The language / Catalan Research Study Centre (EIC) in Frankfurt
The University of Frankfurt has, for many years, provided courses on Catalan language and culture, especially since the 1993-94 academic year, when a Catalan language and literature readership was established. Recently, given the importance of these disciplines, the Institut Ramon Llull has signed an agreement with the University of Frankfurt, the aim of which, in addition to consolidating and promoting the course-teaching of Catalan, is to launch a Catalan Research Study Centre (EIC) at the University, to be coordinated by Professor Tilbert Stegmann, who holds the chair of Director of the Department of Romance Languages at Frankfurt University. The main aim of the EIC is to become a focus of research in Catalan studies in Frankfurt and in the rest of Germany. Amongst other activities the EIC will:
- develop a text book for fast-track Catalan language learning, intended for students with a prior knowledge of French and Spanish, and based on the EuroComRom method
- compile a directory, the Katalanische Präsenz in Deutschland, of Catalan-related topics and the Catalan artistic and general presence in Germany, to be published in the form of a booklet and available on the Internet in the form of a database
- produce a study of the academic situation of Catalan in the universities of Germany, Austria and German-speaking Switzerland
- update the compilation of Catalan-related theses and dissertations written in Germany since 1945, (50 anys de tesis i tesines sobre temes catalans als països de parla alemanya (1945–1996) - 50 years of Catalan-related theses and dissertations in German-speaking countries, (1945-1996.)
- revise and expand the comprehensive bibliography of Catalan-related publications in Germany, Bibliografia de literatura catalana en versió alemanya, 1816-2004, [Bibliography of Catalan literature in German, 1816-2004]
- update the Katalonien und die Katalanischen Länder, published in 1992
- organise a biannual seminar on topics related to Catalan language and culture
- train new researchers specialising in Catalan subjects
- establish and strengthen the links between Catalan scholars and researchers in various disciplines in Germany in the fields of literature, linguistics, history, sociology, film, etc., and between them and those working in Catalan territories and around the world.
- promote high-quality research from a transversal and interdisciplinary perspective, particularly through publications
- course in Catalan culture via Internet, an e-learning initiative for German speakers
- production of a biographical work "100 berühmte Katalanen" (100 Famous Catalans) for German readers
The Catalan Library in Frankfurt
The Institut für Romanische Sprachen und Literaturen at Frankfurt University houses a Catalan Library, founded by Professor Tilbert Dídac Stegmann, a library with one of the richest collections of publications in the Catalan language outside of Catalonia.
The Institut Ramon Llull has provided support to the digitalisation of the catalogue so that within a period of three years (2005-2007) the 33,000 volumes on Catalan language and culture which the library currently holds can be consulted through the internet.
The task of digitalising the catalogue has the support of the Faculty of Library Studies and Documentation at the University of Barcelona, through the participation of the teaching staff and students doing hands-on work experience in the course of their studies.
A virtual visit to the Library though various photographs
