SPIEGEL: Ms. Königsmarková, under your leadership, the world's first Master's degree program was founded, which is dedicated entirely to the neighboring Free State of Bavaria. Do Bavarian clichés like Weißwurst, Oktoberfest, Trachten and the dialect play a role?
Königsmarková : The language and dialects of Bavaria are an important content of our study program. The pictures that you associate with Bavaria, of course, come in the lessons to the country. But actually we want to show with this course of study that Bavaria does not consist only of these stereotypes.
SPIEGEL: What do your students learn?
Königsmarková : The basis are the philological courses. In addition to the dialects of Bavaria, we teach business German and linguistic history. This is followed by various humanities disciplines, but also law and economics, in which students develop specialist knowledge of Bavaria and Bavarian-Czech relations. The practical part is very important: the students do internships in a cultural or business enterprise with Bavarian-Czech relations; in a Bavarian company about or in tourism.
SPIEGEL: What is the goal of the study?
Königsmarková : We train graduates with a clear professional profile: they have good German language skills and at least understand the Bavarian dialects. The goal is that they can communicate with tourists, employees and customers the way they are used to. Depending on the students' specialization, they later work in the cultural field, for example in information centers or a tourism authority. Or in the administration of Bavarian or Bavarian-Czech companies in the region. Graduates should also be able to advise colleagues on sensitive issues and combat prejudice.
SPIEGEL: What is still explosive about Bavarian-Czech relations today?
Königsmarková : This continues to be the development of the post-war period, that is the expulsion or forced eviction. It's all about choosing the right terms. Even if the political relations are very good, that can still be felt on the everyday level. We still have to work on reconciliation.
SPIEGEL: And in the Czech Republic, nobody takes offense at training students for the German market?
Königsmarková : That's not explicitly for the German market. We train students for the entire region, for cross-border cooperation, both on the Bavarian and on the Czech side. Economically speaking, the Czech Republic and Bavaria benefit either way: For the Czech Republic, Bavaria is the number one cooperation partner in the economy and culture, and the same applies to the Free State. With this study course, we also want to make up for the fact that we are growing together more.
SPIEGEL: In terms of objectives, this sounds very close to business. Are you independent?
Königsmarková : Yes, we are an independent degree program. But we cooperate with companies and cultural institutions so that students can do internships. And we are grateful when these partners communicate their needs and requirements so that we can respond to the challenges of the job market in teaching.
SPIEGEL: Do Bayern also participate in the degree program?
Königsmarková : None of our 17 students come from Bavaria, but they are welcome to apply! The program was developed as part of a project with the University of Regensburg. At the moment we are working with the Regensburg colleagues on a deeper cooperation, so that students from there, for example, can take courses with us. But there are two German professors who teach with us and were very important in the development of the study program. We also have a variety of guest lecturers - so there is enough Bavarian illustrative material.
SPIEGEL : Did you personally have a special connection to Bavaria and maybe even a dirndl in the closet or did you visit a Schuhplattler course?
Konigsmarkova : Shortly before the turn of the Wall, my family had a penpalship with a Bavarian family living near Weiden in der Oberpfalz. At that time, my brother found a note when collecting mushrooms, which the ten-year-old Bavarian girl at that time used to fly with a balloon as part of a children's day. That was the beginning of our friendship with Bavaria - and also one of the reasons why I decided to study German.
And yes, I must confess, I have a dirndl in the closet too. I wear it on special occasions - now, of course, especially in connection with our new degree program.
