The need for enhancement of knowledge and skills related, on the one hand, to anthropological understanding of the world and, on the other hand, the opportunity of applying this knowledge and the skills in the practice is out of doubt in the contemporary context. The Field Summer School Bulgarian Culture is organized by the Department of Ethnology at the University of Plovdiv, Bulgaria. The School's target group includes students with some knowledge in humanities or social sciences who rely on basic anthropological skills.
The 2016 edition of the school offers an opportunity to accumulate experience in the urban laboratory of the city of Plovdiv, the European Capital of Culture in 2019, which provides a large variety of research topics like city as a space of differences; construction of urban heritage; "Invisible City" (body and borders in the city), etc. These are just a couple of possible topics to challenge the participants during their one-week anthropological field research. A few introductory lectures and seminars are planned to present a specific field of study before participants start "discovering" the culture by applying methods and techniques of the field work (observation, interview, visual approaches, etc.). The Summer School relies not only on the rational (cognitive) understanding of the specific cultural codes but also on the full sensory immersion (via tasting, smelling, touching) and emotional participation in the local environment.
Working Language: English.
Students who successfully complete the course of the Field Summer School receive certificates for the acquired skills and are awarded 6 ECST.
Participation Fee: 670 Euro
The fee covers all costs for facilitation of the training process, accommodation and food, and the cost of a one-day excursion in the region of Plovdiv.
Application procedure: Send a CV and a brief motivation letter (c. 250 words) to the following e-mail address: fieldsummerschool@uni-plovdiv.net.
Deadline for submission: 9 May 2016. Notification of acceptance by the end of May 2016.
Field Summer School Bulgarian Culturefor foreign students
The need for enhancement of knowledge and skills related, on the one hand, to anthropological understanding of the world and, on the other hand, the opportunity of applying this knowledge and the skills in the practice is out of doubt in the contemporary context. This Field Summer School is an appropriate strategic method to meet the challenge to academic education posed by the current developments.
The Field Summer School is organized by the Department of Ethnology at the University of Plovdiv and run by university professors and experts in the field work. It is with an academic focus, targeting students with basic knowledge and skills in the field of humanities and social sciences accompanied by basic anthropological competences. On the one hand, we rely on our experience accumulated during the annual summer field practices carried out in various regions of Bulgaria. These have resulted in established tradition, cooperative initiatives, partners' networks, etc. On the other hand, the organization of the biannual Balkan Summer School on Religion and Public Life (http://logos.uni-plovdiv.net/en/web/logos.etn/bssrpl) also has contributed to enhancement of our know-how.
The Field Summer School takes place in Bulgaria – a place which offers a truly interesting and diversified field of research; a sort of a crossroad of religions, cultures and traditions. In Bulgaria, as a part of the Balkans, one may observe traces of different historical heritage (Thracian, Ancient Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman, etc.) as well as feel various cultural influences (European, Oriental, and Mediterranean). Particularity of the local culture reveals both in material artefacts and in the intangible cultural heritage of the region (songs, dances, rituals, narratives). The Summer School relies not only on the rational (cognitive) understanding of the specific cultural codes but also on the full sensory immersion (via tasting, smelling, touching) and emotional participation in the local environment.
The Field School aims at familiarization with the local particularities of the Bulgarian culture through preparing and conducting an ethnological/anthropological field research. A few introductory lectures and seminars are planned to present a specific field of study before participants start "discovering" the culture by applying methods and techniques of the field work (observation, interview, visual approaches, etc.). Visits to selected places of interest like churches, cultural clubs (tchitalishte), markets, Central Square, restaurants and cafes, parks will facilitate the perception, "tasting", "smelling" and "hearing" the city, village, sacred place.
During the Summer School the student will acquire skills of assessment and use of diverse methods; communication with local people; seeing and registering of ethnographic facts; systematization, analysis and problematization of collected information. Such tasks cannot be achieved without interaction between the professors, students and research team. This is the model of learning through practical participation in research programs that meet the need of the students for learning about different types of terrains so that they can compare and further develop their research work. Four research programs/terrains are developed and offered: TheBlack Sea and Strandzha Mountains, The Rhodope Mountains, The Valley of Roses and Valley of Thracian Kings and Plovdiv.
Students who successfully complete the course of the Field Summer School receive certificates for the acquired skills and are awarded 6 ECST.
This opportunity has expired. It was originally published here:
http://logos.uni-plovdiv.net/ru/call