Unknown Europe:
History, Society and Culture of Belarus
Summer School
in Hrodna
The Summer School “Unknown Europe: History, Society and Culture of Belarus” will be held at the Yanka Kupala State University of Grodno at the Faculty of History, Communication and Tourism, and will be of interest to students of the humanities. This is a great opportunity to get acquainted with the rich Belarusian history and unique culture, as well as enjoy the beautiful Belarusian landscapes and try dishes of national Belarusian cuisine.
The goal of our Summer School is to develop intercultural competencies among European students by directly participating in the study of the cultural diversity of non-EU countries (using the example of the Republic of Belarus). The Summer School participants are offered numerous lectures, seminars and excursions during which they can gain or expand their knowledge about the most important aspects of Belarusian cultural studies. Finally, each participant will prepare and present an essay (in German or English) about Belarus on the basis of the information received and their own experience. It will be the evidence of successful participation in the Summer School and evidence of attendance.
Belarus is located in Eastern Europe and remains a “blind spot” for many Europeans. It is worth to start introducing to an unknown Belarus from Grodno, because Grodno is one of the oldest cities in Belarus, where the historical center and modern infrastructure, green parks and famous monuments (such as the 12th-century Kalozha church) are closely intertwined. Grodno is a multicultural city in which people of different nationalities and religions live nearby. We want to introduce the participants of the Summer School with the economic, cultural and religious diversity of Belarus on the example of our city. In addition, this will contribute to various tours of the city and many more. Highly qualified teachers of the Faculty of History, Communication and Tourism will give lectures and accompany participants of the Summer School in all other events. The organizers are the Department of Translation and Intercultural Communication, as well as the Department of Tourism and Cultural Heritage. In addition to this, the participants of the Summer School will have the opportunity to communicate with Belarusian students.