Blended Twinning, 2022, Leipzig University

On May 16–20, 2022, the Blended Twinning workshop "Religion and Society in Contemporary Europe and Asia. Religion and Politics" took place at Leipzig University. The visiting lecturer was Dr Associate Professor Rasa Pranskevičiūtė-Amonson, and two students from the Faculty of Philosophy at Vilnius University.

The scholar has shared the feedback on the visit.

– In what Twinning activities did you participate? What was the main purpose?

– The activities were, first, the virtual event on Zoom for both Universities students and staff: Kick-off event (6 April 2022) – introduction; programme and aims of this course; schedule; organizational issues; tasks for students. Second, the physical event: Joint workshop (16–20 May 2022) – work on theoretical frames of the workshop (discussion on previously given to read literature); student presentations; fieldwork and presentation of its results.

To explain in a more detailed way, the group fieldwork during the visit of religious objects/sites/communities in Leipzig with the aim to study peculiarities of contemporary urban religiosity and preparation of group research report by each team. Dissemination of results – presentation of group projects in the joint workshop to share and evaluate fieldwork experience.

– What did you learn from participating in Twinning activities?

– The Twinning activities allowed the students from both universities to network and experiment with new research topics and formats while presenting their work in a joint workshop. Participation in the Twinning activity has broadened students' opportunities for empirical field research in new geographical contexts, has improved individual and group research competencies and hone skills required for career opportunities in academia.

Participation in the Twinning activity enhanced and developed academic teaching on contemporary religious phenomena in Western, East-Central European, and Asian regions contributed to the international relations agenda of the sending and receiving institutions, created possibilities for regular networking, researching, and teaching projects and facilitated future international cooperation.

– How will you use this knowledge in your future studies / further collaboration with partners?

– The action will also ensure the potential for lasting cooperation in teaching and learning, as well as research activities between the partner Universities. For example, collaboration with the bilateral workshop within the Twinning program for a students' research visit from Leipzig University and possibly Bergen University to Vilnius University in 2023 is planned.

Both the applicant and the representative of Leipzig University Assoc. Prof. Katharina Neef and former representative of Leipzig University, Mrs Vitanova-Kerber (recently moved to Fribourg University for the position of Chair for Comparative History of Religions) continue to work in the field of religion, politics, and regional studies. Therefore, presentations of individual research in common conference panels, as well as individual publications in joint projects (e.g., thematic journal issues, blogs, etc.) are and will be implemented (e.g., research was presented in the panel in the annual conference of European Association for the Study of Religions (Cork University, June 27-July 1).

– What obstacles did you encounter participating in Twinning activities? How did you solve them?

– 3 students dropped out from the project just before the workshop started (one student from Vilnius University and two – from Leipzig University).

– Would you recommend participating in Twinning activities for other students/professors? Why?

– I would recommend, firstly, because of the students' new scientific research experience and their international competencies, also because teachers cooperated in teaching and research and, of course, because of a more profound level of University cooperation.