In the framework of the SI project “New Horizons of Internationalization” a group from Malmö University visited Yerevan State University, together with partners from the universities from Batumi, Odessa and Balti – summing up the year’s work on how to strengthen and find new approaches to internationalization in education and research. Project leader Dr. Tom Nilsson, Dept. of GPS.
Category: Students
Visit to the University of Kabardino-Balkaria
University of Kabardino-Balkaria (KBSU) is one of the major universities in Russian North Caucasus and the State University of the Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria.
Prof. Karina Vamling, Malmö University, had meetings with Rector of KBSU, Professor Yuri K. Altudov and colleagues at the Department of Kabardian language and literature. She visited the sections for language and culture of the three main ethnic groups of the Republic – the Kabardians, Balkars and Russians. At the Kabardian section Prof. Madina Ezaova showed a Kabardian ethnographic exhibition prepared by the students. The final meeting during the visit to KBSU was with students of Kabardian Philology, including a musical performance of Kabardian songs and a declamation in Kabardian.
Take a virtual tour of the https://eng.kbsu.ru/3d-tour-virtual-tour/
- Meeting at the University of Kabardino-Balkaria
- Meeting with Rector of KBSU, Professor Yuri K. Altudov
- At the Department of Kabardian language and literature
- Section of Balkar culture
- Prof. Madina Ezaova at the Section of Kabardian culture
- Together with students of Kabardian Philology
Tbilisi online & campus seminar Nov 1-3
On November 1-3 students from Malmö University, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University and Flinders University (Adelaide, Australia) conducted an online and campus seminar, broadcasted from Tbilisi State University. This was a collaborative event for students from Caucasus Studies and Communication for development (Malmö University), Development studies (Flinders University) together with MA students from the Faculty of Social and Political Studies at Tbilisi State University. Ten Malmö students participated in the seminar in Tbilisi together with Georgian students and other students participated online, including all Australian students. From the Swedish side several members of staff came to Tbilisi for the seminar: Oscar Hemer, Karina Vamling, Hugo Boothby, Tobias Denskus, Katrine Gotfredsen, Mikael Rundberg, Anders Høg Hansen. The group was accompanied by Dean of the Faculty of Culture and Society, Rebecka Lettevall (Malmö University), and visual storyteller Conor Ashleigh.
The thematic focus of the three day seminar was Georgia’s separatist conflicts, and in particular the South Ossetian/Tskhinvali conflict, and the challenges the internally displaced persons (IDPs) are facing. The seminar included academic lectures and presentations from representatives of NGOs and other organisations, such as European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) and Civil Forum. In addition to the seminar students and staff visited an IDP settlement outside Gori close to the conflict zone.
- Welcome to TSU – Vice-rector Mikheil Chkhenkeli
- Lecture by prof Alexandre Kukhianidze
- Guranda Bursulaia’s lecture
- Prof. Susanne Schech commenting from Flinders University
- Presentation by European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM), Henry Wathen
- !
- George Mchedlishvili’s lecture
- Question to Khatuna Maisashvili during the panel discussion
- Comments from Prof. Oscar Hemer
- Dean Rebecka Lettevall presents Malmö University
- Information about Caucasus Studies – Prof. Karina Vamling
- Tobias Denskus presents the programme Communication for Development
- Hugo Boothby forming the groups
- One of the student groups
- Mikael Rundberg and Conor Ashleigh
- Visit to IDP settlement outside Gori
- Discussion in the IDP settlement
- Welcome to the dinner
- Dinner at Old Piano
- Dinner at Old Piano
- Group work during the simulation
- Simulation work
- “Special Advisor Reisner, Prime minister Kukhianidze and advisor Gotfredsen” (during simulation presenation)
Project presentations
A group of students following the course “Caucasus Field and Case Studies” this spring have presented their project reports.
The title of Shane’s project was “Tbilisi Flood Disaster 2015. How social media is influencing disaster response and recovery in Georgia“, based on his field work. Jeanne was interested in the development of relations between Georgians and Abkhazians after the 2008 war. Jacques’s research project work centered around gender studies and the position of women in the South Caucasus. Björn conducted fieldwork in Batumi and presented his interview study “Muslims in Ajara. Identity, belonging and marginalization”. Clayton went to Ingushetia in North Caucasus for his field study: “Promotion of Tourism in Ingushetia Rebranding the Branded”.
Many thanks to Mikale Rundberg who helped us with the technical side of the semianr and presenations.
Students conducting fieldstudies
Students following this semester’s course “Caucasus Field and Case Studies” are returning from fieldwork. The course includes individual project work and students are encouraged to conduct this in the Caucasus region.
The photo to the left shows Shane, returning from Tbilisi (with his family), where he was studing the 2015 flooding catastrophy that, among other things, effected the city zoo and nearby areas.
Clayton (to the right) selected the North Caucasian republic of Ingushetia as his fieldwork site (holding the republic’s flag on the photo).
Björn went to the Black Sea city of Batumi in Georgia to conduct his study, and is seen with some of the city’s spectacular modern buildings.
Read more about the course: http://edu.mah.se/en/Course/IM115L