Irina Voevodina, an associate professor of the Department “German and Methods of Teaching German” had a course of professional development abroad. She got this opportunity because she won a scholarship on a competitive base.

The seminar “Who says Germany, must also say Austria and Switzerland” ("Wer D sagt muss auch A und CH sagen: Deutschland (D), Osterreich (A) und die Schweiz (CH)”) took place from the 22nd of July till the 8th of August in three countries, in the cities of Cologne, Baar and Vienna. The main aspect of the cultural studies seminar was pluricentrics: all the programme was based on the interaction and cooperation between the German-speaking countries. The participators had an opportunity not only to learn about this or that country, but also to acquire different techniques of teaching German according to the principle of pluricentrics. The programme included different types of activities: teachers of German from all over the world made reports, participated in workshops, had literature promenades, prepared and presented projects, had training in theatrical and musical pedagogy. All in all it was 115 unforgettable hours of methods and cultural studies. In addition to academic activity, the participators had sightseeing tours around the cities, walking tours in the mountains, visits to theatres, cinemas. They also got acquainted with people of modern art, among whom are a poetry slammist Simon Libsich, a singer and film director Christina Zurbrugg, a cabaret performer Hildegart Scholten. Such seminars are organized by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education; the scholarships are awarded on a competitive base.