Training of specialists at the Institute of Sorbian Studies of the University of Leipzig as a factor of the preservation of the ethnocultural identity of the Lusatian Serbs

The article is devoted to the issues of training specialists at the Institute of Sorbian Studies at the University of Leipzig (Germany). On the basis of documents and interviews with representatives of scientific, educational, cultural and public organizations of Lusatian Serbs, as well as students of the Institute, the problems and prospects of higher education are examined. The methods of research are structural functional (the features of the linguistic and cultural component in the program of Institute of Sorbian Studies), as well as the source analysis of official documents and interviews with the bearers of the tradition. Sorbs (Lusatian Serbs) are the West Slavic people who have been living in the Lusatian region of Germany (the territory of the federal states of Brandenburg and Saxony) since the 6th century. Both federal states in their legislation stress the need for and propose measures to protect the culture and language of the Sоrbs as an ethnic minority. Special place in the preservation of the language and culture of the small West Slavic people belongs to special scientific and educational institutions. One of them is the University of Leipzig's Institute of Sorbian Studies, where professional cadres are trained for educational and social organizations of the Lusatian Serbs. The Institute of Sorbian Studies sees the demand for graduates not only in the traditional residence of the Lusatian Serbs - in the Lusatian region, but also in other regions and federal lands of Germany. The Ministry of Science of Saxony, which is in charge of the University of Leipzig, in turn, also seeks to create an attractive working environment for graduates of the Institute who come to teach in rural schools in Lusatia. Representatives of other Slavic states are also studying at the Institute of Sorbian Studies, and after graduation they remain in Germany to work in educational and public organizations of the Lusatian Serbs. At the same time, some representatives of Sorbian national organizations adhere to the point of view that the availability of language training for ethnic Sorbs provides them with greater motivation and awareness in choosing a future profession related to their native language in comparison with non-Sorbs. The training of professional personnel at the Institute of Sorbian Studies at the University of Leipzig today is of paramount importance for the preservation of the ethnocultural identity of the Lusatian Serbs. In the conditions of migration of representatives of the small ethnos to the large cities of Germany, insufficient protection of the social and cultural interests of Lusatian Serbs at the regional and federal levels, problems in relations with the German population that is numerically prevalent in the country, an integrated approach to preserving the culture of this people is of fundamental importance. The knowledge of the Sorbian language, as well as the history and traditions of its people, which is acquired in educational institutions at various levels, including the Institute of Sorbian Studies at the University of Leipzig, becomes the factor that preserves the vitality and uniqueness of the Sorbi-an culture. Thanks to the education received, the cultural initiatives of Lusatian Serbs allow the new generation not to forget about their roots and to do everything possible so that their rich historical heritage will be demanded by modernity.

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