Joost Schokkenbroek at HSE SPb!
In April 2017 Prof. of VU University Amsterdam Joost Schokkenbroek invited by Julia Lajus spent one week at the Department of History presenting a brief course of lectures and seminars in the framework of the Usable Pasts program.
The classes were concentrated on the topics related to maritime history and heritage and the students presented the results of their work on the concluding seminar, organized in collaboration with Alexei Kraikovski on the premices of the Peterhof museum. The course participants also took part in the dicsussion of the possibilities of the Russian-Dutch collaboration in the spheres of maritime history and maritime heritage organized on the premices of Norwegian University Center in collaboration with the Dutch Institute.
Prof. Schokkenbroek provided a brief report on his visit indicating that he was positively impressed with the students and the opportunities provided by HSE. This visit became the starting point of the perspective development of the maritime heritage studies in the framework of the Usable pasts program.
Report from J. Schokkenbroek:
During my stay at HSE as visiting professor I have had the pleasure to teach my courses on maritime history, maritime heritage and the use of material culture to a selection of fine and dedicated students.I was happily surprised by their research and presentation skills. Obviously, the students had been instructed well by professor Julia Lajus in preparation of my visit. Divided into groups they had conducted research on museum artifacts. My courses and their presentations of the results of their research projects showing the importance of material cultural as sources for the interpretation of historic phenomenons blended in quite nicely.
Throughout the week the students showed commitment and interest in the subject matter. At one of the evenings, I was invited to be a member of a panel discussing the present and future of maritime heritage management. Most if not all students were present at that occasion. Moreover, the field trip to Peterhof - co–organized by dr. Alexei Kraikovski – symbolized a glorious conclusion of a few intense days of collaboration with HSE and its talented students.
I look forward to be invited back to beautiful Saint Petersburg and this world class academic institution.