The diplomat not only shared insights into the history, culture, and tourist attractions of the area formerly known as the "Eastern Cantons" but also provided a clear and accessible overview of the workings of the federal Belgian state.
This was Rafaël Schröder’s first visit to the institution, and he considered it important to come to the University of Debrecen as his term of office is drawing to a close.
He first delivered a presentation titled Ost-Belgien: Die Deutschsprachige Gemeinschaft in German, followed by Oost-België: De Duitstalige Gemeenschap in Dutch, aimed primarily at students of the German and Dutch Studies programs (undergraduate, minor, and translation and interpretation master's programs) at the Faculty of Humanities. Being a German-speaking Belgian citizen from the approximately 80,000-strong German-speaking community of Belgium, Schröder offered students a linguistic treat. He vividly illustrated the German dialects spoken in Belgium’s eastern regions with colorful examples.
"For both German and Dutch Studies students, the guest lecture was a special experience. On the one hand, it provided an opportunity to learn more about the complex structure and administration of the Belgian state, as well as its linguistic and cultural diversity. On the other hand, it offered a glimpse into the life of a diplomat. Since Rafaël Schröder’s native language is German – specifically a unique Belgian variant – experiencing this ‘live’ was a rare opportunity, even for us who teach the German language," said Márta Kántor-Faragó, lecturer at the Institute of German Studies, in an interview with the hirek.unideb.hu portal.
The institute maintains strong relationships with the Hungarian representatives of countries where German and Dutch are official languages. Thanks to this collaboration, foreign guest lecturers are going to visit the university throughout the academic year.
At the beginning of the month, Marc le Clercq, a former senior advisor to the Dutch Language Union, is going to give lectures over four days. Later, an honorary doctorate degree of the University of Debrecen will be conferred on Walter Erhart, a professor at Bielefeld University, during a ceremony on November 23.
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