Non-Degree / Dates: 14 July - 1 August 2025
15, 17, 22, 24, 29, 31 July 2025
As Estonia is one of the Uralic nations, it is the best place to get to know Finno-Ugric cultures! A 6-day workshop on Finno-Ugric Studies provides an overview of the Finno-Ugric nations’ history, culture, and modern developments.
As the scientists found out, the Finno-Ugric peoples have inhabited the European continent for around ten thousand years. Mainly, they live in the territory of Estonia, Russia, Finland, and Hungary. How these countries are connected? During the workshop, we will study how the Hungarians, Finns, Estonians, Sami, Komi, Mansi, and many other Finno-Ugric nations are related to each other, how they settled so far from each other, and what are the roots of their origin. The topics covered by the course include not only the history of the Uralic peoples, but also contemporary politics, modern forms of cooperation, and cultural trends. We will have a chance to learn the basics of some Finno-Ugric languages and talk to representatives of some organizations working with Finno-Ugric issues (for example, NPO Fenno-Ugria, NGO Komi Cultural Society).
Teacher(s)
The workshop is led by Anna Kuznetsova and David Edwards.
Anna Kuznetsova is a MA in History and a PhD researcher working on the research on ethnopolitical institutions in Finno-Ugric regions. Anna was also the Head of the Estonian NGO Hõimulõimed and the Board member of the NGO Fenno-Ugria, dealing with developing and promoting Finno-Ugric cultures and cooperation.
David Edwards has defended his PhD dissertation at the University of Glasgow on representations of Estonian identity and external communication, and taught on courses such as “The Post-Soviet World”.
Timetable
15.07.2025 at 16:00 – 17:30 – Lecture: Origin and history of the Finno-Ugric peoples. Socio-economic situations and modern political developments in Russian Finno-Ugric regions
17.07.2025 at 17:00 – 18:30 –Lecture: Estonian and other European Finno-Ugric
peoples: definition, self-identity, history, culture
22.07.2025 at 17:00 – 18:30 –Lecture: Building a Finno-Ugric State: Comparative
Historical Introduction to Estonian, Finnish and Hungarian History
24.07.2025 at 17:00 – 18:30 – Lecture: Representing Estonian National Identity in
the 21st Century
29.07.2025 at 16:00 – 17:30 –Seminar on Finno-Ugric traditional and modern
culture
31.07.2025 at 17:00 – 18:30 – Seminar on Komi culture and language OR study
visit to an exhibition (a subject to change)
PARTICIPANTS
The course is open to everyone interested in the topic.
Credit points
Optional: Students will be awarded 1 ECTS for full participation and satisfactory completion of a 2000-word written assignment
Course fee
120 EUR
NB! Accommodation, cultural programme and meals are not included in the price.
Contact
Ester, Guatemala
Introduction to Estonia and Finno-Ugric Cultures and Nations course (Online edition)
