Description
According to the Development Strategy of the University of Latvia (UL)its research have a multidisciplinary focus and be oriented towards synergies between Latvian and foreign research institutions. The UL Vision and international cooperation strategy underlines the regional significance of the University and the importance of cooperating with the EU and Baltic Sea Region countries. Therefore, the participation within the Norway/EEA grants scheme is regarded as an important tool to fulfill the overarching mission of promoting the development of the society and the state. The project aims to develop alternative routes for maintaining the long-term collaboration (e.g. innovative cooperation forms by using online tools). The following impacts will be brought to the Latvian, Norwegian and Icelandic partners: 1) internationalization of studies, research and best practices; 2) increased involvement of students and staff in international study programmes and research; 3) development of research-based study courses; 4) bilateral exchange of methodological approaches through co-supervision of master and doctoral students; 5) expanded competence in the fields of intercultural communication; 6) strengthened base for further grant preparation within EU academic Horizon 2020 programme; 7) establish a solid foundation for future collaboration between the academic communities of Norway, Latvia and Iceland.
Summary of project results
Main goals of the project: - To promote the cooperation among partner institutions and study directions (Gender studies, language standardization, language education policies, Asian studies, theoretical linguistics, Latvian studies). - To strengthen research capacity in Latvia and to improve teaching techniques, as well as academic networks by exchanging academic staff and sharing the competences. - To improve the quality of education by inclusion of the Norwegian experience on gender issues into the contents of the University of Latvia study courses. - Synergy with the Project “Gender, Culture and Power: Diversity and Interactions in Latvia and Norway” (NFI/R/2014/061). Overall 6 student and 12 academic staff mobilities were implemented in Norway and Iceland. Results of the staff mobility: - Inclusion of the Nordic experience in gender issues into the contents of the University of Latvia study course “Gender in Literature: Discourse of Feminism” (the course is prepared by Ausma Cimdiņa, LU HZF). - Inclusion of the Icelandic experience in sociolinguistics into the contents of the University of Latvia study course “Sociolinguistics” (the course is prepared by Ina Druviete; LU HZF). - Participation of Norwegian colleagues in classes of the Japanese language during the visit to the Faculty of Humanities, University of Latvia, sharing the methods of teaching. The same for the Latvian colleagues during the visit to the University of Iceland. - Inclusion of the Nordic (Institute of Health and Society of the University of Oslo) experience in health and society studies into the contents of the University of Latvia study course “Society, Culture and Medicine” (the course is prepared by Signe Mežinska; Faculty of Medicine, University of Latvia). - Inclusion of the Nordic (Arctic University of Norway) experience in generative phonology, functional grammar and theories of language acquisition by children into the contents of the University of Latvia study courses “Modern Latvian Literary Language: Morphology”, “Modern Latvian Literary Language: Syntax”, “Functional Grammar and Text Linguistics”, “Theories of Language Acquisition” (the courses are prepared by Andra Kalnača, Ilze Lokmane; LU HZF).
Summary of bilateral results
The following impact has been brought to Latvian, Norwegian and Icelandic partners: - internationalization of studies, research and best practices; - increased involvement of students and staff in international study programmes and research; - bilateral exchange of methodological approaches through various master-classes, performed during mobilities; - expanded competence in the fields of intercultural communication; - strengthened base for further grant preparation within EU academic Horizon 2020 programme; established a solid foundation for future collaboration between the academic communities of Norway, Latvia and Iceland; - additional experience, acquired through the meeting with a visiting professor from Roma Sapienza University at the Faculty of Humanities of the University of Oslo, benefited the courses of the programme in Classical Philology at the Faculty of Humanities of the University of Latvia; - the lecture of Professor H.B. Nielsen, combining sociology, history and literary studies, helped students of the Faculty of Humanities of the University of Latvia to develop a better the understanding of the interdisciplinary nature of the humanities; - new perspective on the gender research (through Classical Studies), discussed with the colleagues from the Centre for Gender Research (linguistic features indicating gender attitude in ancient times of the European civilization).