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The Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Warsaw
The Faculty of Oriental Studies of the University of Warsaw is one of
the biggest
centers for Oriental studies in Europe, boasts considerable scientific
achievements
and well-earned international reputation. It has been building its position
since 1932,
initially as the Oriental Studies Institute of the University of Warsaw. The
Faculty
employs a large group of specialists on cultures and languages of Asia and
Africa,
maintains close relations with many scientific centers around the world,
including
Asia and Africa, like the universities in Ankara, Delhi, Kano, Jerusalem,
Kyoto, Beijing,
Istanbul, Tehran, Tel-Aviv, Tokyo, Ulan Bator.
The Faculty
of Oriental Studies has authority to grant Ph.D. and habilitation in
linguistics and literary studies. It organizes and coordinates research in
linguistics, literary studies, cultural studies, history, philosophy and
studies on religions. It has the highest category (the 1st) in scientific
research in the parametric evaluation of the Ministry of Science and Higher
Education of Poland.
The Orientalists of the University of Warsaw represent a considerable
scientific
potential. Many of them enjoy international success. One of the latest such
achievements
is the book of Professor Joanna Jurewicz Fire and Cognition in the Rgveda
(Warsaw, 2011). Professor Richard Gombrich from the University of Oxford
described
her research on linguistics and philosophy of cognition as being
so illuminating that they may rank as a true discovery. [...] Should anyone
ask
whether the humanities make discoveries comparable to those of natural
science,
they should be shown this book.
In Poland, the author received the Prime Minister’s Award for outstanding
scientific
achievement. Prof. Anna Parzymies was counted among the recipients of the
UNESCO award. On her initiative, in 1994 the European Islam Department was
established,
carrying out research on the history of the European Islam, social and
political
movements of European Muslims, the history and contemporary developments in
the
contacts between Christianity and Islam, organization of Muslim life in
Europe and
the problems of Muslim integration in the European countries. She was the
editor of
a comprehensive monograph Muzułmanie w Europie [‘Muslims in Europe’]
(Warsaw, 2005). The employees of the European Islam Department frequently
act as experts in issues related to Muslims in Europe.
The Faculty of Oriental Studies covers two research areas: Oriental studies
and
Culture studies. Within the frames of Oriental studies (organized only by
the Faculty
of Oriental Studies of the University of Warsaw) there are following
specializations:
African, Arab, Hebrew, Indian, Iranian, Japanese, Korean, Mongolian and
Tibetan
studies, Sinology, Turkology, as well as Ancient Eastern studies (Assyrian,
Hittite and
Egyptian).
The didactic program caters for the needs of students willing to learn about
culture,
i.e. history, literature, religion, philosophy and art of the Far and Middle
Eastern
and African countries, and languages which serve as tools for learning these
cultures.
The following languages are taught: Acadian, Amharic, Arabic and its
Egyptian
dialect, Bengali, Chinese, Dari, Hausa, Hebrew, Hattic, Hindi, Japanese,
Coptic,
Korean, Manchurian, Mongolian, Pashtu, Persian, Sanskrit, Swahili, Tamil,
Turkish,
Tibetan and Vietnamese.
One of the areas of activity of the Faculty is also the developmental
education.
The Department implemented two educational projects financed from the
international
aid program of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: „The Faces of Orient” (and
educational
toolkit), and „Cultural patterns of development in Asia and Africa” (a
textbook
on development). Currently, a third program is approaching completion, also
financed from a MFA program.
Contact details
Faculty of Oriental Studies
University of Warsaw
ul. Krakowskie Przedmieście 26/28
00-927 Warszawa
tel. +48 22 826-36-83, fax. +48 22 55 24 053
orient@uw.edu.pl ,
http://www.orient.uw.edu.pl
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