HESP Regional Seminar for Excellence in Teaching
Nationhood and Narrative in Central Asia: History, Context, Critique
Call for Applications
The Department of Cultural Studies at Arabaev Kyrgyz State University and the Foundation "Education Initiatives Support" invite applications for participation in the three-year academic program, Nationhood and Narrative in Central Asia: History, Context, Critique, beginning in the summer of 2006.
Project Description
In recent years, the study of national identity, the regulation of inter-ethnic relations, and the re-examination of national and regional histories have taken on greater significance in University curricula and teaching throughout Central Asia. However, opportunities for University teachers critically to examine concepts of nationhood, ethnicity and identity in their comparative and historical contexts are often limited.
The aim of the three year academic project, Nationhood and Narrative in Central Asia: History, Context, Critique, is to support young teachers from Central Asia in developing and implementing university courses pertaining, broadly, to the study of nations and national histories, narrative and identity, and ethnicity and ethnic relations. It will examine the ways in which these concepts have been theorised in different academic and institutional traditions, and the ways that these shape the diversity of approaches to the study of nationhood that are found today. By drawing
on the historiography of modern Central Asia and theoretical studies of narrative and discourse, it will ask how we come to know about nations and their pasts, and will promote innovative approaches to teaching about them in university curricula.
The project is structured so as to facilitate this exploration in increasing
depth through a series of summer schools and inter-session activities over the course of three years. In the first year of the project, topics to be explored include an examination of concepts of nation in Soviet, Western and Jadid thought; the relationship between local and national identities; ideas of narrative and identity, and the teaching of national and regional histories in Central Asia. Faculty members are researchers and university teachers from Central Asia, Russia, Europe and North America who, from a variety of disciplinary perspectives, have engaged these questions in their own teaching and research.
Project activities
The project involves three annual summer schools, a seminar series during the academic year, an annual inter-session workshop in Bishkek, on-line discussion and mentoring.
The first summer school will take place at Lake Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan, July 17th - August 6th 2006.
All the costs related to the ReSET project, including travel expenses, accommodation, meals and educational materials for selected applicants will be covered by the Program.
Participating faculty and project direction
Sergei Abashin, Candidate of Science, Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, Russian Academy of Sciences Evgenii Abdullaev, Candidate of Science, National University of Uzbekistan, Tashkent Gulnara Aitpaeva, Doctor of Science, Aigine Cultural Research Centre, Bishkek Nina Bagdasarova, Candidate of Science, Invisible College, Bishkek (Project Manager) Adrienne Edgar, PhD, Department of History, University of California, Santa Barbara Adeeb Khalid, PhD, Department of History, Carleton College Serguei Oushakine, PhD, Department of Slavic Literature and Languages, Princeton University Madeleine Reeves, MPhil, Department of Social Anthropology, University of Cambridge (Co-director) Cholpon Turdalieva, Candidate of Science, Department of Cultural Studies, Arabaev Kyrgyz State University (Co-director) Tatiana Zhurzhenko, Candidate of Science, Department of Philosophy,
Kharkiv National University Eligibility
. Applicants must be academics, preferably under the age of 40, currently teaching at institutions of higher education in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan or Uzbekistan
. Applicants should be currently teaching, or planning to teach, university course(s) in the social sciences or humanities addressing issues of nationality, ethnicity, identity, narrative or national history.
. The working language of the project is Russian. Applicants should have sufficient command of Russian to read academic texts and participate in seminar discussions. Reading ability in English is highly advantageous.
. Only those applicants able to commit to involvement in the project for the three-year duration will be considered.
. Individuals are not permitted to participate in more than one ReSET program in any one year.
. Since one of the goals of the project is to establish a network of academics able to develop the project ideas after completion, we particularly welcome the participation of more than one academic from any given department or faculty.
Application procedure
Applications for the ReSET project, "Nationhood and Narrative in Central Asia: History, Context, Critique" must be completed in either Russian or English and sent electronically to arrive no later than Monday 5th June 2006 to nationhood.narrative@googlemail.com. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.
Decisions on selected participants will be made by June 19th 2006
The application package should contain the following material:
1. Completed application form (attached)
2. CV, including current position, educational record, list of courses taught, publications, research interests and language abilities
3. Statement of purpose (max. 1000 words) indicating the relevance of the project to your own teaching and research and what you hope to achieve from participation in the project
4. Brief syllabus for one of the courses you are currently teaching
5. Letter of endorsement from the head of your department or institution (with full contact details), assessing your status within the faculty and indicating their willingness for you to participate in the program. If several people are applying from one department, it is advantageous to include a copy of the departmental curriculum, with an indication of the ways in which participation in the project would benefit the department's development.
Contact details
Please direct all correspondence concerning the project to the following address:
Nina Bagdasarova
Nationhood and Narrative Project
11, Suvanberdieva Street
720005
Bishkek
Kyrgyz Republic
Tel: (+ 996 312) 511-666 or 510-047
For further information and correspondence regarding the project, please contact Nina Bagdasarova or Madeleine Reeves in Russian or English. Administrative questions should be addressed to the project assistant, Zarina Derbisheva.
nineczka@mail.ru (Nina Bagdasarova)
madeleinereeves@gmail.com (Madeleine Reeves)
office@sfe.kyrnet.kg (Zarina Derbisheva)
HESP Regional Seminar for Excellence in Teaching
Nationhood and Narrative in Central Asia:
History, Context, Critique
Application Form
Name and Surname
Date of Birth
Gender
Citizenship
University/institute
Faculty and Department
Academic position
Work address
Work telephone (including country and area codes)
Home address
Home telephone (including country and area codes)
Email address
Do you need a visa to enter Kyrgyzstan? If YES, please enter full passport
details for visa invitation purposes
Are you able to participate in the first project summer school, from July
17th - August 6th 2006?
Are you able to participate in the project until its completion in 2009?
[sursa e-NASS]
