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Description
The present project is a means of broadening and intensifying the cooperation of The Technical University of Liberec and the University of Tromso/The Arctic University of Norway, with the central aim to exchange theoretical knowledge, practical know-how and best practices in researching and teaching about borders, migration, justice, social and political conflict and multilingualism. Following up on the success of previous projects, the project provides inter-institutional mobility for 12 people. In the project period, both of the two institutions welcome 6 members from their partners, with the aim to exchange research methods, discuss theoretical and practical aspects of teaching topics related to social, political, linguistic, psychological and environmental factors of migration, injustice and political as well as social conflicts, and aid curriculum and program development in these areas. These rather theoretical areas of focus are complemented by the practical testing environment of teaching hours, peer-feedback and job shadowing.
With a strong focus on stimulating theoretical discussions and intercultural teaching practice followed by peer-feedback, the ultimate long-term goal of the project, beyond strengthening cooperation between the two institutions, is to help participants gain new insights and acquire theoretical and practical knowledge not only about the benefits of various approaches to researching these issues, but also the practical aspects of curriculum and program design. Migration is a phenomenon older than humanity itself, borders and boundaries have played a special role in this process, and migrants have to face not only potential social and political conflicts at their destination, but also overcome challenges of bilingualism or multilingualism. Thus the project is committed not only to understanding these related phenomena, but also, and most crucially, emphasizes the necessity of including them in higher education curricula.
Summary of project results
Tangible outcomes of the project include the participation of 13 faculty members (5 from Tromsø and 8 from Liberec) in the academic exchange through physical mobility. Participation at both institutions reached beyond those directly participating in the mobility and involved several faculty members not previously participating in any earlier Liberec–Tromsø project. In addition, the exchange project also helped in preparing a new study program in Liberec soon to be submitted for accreditation, the two research groups are about to co-publish an edited volume on the cultural representation of migration and violence in 2023, and two specific grant applications, one in the framework of EEA Grants – Norway Grants Funds for Bilateral Cooperation, and the other one, with the involvement of other partners, in the framework of EU Horizon Europe calls. Further plans for cooperation include a wider participation of Tromsø colleagues at the Liberec Border Studies Summer School organized yearly since 2019 and a course to be implemented through the Erasmus Blended Intesive Program, co-taught by colleagues at the Technical University of Liberec, the University of Tromsø and the University of Opole.
Summary of bilateral results
In terms of the contribution of the Norwegian partner, it is important to emphasize that some of the participating research groups have certainly accumulated more experience in research, teaching and curriculum development than our own, relatively new one in Liberec. The history of Tromsø’s Borders Poetics/Border Culture research group, for example, reaches back to 2004, Engaging Conflicts in a Digital Era (ENCODE) started its activities in 2011. Thus, in some aspects, the University of Tromsø/The Artic University of Norway, has naturally played the role of a senior partner throughout our five-year cooperation, including the present project.