Visiting lectureship of Norwegian language and literature at Tartu University

Project title: Visiting lectureship of Norwegian language and literature at Tartu University

Financing program: EEA/Norway Cooperation Programme in Higher Education

Eligibility period: 01.09.2019 - 31.08.2023

Project budget:

Aim and justification

Scandinavian languages and cultures have played a formative role in the development of Estonian culture and have had a deep impact on the whole Baltic Sea region. Today, Scandinavian companies have extensive business connections with the region, thus, creating the need for locals specialized in Scandinavian languages and cultures.

At the University of Tartu College of Foreign Languages and Cultures, Department of Scandinavian Studies, students can major and minor in Norwegian language and literature. Appointing a lecturer who is a native speaker in Norwegian language, would both enhance the quality of the study program, and motivation of the students. General language courses can also be chosen by all students at the university who wish to enhance their skills in Norwegian. With the support of different cooperation partners and institutions the department has developed a lengthy tradition of hosting visiting lecturers. This has created a unique opportunity for the students to learn from native speakers, which has also highly supported students’ motivation of taking part in and organizing different cultural or social events at the department.

Since autumn 2014 the University of Tartu has not had a lecturer who is a native speaker in Norwegian language, which has been a substantial loss to the Department of Scandinavian Studies. A lectureship financed by the EEA Grants would therefore help the continuation and sustainability of the study program, Norwegian language and literature.

Planned activities, objective and expected outcomes

The lectureship will help the development and continuation of the Norwegian language and literature study program. The lecturer will as part of their tasks receive resources for research, assist in the organization of seminars and conferences, participate in the updating of study materials and didactics.

The general objective is to improve the standard of teaching and the curriculum, to create new cooperation networks, and to introduce and popularize the specialities taught in the Scandinavian languages and cultures curricula to potential future learners in Estonian schools. As part of the general aim of spreading the Norwegian values, culture, society, interdisciplinary and cross-cultural aspects, and general popularization of Norwegian language and culture in Estonia, the lecturer will also be part of

organising various events open to current learners and the general public (e.g. Scandinavian movie nights, exhibitions, events for celebrating Scandinavian holidays etc).

Results

The expected number of students taking part in Norwegian language and literature lecturers at the University of Tartu during the project period is 30 students per semester.

Target groups: students majoring in Norwegian language and culture, students of other specialities at the department of Scandinavian studies, students taking practical Norwegian language courses, the general public (incl potential new learners at Estonian schools).

As of 31.12.2022, all performance indicators related to the project have been achieved.

The expected outcome/effect on the target group: Appointing a lecturer who is a native speaker in Norwegian language will enhance the quality of the study program and raise the motivation of the students. This will in turn support the continuation and sustainability of the study program in Norwegian language and literature.