Visit to Cracow March 2004
Report

Teaching

The teaching part of the visit consisted of a 15 hour course on Digital reference services (DRS). The basic content was identical with the course I first gave in May 2003, but the course materials and exercises had been developed further, towards a bilingual teaching model.

The class, which consisted of 40+ third year students, was (as before) interested and eager to learn. The department conducts an evaluation after each course, and I will put their summary on this web when it arrives.

The program was defined as a separate course - under the general heading of International librarianship, which is offered in the third year. This umbrella format makes it easy to incorporate different visiting lecturers with different types of content.

Bilingual teaching

By bilingual teaching I mean teaching that is - to some extent - conducted in two different languages. I want to develop the DRS course as a unit suitable for teaching in English and Polish at the same time.

I lectured in English. Group discussions and other forms of group work were of course conducted in Polish. But we also allowed students to report on their work in Polish. These reports will be published in Polish on the web - after some language editing.

At the moment, our case materials come from services that operate in English, German or one of the Scandinavian languages. But we will add relevant Polish reference services as they become available.

The basic course materials are written in English. But there will soon be a parallell text in Polish - translated by Bozena Rasmussen, who assisted as interpreter during the DRS course (as well as in 2001).

Facilities

The Institute of librarianship and information science (home page in English) is now located at the new campus of the Jagiellonian University, about 5 miles outside the city centre (to the southwest - see picture). The Institute shares a large modern building with several other subjects, for instance economics and biology.

The rooms for teaching and computer work are modern and easy to use. Internet and video projectors were available for the classes.

Erasmus

Poland enters the European Union on May 1, 2004. This means that students and teachers can apply for Erasmus support through their home institution when they go abroad.

Early planning is necessary, however. In Cracow, students need to apply in March/April for studies abroad during the next academic year.

Teachers must apply earlier - in September/ October 2004 for visits during the next academic year (05/06). The applications require a lot of paper work, so institutional agreements for 05/06 may need to be in place by May/June 2004.

Planning ahead

Coordinating the activities of two different academic institions - each with their own traditions - is never routine. Creating substantial relationships require an investment of time and interest.

In the case of the two library educations, 2004 marks a clear step ahead. After the planning visit of Wanda Pindlowa and Remigiusz Sapa to Oslo in September 2003, a first teaching visit from Cracow - by Sapa - has been planned for the autumn 2004.

He will give a number of classes in the subject Digital documents (conducted by Nils Pharo). This course is part of the MA program (4th year), but can also be taken by committed 3rd year students. The complete course gives 15 ECTS and is conducted in English when students from abroad follow it. Presentation in English.

The practical aspects of our visit were excellently organized by Sapa and by Maria Kocojova, who heads the department. We had several discussions with both. The deputy head, Wanda Pindlowa, who is also in charge of their international activities, was unfortunately ill, but we were able to talk with her by phone. They all expressed their interest in continuing and developing the collaboration.

Personally, I would be happy to go again, but if others are interested, even better. Poland is a major country - and it is visibly renewing its links to Europe and to its rich cultural and artistic past. So teaching in Cracow is a great experience, both from a professional and a cultural point of view.

Background information

1. Program of studies 2003/2004
2. List of publications
3. Library schools in Poland.
4. Jagiellonian University walk-through.