Learn Russianin the European UnionFull immersion Russian language programs

Learn Russian in the EU

An ideal location for Russian language study abroad programs in the territory of the European Union: Daugavpils, LatviaAnna StankevichHead of the Dept., Dr.philol., assoc. prof.,Department of Russian and Slavic LinguisticsDaugavpils University

© 2009-2015, LatInSoft SIA. All rights reserved.

Sergey SimonovChairman of the Management Board

LatInSoft SIADaugavpils

Study opportunities

3Pages 4-9, Pages 10-17 Pages 18-33 Pages 34-39

Introduction Background and major features

Daugavpils

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• Who we are• Our mission• What we offer

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Who we areDaugavpils University

Daugavpils University, established in 1921, is the major academic and research institution in Eastern Latvia.

The Department of Russian and Slavic Linguistics has a long tradition of research and teaching the Russian language and literature to teachers, philologists and linguists.

The Center of Russian Language and Culture was opened in the Department with support from the foundation “Russkiy Mir” and the General Consulate of Russia in Daugavpils.

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Who we areTraining Center LatInSoft

Training Center LatInSoft is a professional training and vocational education department of LatInSoft SIA, a Latvian private company, specializing in business management software development, IT infrastructure solutions, and foreign language training.

Since 2004, the Training Center LatInSoft has offered tailored Russian immersions and communication skills development programs for professionals, government officials, diplomats, military linguists, as well as refresher courses for non-native Russian language teachers.

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Our missionThe “Learn Russian in the European Union” project

is a joint effort of Daugavpils University and Training Center LatInSoft, aimed at • providing Russian language and culture education services; • promoting Daugavpils as the perfect place for Russian language immersions and study abroad programs in the territory of the European Union.

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What we offerThe essence of our project

• Full immersion Russian language study abroad academic programs and communication skills improvement training in the European Union.

• The project takes advantage of the unique ethnic and cultural background of the Daugavpils region.

The project features

• Please promote the project at universities, government agencies, language schools, businesses, and NGOs in your country.

We will highly appreciate your support

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Study opportunities

3Pages 4-9 Pages 12-17 Pages 18-33 Pages 34-39

Introduction Background and major features

Daugavpils

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• Unique place• Partner competences• Project goal• Major features• Target customers

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Unique placeDaugavpils is a unique place – a Russian linguistic enclave within the territory of the European Union.

Daugavpils is the second largest city in Latvia, where• 98 000 people live;• 44% of the population are ethnic Russians;• 80% of the population speak Russian as their first language;• 96% of the population speak Russian fluently; • Russian is the language of everyday communication.

Daugavpils is "the most Russian" city in Latvia andin the entire European Union.

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LatInSoft tailored

immersions

Study Abroad programs,professional training

Partner competences

DUacademicprograms

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Project goal

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Major features• Fully tailored culturally based immersion projects• Study programs at any Russian language proficiency level• Optional courses in the Russian literature, culture, history, regional issues, and more• Lodging options include Russian host families• Visa is not required to study in Daugavpils

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Target customersUniversities and educational institutionsStudy Abroad programs with European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) academic transcripts for majors and minors in the Russian language, literature, culture, Eastern-European, Baltic, Jewish and post-Soviet studies.

ProfessionalsEnhancing practical communication skills in Russian.

Government training institutionsGovernment training institutionsFull immersion language proficiency improvement, cultural training for officers and support personnel of foreign affairs, defense, customs, and law enforcement.

BusinessesBusiness communication and cultural training for successful relationships with Russian-speaking customers, suppliers and partners.

Non-government organizationsBridging East and Bridging East and West, cross-cultural network development.

Study opportunities

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• Daugavpils University• Training Center LatInSoft• Study opportunities we offer•• Regional Studies• Why Learn Russian in the EU?

Pages 4-9 Pages 10-17 Pages 18-33 Pages 34-39

Introduction Background and major features

Daugavpils

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Daugavpils UniversitySchools

• School of Humanities• School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics• School of Education and Management• School of Social Sciences• School of Music and Arts

52 study programs, 2500 full-time and part-time students.52 study programs, 2500 full-time and part-time students.

Member of: European University Association, European Union Universities of Small States.

A major academic and research institution in Eastern Latvia

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Daugavpils UniversitySchool of Humanities: Departments, Institutes and Centers

• Department of Russian and Slavic Linguistics• Department of English Philology• Department of German Philology• Department of History • Department of Latvian Literature and Culture•• Department of Latvian Language

• Center of Russian Culture and Language• School of Russian Philology• Institute of Comparative Studies• Center of Oral History• The Foreign Language Center

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Daugavpils UniversityDepartment of Russian and Slavic Linguistics,Centre of Russian Culture and LanguageOpened with the support of the Russian World Foundation (“Russkiy Mir”).

Activities of the Centre:• scientific conferences and methodical seminars in Russian language, literature and culture;• lectures on Russian culture for young people;• support of the Bachelor, Master and Doctoral study programmes at the School of Humanities;•• Russian language courses for foreigners and other interested people;• partnerships with Higher Educational Establishments of Russia.

