:00 +0000

From 4 to 13 August 2024, the Daugavpils University Centre for Latvian Studies organised the International Summer School of Latvian Language and Culture “Latvian Culture Canon”. The summer school, which brings together academic staff and students from around the world every year, was held by Centre for Latvian Studies for the eighth time.

The summer school included 10 participants from Japan, Indonesia, People’s Republic of China, Spain, France, Georgia, Türkiye, Moldova and Uzbekistan.

This year's summer school programme consisted of two modules – Latvian culture learning module “Latvian Culture Canon” and “Latvian language as a foreign language” for integrated learning of Latvian language with CLIL approach.

Within the summer school, school participants acquired knowledge of the history and structure of the creation of the Latvia’s Cultural Canon in classes, in field studies, trips and excursions they became acquainted with the values of the Latvia’s Cultural Canon in fields “Literature”, “Architecture and Design”, “Landscapes”, “Music” and “Folk Traditions”, while during seminars they formed competence to characterize canonical cultural values in other countries and cultures.

On August 4, at the beginning of the summer school programme, participants arrived in Riga, where the first part of the summer school took place. Participants became acquainted with the Latvia’s Cultural Canon element “Architecture and Design”, observing the most important stops of the Cultural Canon value “Vecrīga Skyline”, as well as visiting Concert of the 37th International Organ music Festival “RĪGAS DOMS 2024”, in which the pieces composed by Latvian composer Jāzeps Vītols were played.

During the pedestrian tour in Riga, the places, events and personalities included in the Latvia’s Cultural Canon were discovered. While on a trip to Jurmala, summer school participants looked at Aspazija and Rainis' Summer House, Dzintari Concert Hall and seaside landscape.

The summer school programme was continued in Auleja Parish of Kraslava Municipality and Daugavpils City. The acquisition of the Latvian language was ensured by interactive methods, while the study of the values of the Cultural Canon used the method of case studies, field studies, individual and group work. The “Latvian language as a foreign language” module of the summer school programme ensured acquirement of speaking, reading, writing and listening skills, which were also strengthened during practice sessions, discussions, excursions and field studies.

Introducing the traditional cultural values of Latvia, as well as other important objects of local culture and history, the students took an inspirational walk around the city of Daugavpils, visited Daugavpils Fortress, Daugavpils Shot factory, engaged in a master breadmaking class at the Aglona Bread Museum, participated in a Latvian folk dance lesson, as well as tried on the elements of the folk costumes of various regions of Latvia, and while being introducing to the “Landscape” values of the Cultural Canon, participants visited the Čertoks Lake and the Vasarģelišķi View Tower.

Summer school participants also presented the values of the cultural canons of the countries they represented and discussed the benefits of the process of building a cultural canon. At the seminar “International Culture Canon”, participants discussed cultural values in the international and historical context.

At the end of the Latvian language module, participants of summer school completed the Latvian language test.

At the end of the Latvian Culture Canon module, participants presented the impressions, observations and vision of the future application and dissemination of summer school results after returning to their countries. During a meeting with the rector of Daugavpils University Arvīds Barševskis, several participants of summer school confirmed that they will continue to develop cooperation with academic staff in Latvia and Daugavpils University, as well as develop international relations in the field of cultural research.

Participants of summer school appraised the work of teachers and management team of summer school, as well as the opportunity to acquaint Latvia’s Cultural Canon values by visiting subjects in person and participating in practical masterclasses and seminars.

The Summer School project is funded by the State Education Development Agency (VIAA), providing 10 scholarships to students and academic staff of foreign higher education institutions. Funding was allocated to the Summer School programme within the VIAA Summer School projects competition.

The summer school is implemented by the Centre for Latvian Studies of Daugavpils University.

Summer School Team: Dr philol., Prof. Maija Burima (Head of the Summer School), Evita Badina, Diāna Skuķe, Sergejs Poļanskis, Ilmārs Mežaraups.

This project is financially supported by the State Education Development Agency of the Republic of Latvia.

PHOTOGALLERY

MORE DETAILS:

Dr. philol., prof. Maija Burima
Head of Center for Latvian Studies
Daugavpils University
E-pasts: summerschool@du.lv

Eight International Latvian Language and Culture Summer School "Latvia's Cultural Canon" Opened

Mon, 05 Aug 2024 06:50:00 +0000

On August 4, 2024, the eighth International Latvian Language and Culture Summer School “Latvia’s Cultural Canon” organized by the Centre for Latvian Studies of Daugavpils University was started. The activities of the Summer School will take place in Riga, Auleja Parish and Daugavpils until August 13.

