Russian culture abroad: Russian Center launched in Holland

On June 29 the opening ceremony of the first Russian Center in the Netherlands kicked off at the University of Groningen.

Despite the fact that today the network of Russian centers, being set up by “Russkiy Mir” foundation,  includes over fifty facilities and covers several dozen countries, the Russian center at the University of Groningen has acquired a special status. For the first time in the Foundation’s history of collaboration practice with educational institutions, the center is implementing a special interdisciplinary model.

“The Russian Center at the University of Groningen is not just another Russian language and culture center”, – stressed European representative of the “Russkiy Mir” Foundation Archpriest Antony Ilin. “This is an interdisciplinary center for Russian studies, which will acquire the status of the academic department of the University of Groningen and will have an academic council, which will bring together not only experts in Russian language and culture, but representatives of other faculties as well – historians, political scientists... The status of an academic department introduces an opportunity to defend scientific works, including doctoral theses, at the Russian Center. This has been done for the first time. In the future more centers of this type will be opened, particularly in Western European countries”.

Following the priorities of bilateral Russia-Holland relations, the center in Groningen is very likely to become a leading regional institution aimed at development of joint innovation projects. The University of Groningen possesses a very considerable expertise in holding joint Russia-Holland studies and also has a school of Slavic Languages and Culture.