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Daugavpils UniversityDepartment of Russian and Slavic Linguistics

• Faculty Members 14

with doctoral degree 13

• Associated Professors 5

• Professors 1

• Assistant Professors 7

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Daugavpils UniversityDepartment of Russian and Slavic Linguistics

• Simultaneous interpreting class• Linguaphone class• Videoconferencing room• Soviet and Russian film collection• Library with extensive collection of modern Russian literature

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Daugavpils UniversityDepartment of Russian and Slavic Linguistics

Scientific Conferences• Slavic Readings annual• Russian Poetry Readings biennial• Dobichin's Readings triennial• Krzhizhanovsky’s Readings triennial• Chinnov’s Readings triennial in cooperation with Institute of Comparative Studies

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Daugavpils UniversitySchool of Humanities: examples of academic and professional programs

Bachelor’s programs• Russian Philology• East European Culture and Business Relations

Master's programs•• Philology (Russian, Latvian, English, German) • Teachers of Russian or Latvian language and literature (first language/ second language)• Translator / Interpreter• Comparative Philology• Teachers of History and Social Sciences or Cultural Studies;• Intercultural relations

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Daugavpils UniversityInternship programsTailored internship package includes:

• work placement;

• on-site internship supervisor;

• optional Russian language lessons;

• optional academic tutor /research consultant;

• flexible start dates and duration.

Location examples:Location examples:

• Daugavpils University departments and research centers;

• Daugavpils City Council and Regional Council, municipal institutions;

• Mark Rothko Art Center, Daugavpils Theater, Regional and Art Museum;

• Olympic Center, Russian National Cultural Society, libraries, orphanage.

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Training Center LatInSoftTailored Russian immersion programs since 2004Intensive communication skills development training programs for• Industry professionals, businessmen• U.S. State Department Diplomats, U.S. Foreign Area Officers• Military linguists• University students• Russian language enthusiasts

TTeacher development programs• Russian language teachers from EU countries with support from Erasmus+ grant program.

Accredited by the Ministry of Science and Education of Latvia

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Training Center LatInSoftServices for international students• Guided airport transfer and optional excursion to the Old Town in Riga• Meet-and-greet service in Daugavpils• Accommodation in a modern dormitory• Accommodation in selected Russian-speaking host families, breakfast or half-board• Full-board catering service for groups on request•• Dedicated group manager• Field trips to Belarus, Russia, Lithuania, Estonia, and within Latvia• Peer support services for students

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Study opportunities we offer

General Russian,Russian forprofessionalcommunication

Developmentcourses for foreign Russianlanguage teachers

Study abroadacademicprograms

Internshipprograms

Fully tailoredculturally basedimmersionprojects

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Regional StudiesDaugavpils is a perfect home basefor East-European, Baltic and post-Soviet studies

• Daugavpils is 230 km to the south-east from Riga, the capital of Latvia;• The distance from Daugavpils to the borders with Lithuania 25 km, Belarus 33 km, Russia 120 km.• Convenient overnight train connection to St. Petersburg and Moscow;•• General Consulates of Russia and Belarus, located in Daugavpils, can provide entry visas for international students in just few days;• This makes possible making 2-4 days long weekend study trips and in just one month explore several post-Soviet countries with remarkably different development scenarios.

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Why Learn Russian in the EU ?

The most Russian city in the European Union1.

Unique spectrum of study options2.

Convenient and friendly city, low living expenses3.

Flexible course tailoring4.

Lodging options include Russian host families5.

High quality of teaching6.

High quality of student services7.

Top 7 reasons to work with us

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Why Learn Russian in the EU ?

European Credit Transfer System academic transcripts

High level of personal safety

Study trips to Lithuania, Belarus, Russia, Estonia

Services, medical assistance at the EU standards

Unique ethnic, cultural, religious diversity

Visa is not required to study in Daugavpils!

Even better than in Russia

Our exclusive advantages!

Study opportunities

3Pages 4-9 Pages 10-17 Pages 18-33 Pages 34-39

Introduction Background and major features

Daugavpils

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• Convenient place to live and study• Travel information• Facts about Daugavpils

Daugavpils

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Convenient place to live and study

Within 15 minutes walking distance from the Daugavpils University and Training Center LatInSoft facilities:• More than 20 cafés and restaurants, 3 parks;• 5 supermarkets, 2 shopping centers, 10 banks, numerous shops;• Drama theatre, Concert Hall, Regional Museum, City Library;• City Clinic, several drug stores, eyeglass stores;• Olympic Center (swimming pool, gym, fitness);•• Ice Hall (skating, hockey), football field;• Multiscreen 3D cinema, bowling;• Train Station, Intercity Bus Station;• Many free Wi-Fi spots.

20 minutes walking or 3 tram stops:• Dinaburg Fortress and Mark Rothko Art Center

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DaugavpilsConvenient place to live and study

Travel informationRecommended international airport Riga (RIX)Optional international airport Vilnius (VNO)

Flight time to Riga from Berlin, Oslo, Stockholm, Warsaw less than 2hrs Brussels, London, Paris, Rome, Vienna less than 3hrs

Bus or train ride from Riga to Daugavpils 3hrs 30min

Since 2014 Latvia uses the Euro as its national currency.

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DaugavpilsConvenient place to live and study

More facts about Daugavpils:• Dinaburg founded as castle by Livonian knights in 1275.• Daugavpils has changed several names throughout its history: Dinaburg (1275), Borisoglebsk (1656-1667), Dvinsk (1893-1920), Daugavpils (since 1920).• The Daugavpils region has remarkable ethnic, religious, and cultural diversity. Largest historical communities: Russian, Latvian, Polish, Latgalian, Belarussian, Jewish, and Roma.• Daugavpils region is the birthplace of the world famous painter Mark Rothko, greatest Latvian poet Janis Rainis, actor Solomon Mihoels, and writer Leonid Dobychin.• Daugavpils has more Russian Old-Believers churches than any other city in the world.• Dinaburg fortress is an outstanding example of an “ideal fortified city”.

© 2008-2015, LatInSoft SIA. All rights reserved.