Description
Dr Schnall from the University of Bergen will visit the Department of Scandinavian Studies at the University of Tartu to teach and lecture for the BA and MA students about his special field of knowledge, medieval Scandinavian literature and culture, and especially its dependence on contemporary learned literature from the continent of the 12th and 13th centuries. The Tartu department regularly gives courses within the field of medieval Scandinavian literature (e.g. Old Norse literature, Nordic Viking and Medieval literature, Iceland and the sagas), and Dr Schnall’s knowledge would thus be valuable, since it would develop a profile already strong at the Tartu department, by providing a different angle. The visit would also start a closer cooperation between the two departments. So far, there have been several of contacts on the personal level between the two departments, but this would be the first formalized cooperation between the Tartu department and a Norwegian department.
Summary of project results
The project was needed since the department has started a profile focus on Early Scandinavian literature and philology with several new courses within this field created. Thus the department wanted to create new contacts with the leading experts within the field, so that an exchange of knowledge could take place. The University of Bergen is one of the leading universities within this filed. During this year the focus on early Scandinavian literature included a visit by Ass. Professor Eike Schnall from the University of Bergen by the help of the EEA/Nprway Grants Scholarship programme, with several lectures at the course Viking and Medieval Literature and also research seminars and meetings about future cooperation. The seminars were held on a high level and the students were extremely positive. The meetings resulted in plans for future cooperation.
Summary of bilateral results
The partner contributed with his excellent knowledge within the field of the course taught and the research seminar given. The partnership has developed the cooperation between the department in Tartu and the department in Bergen. Since most of the international cooperation so far has been with Sweden and Swedish universities, this strengthened cooperation with Norway is extremely important. The cooperation marks the start of an increased and fruitful cooperation between Skandinavistika in Tartu and Norway, which hopefully will strengthen the role of Norwegian language and culture in Estonia. It will hopefully also strengthen the interest in cooperation with Estonia in Norway.