Department of World Literature celebrates 20th anniversary

A concert program is organized tonight at the Institute of Philology and Intercultural Communication.

Apart from congratulations and greetings from colleagues and invited guests, the evening features songs by Professor Vera Shamina and Chair of the Department of International and European Law Adelya Abdullina.

The department traces its history to the 1940s – foreign literature was studied at the Department of Language and Literature, then the Department of Literature (1949 – 1954), and the Department of Russian and World Literature since the 1950s. In November 2003, it was finally given independence in its current form.

Department chair, Professor Olga Nesmelova shared that the department has since graduated over 500 specialists. It currently acts as the responsible department for two programs – Spanish language and literature and English language and literature. The educators teach both in Russian language and in target language.

“Our alumni are a rare breed, and many of them continue working in the chosen field. They work as translators or teacher. A philologist is always in demand as a person who has a grasp on texts, who can understand and translate a material. Language proficiency helps find a fitting place both in Russia and abroad,” opines Dr Nesmelova.

Despite the current climate, the global literature process will still be a developing entity, says she, “The global literature process is an intertwining of separate national literature processes. The logic of cultural and historical development cannot be altered.”