Why Moomin? Because we already have Uszatek the bear. About the UNIC VIP Fund
Dr Bartosz Ka艂u偶ny talks with Prof. Jaros艂aw P艂uciennik. They are not talking about the monument itself, but about how this sentimental and often formative motif, the Moomins, has become an ideal topic for cooperation and the development of new forms of international activities within UNIC. How conducting classes together with lecturers from partner universities opens new perspectives, not only for students but also for the lecturers themselves.
The UNIC VIP Fund is a programme that supports joint international teaching activities conducted online by instructors at UNIC member universities. This allows for the development of collaboration with international partners, the integration of an international dimension into regular classes and the collaborative development of innovative courses for students. It offers an opportunity to gain support in project preparation, coordination and implementation, as well as the exchange of best practices and the building of lasting academic relationships within the UNIC Alliance.
Fragments of the interview
Bartosz Ka艂u偶ny (Centre for External Relations and Social Responsibility of the University): Many people associate the Moomins primarily with children's literature. What makes them such a fascinating academic resource and cultural phenomenon?
Jaros艂aw P艂uciennik: The Moomins are much more than a children's story 鈥� they are a powerful multimedia ecosystem, ideal for cultural, media and narrative research. Tove Jansson created newspaper comics for adults, full of irony, political satire and existential depth.
For today's students, Generation Z, the Moomins are fascinating because they perfectly fit into modern storytelling. Their story flows seamlessly between books, animation, games and social media. It's a great tool for exploring contemporary culture.
BK: How did the idea of creating a joint course on the Moomins as part of the UNIC VIP Fund come about?
JP: The idea came almost immediately when I learned that universities in Oulu and Malm枚 had joined the UNIC Alliance. I immediately thought: The Moomins! They're the perfect common denominator. On the one hand, they are the heart of Nordic culture, and on the other, they have strong roots in 艁贸d藕 thanks to the tradition of Se-Ma-Fora and the collections of the Film Museum.
My knowledge of Swedish was also crucial 鈥� while researching Tove Jansson's work, I wanted to remind everyone that she wrote in that language. I sent an open invitation to the Alliance partners and thus initiated collaboration with researchers from Finland and Sweden. Thanks to the very efficient support of the UNIC team at the 91桃色 Rector's Office, we quickly transformed this grassroots initiative into a professional international course.
Full interview is available on our website.
But what's the point of all this? Because UniLodz is like Moominpappa.
"We like best what is changeable and capricious, unexpected and strange: the seashore, which is a bit of land and a bit of water, the sunset, which is a bit of darkness and a bit of light, and spring, which is a bit of cold and a bit of warmth."