The Department of British and American Studies at Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice recently hosted two distinguished scholars: Professor Stephen R. Wooten from the University of Oregon, where he serves in Global Studies and Anthropology and as Director of Graduate Studies, and Professor Hua-Yu Sebastian Cherng from New York University, Vice Dean for Research and Equity and Professor of International Education at NYU Steinhardt.
Over the course of their visit, Professors Wooten and Cherng engaged in a series of meetings with undergraduate and postgraduate students, offering a unique opportunity for dialogue across disciplines and national contexts. Discussions focused on pressing issues in contemporary United States politics, including polarization, democratic institutions, race, and inequality, as well as on the evolving role of Global Studies within the academic landscape.
Drawing on his extensive anthropological and cross-cultural expertise, Professor Wooten addressed the importance of linking global and local perspectives in research and teaching. Professor Cherng emphasized themes of equity, migration, and social capital, highlighting the relevance of comparative and international approaches to education and society.
Students actively participating in the conversations offered insights from Slovak and Central European contexts. The exchange was widely praised for its intellectual value, with many students noting its significance for shaping their own research interests and broadening their academic horizons.
The visiting professors also expressed their appreciation for the high level of engagement and curiosity demonstrated by the students, underscoring the mutual benefit of transnational academic collaboration.
The visit marked an important milestone in strengthening ties between UPJŠ and international partners, reaffirming the Department’s commitment to fostering dialogue on global issues and highlighting the continued relevance of Global Studies in addressing today’s most urgent challenges.
The visit was funded from the project Audit of the level of internationalisation and implementation of internationalisation projects of higher education institutions and research institutions, Activity 23.1 – Inviting international experts with the aim to initialise cooperation in research and education