10 foreign students from Japan, Indonesia, People’s Republic of China, Spain, France, Georgia, Türkiye, Moldova and Uzbekistan are participating in the Summer School.

The uniqueness of the Summer School topic is shown by the interest of foreign academic staff, researchers and students in participating in the programme. In this year's scholarship competition, the organizing team of the Summer School received 156 high-quality applications from 24 countries around the world. Out of all applications, 10 of the most motivated candidates were selected on account of their academic and research interests being related to interdisciplinary cultural studies, language and cultural studies, study and interpretation of the history of the Baltic States.

The main topic of the Culture module of the Summer School is “Latvia’s Cultural Canon”, for research and introduction of which a unique programme was developed.

Simultaneously with the Cultural Canon module, summer school participants acquired the module “Latvian language as a foreign language”, which was also used during practice sessions, excursions and field studies.

It is important that within the summer school participants will not only become acquainted with the experience of defining the cultural Canon in Latvia, but will also form the international experience of interpreting it. Within the framework of the programme, school participants will have acquired knowledge of the history, structure and competence to describe canonical cultural values in other cultures.

The first part of the Summer School took place in Riga City. On August 4, upon the beginning of the Summer School’s activities, participants became acquainted with the Latvia’s cultural canon element “Architecture and Design”, looking at the most important stops of the cultural Canon treasure “Vecrīga Skyline”, as well as visiting the concert of 37th International Organ Music Festival “RĪGAS DOMS 2024”, in which the pieces composed by Latvian composer Jāzeps Vītols were played.

Summer school activities will continue by visiting the most important Cultural Canon treasures in Riga, Latgale and Daugavpils city, participating in excursions, field studies, lectures and seminars.

The original programme of the International Summer School “Latvia’s Cultural Canon” is aligned with all three objectives of the VIAA Summer School project: intensive Latvian language learning, promotion of Latvian culture, history, education and the Latvian language, enhancement of Latvian recognition abroad and promotion of cooperation between Latvia and foreign countries.

The summer school is implemented by the Centre for Latvian Studies of Daugavpils University Faculty of Humanities.

Summer School Team: Dr philol., Prof. Maija Burima (Head of the Summer School), Evita Badina, Diāna Skuķe, Sergejs Poļanskis, Ilmārs Mežaraups.

This project is financially supported by the State Education Development Agency of the Republic of Latvia.

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MORE DETAILS:
Dr. philol., prof. Maija Burima
Head of Center for Latvian Studies
Daugavpils University
E-pasts: summerschool@du.lv

Round of applications ends with 155 applications form 24 countries

Sun, 07 Apr 2024 06:47:00 +0000

We are pleased to announce that 155 applications from citizens of 24 countries

worldwide have been received as we approached the deadline of application – April 1.

Intense work is ahead of evaluation team and competition will be huge since there can only be 10 scholarships granted to the participants.

Although application for scholarship in this year’s contest has ended, there is still opportunity to participate in the summer school for charge.

LEARN MORE: https://summerschool.mozello.lv/2024/

Summer school is organized by Daugavpils University Centre for Latvian Studies.

This projected is funded with support from State Education Development Agency of the Republic of Latvia.

More information:
Head of Centre for Latvian Studies
Dr. philol., prof. Maija Burima
maija.burima@du.lv
+371 29789096

Financial Funding Received for Organizing Summer School 2024

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 11:01:00 +0000

In the annual State Education Development Agency of Republic of Latvia summer school project contest Daugavpils University Centre for Latvian Studies was granted financial support for organization of Latvian language and culture summer school in 2024 with the programme “Latvia’s Cultural Canon”.

Summer schools promote Latvian language, culture, history and education, as well as raise Latvia's recognition abroad and promote cooperation between Latvia and foreign countries.

In the 2024 competition 11 applications have been received from Latvia's highest education institutions, many of which have been developed in very good quality, so the application evaluation commission decided to support seven summer schools, each granting 10 scholarships intended to cover expenses of foreign students and academic staff. The amount of the summer school scholarship shall be EUR 1000 per participant of the summer school for the duration of the summer school.

Summer School “Latvia’s Cultural Canon” aims to raise awareness of the concept of cultural canon, its adaptation to the evaluation and classification of cultural phenomena. It focuses on Latvia’s cultural canon as a tool for institutionalising cultural values. The programme offers integrated learning of Latvian cultural canon values and Latvian language skills at A1 level.

The School will be coordinated by Daugavpils University Centre for Latvian Studies

This projected is funded with support from State Education Development Agency of the Republic of Latvia.

More information:
Head of Centre for Latvian Studies
Dr. philol., prof. Maija Burima
maija.burima@du.lv
+371 29789096