Finnish studies in Greifswald

The subject Finnish Studies belongs to the department of Finnish and Scandinavian Studies at the University of Greifswald. Since 2008 Marko Pantermöller has been professor of the subject. In addition there is a Finnish lecturer, two assistants and one part-time teacher. The institution offers tuition on bachelor and master levels (B.A.- and M.A.-degree), furthermore it is also possible to complete doctoral studies. Currently there are around 90 students and the number has been increasing continuously within the last years.
History
In 1918 the department of Scandinavian Studies was established by the University of Greifswald. The department did not belong to any faculty, which made it possible that in addition to philologists, also geographers, jurists, historians and economists were employed. The subject Finnish was set up as a part of this department in March 1920 and in 1921 Arvid Rosenquist started his work as the first lecturer of the Finnish language at the university and at the same time in whole Germany. In 1922 the subject of Finnish language became an independent department equal to the department of Scandinavian Studies. (In the course of the department’s history the name changed several times.)
Considering from the history of sciences the University of Greifswald is after the University of Göttingen probably Germany’s most important birthplace of Finland-knowledge.
In addition to teaching the department had also been publishing scientific research series from its founding time until the Second World War. From 1933 on the department had to make gradual changes in its work anyway, because research concerning Finland was closely watched by the Nazis. Most definite change in the departments working possibilities did not happen until 1939, when research work was strongly restricted, publishing suspended and those who had connections abroad were required to “serve Germany in fighting counter-intelligence.“ In 1945 the department stopped working completely and the future of Greifswald’s Finnish studies became totally uncertain. The department of Scandinavian Studies got the right to continue in 1954 and in 1955 the department was allowed to pay a Finnish language lecturer, who started his work in March of the following year. Reino Järvinen worked as a lecturer then and in addition to Finnish language, literature and culture students acquainted themselves with Finland`s economy, domestic policy and international relations. This made possible that the department appointed schooling experts on questions concerning North-Europe. Later the focus was put on schooling translators and interpreters.
In 1977 the first professor was set up in Greifswald, who was as in 1921 the first in Germany. As professors worked Kurt Schmidt (1977-1993), Pekka Lehtimäki (1994-2000), Sirkka-Liisa Hahmo (2000-2008) and since 2008 Marko Pantermöller has been the current professor.
In 2008 the department of Finnish studies became a section of Scandinavian Studies, which was a part of the Department of Foreign Languages. In 2013 the subject became independent again and the current name of the department is Department of Finnish and Scandinavian Studies. In addition to complete their studies in Greifswald, students have the option to study through the ERASMUS-programme in Finland at the universities of Helsinki, Turku, Tampere, Jyväskylä and East-Finland and also in Estonia at the universities of Tallinn and Tartu.
Students and teachers of Finnish studies also participate in the planning of the Nordischer Klang - Festival. This festival is the biggest festival of northern cultures outside the northern countries.

Teaching
In addition to teaching practical language skills studies in Greifswald include both bachelor and master degrees as well as courses about linguistics, literature and culture. There are also lessons taught by foreign lecturers. The students have the option to participate in translation workshops for example.
Library
Right from the start it has been one of the department`s ambitions to compile a wide and extensive library of Finnish studies. Because both Greifswald and Finland belonged to Sweden until the beginning of the 19th century, the university got the first prints related to Finland from Sweden, later books came from Finland of course. The oldest prints in the possession of the University of Greifswald is Ericus Schroderus‘ Lexicon Latino-Scondicum, which is the first dictionary]] that contains a lexicon of the Finnish language. From this dictionary only a few parts have remained. The current library of the department of Fennistics and Scandinavian studies offers staff and students an excellent possibility to study and research the Finnish language and culture.
About
* Homepage of the department of Finnish and Scandinavian Studies at the University of Greifswald
* Homepage of the subject Finnish studies
* Masterprogramme Language Diversity

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu