From March 31st to April 4th 2014 the Institute of Scandinavian Studies and Applied Linguistics is organizing a series of events intended to invigorate the discussion on launching Finnish Studies at the University of Gdansk (UG) in the near future. SPCC is a patron of this event.

The organizers intend to invite and include in the discussion all external and internal stakeholders of the university that have already expressed their interest in such an initiative or may possibly get interested in it when participating in the event. The university’s educational and research offer already includes scattered knowledge about Finnish literature or life and institutions (mainly in courses taught in the Scandinavian Studies), though a high-level instruction of the Finnish language and a curriculum devoted to Finnish studies have not been developed nor implemented. Now, in the best tradition of the area studies scholarship practiced in the Department of Scandinavian Studies, we wish to show the potential and relevance of Finnish Studies based on proficient command of the Finnish language and on thorough knowledge of all aspects of economic, political, social and cultural life and institutions of Finland. Furthermore, we want to involve representatives of Finnish companies operating in Poland in a dialogue on the optimal profile of graduates anon an innovative study programme of the Finnish Studies in GdaÅ„sk.

The whole event will be conducted in English, apart from the lectures on Finnish literature on Monday and Friday that will be held in Polish. No translation is foreseen.

The Finnish Days in Gdansk are organized under honorary patronage of the Rector of the University of Gdansk, Prof. Bernard Lammka and President of GdaÅ„sk Mr. PaweÅ‚ Adamowicz. The supporting partners are: Scientific Foundation Norden Centrum, the Swedish Institute, the Scandinavian-Polish Chamber of Commerce, Finnish companies Kemira and Metsä and academic exchange agency Cimo..

Detailed programme can be downloaded HERE