The program of the visit for Eva Sundquist was eventful as it included a meeting with Vladimir Syunev, the Vice-Rector for Scientific Research, a visit to innovative enterprises of the IT-park and the Museum of History of PetrSU, a meeting with the students studying Swedish at Petrozavodsk University.

The Swedish delegation also included Marten Frankby (Consul for economic cooperation, culture, education and the media at the Consulate General of Sweden in St. Petersburg), Suzanna Lantz (Coordinator for international relations of the County Administrative Board of Vasterbotten), Natalia Bratova (Officer for Sweden promotion of the Consulate General of Sweden in St. Petersburg), Andrei Novokhatko (Head of the representative office in the Russian Federation, Qmatic Company), and Anna Klimova (Finance Officer at the Consulate General of Sweden in St. Petersburg, PetrSU graduate of 2006).

“We are proud that since the end of the 80s Petrozavodsk State University, the Flagship University of Karelia, has been studying the history of Sweden, teaching its national language, interest in which increases from year to year, establishing cooperation with Swedish scholars, while its students have been attending summer courses and language internships,” noted Vladimir Syunev in his welcoming speech. He drew attention to the fact that the successful development of teaching the Swedish language largely depended on the involvement of lecturers sent to PetrSU by the Swedish Institute.

Currently, the Swedish language is taught at the Institute of Philology (program Swedish language and literature, English) and at the Institute of History, Political and Social Sciences (programs History, International Relations). Swedish is available in both undergraduate and graduate programs.

“Educational programs with the Swedish language as the first foreign language are currently being implemented only in metropolitan universities, therefore the presence of this program at PetrSU, a regional university, is a unique phenomenon,” emphasized the Vice-Rector.

The university guests also learned that with the support of the Swedish Institute, the Svearike project was launched in the current academic year. This is a free school of Swedish, in which students of the Department of German Philology and Scandinavian Studies under the guidance of teachers are engaged in organizing and conducting practical classes.

Annually the Department holds both traditional events related to the Swedish language and culture of Sweden (Days of the Swedish language, conferences, meetings, seminars, workshops with the participation of translators, cultural figures, literature specialists of Sweden, etc.) and individual thematic events (St. Lucia’s Day, Valborg).

“For our part, we are trying to deepen and develop our connections: educational, scientific, cultural, interpersonal,” assured Ms. Eva Sundquist.