Periodic Reporting for period 2 - ENGHUM (Engaged humanities in Europe: Capacity building for participatory research in linguistic-cultural heritage)
Période du rapport: 2017-04-01 au 2018-12-31
Of special importance for the project have been efficient strategies embracing community-driven and decolonizing research paradigms that directly benefit language communities during every stage of research projects, provide empowerment, stimulate local agency and foster fair ways of collaborating with mainstream research institutions. By developing and implementing these solutions, the ENGHUM project has contributed to creating new spaces and opportunities for marginalized groups in Europe and beyond. This model of research has focused on the principles of critical reflectivity and decolonization aimed at overcoming many forms of discrimination and preparing mainstream research institutions to become culturally aware, informed allies who stand beside vulnerable cultural groups out of a genuine interest in preserving cultural and linguistic diversity.
The ENGHUM participants actively worked towards sharing their research results in wider society through a series of media appearances, reaching an approximate audience of over 4.5 million. Communication and dissemination activities embraced two physical and two virtual exhibitions, many press releases and numerous publications in traditional, digital and social media. The project has been described as a ""success story"" of the European Commission http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?artid=49851. It has also contributed to the increased visibility and impact of the humanities in Poland and in Europe.
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In terms of documenting language and creating opportunities for revitalization, ENGHUM has contributed to the awareness that collaborative, engaged research empowers native speakers, preparing them to perform different roles inside and outside their communities, and situates them as agents of the research process, free to pursue Indigenous ways of generating knowledge. The project has successfully mobilized documentary materials for teaching, revitalization activities and community-oriented programs and developed teaching curricula and methodologies for minority/endangered languages. It has successfully disseminated knowledge about linguistic diversity and contributed to more positive attitudes in the broader society toward endangered languages and the preservation of multicultural and multilingual heritage. ENGHUM has also fostered the dissemination of knowledge about economic opportunities linked to linguistic-cultural heritage by providing useful, practical solutions and know-how to scholars, students, educators and community members. By constructing bridges between the academy, ethnic/linguistic minority communities, language activists and NGOs, ENGHUM paves the way for other innovative, socially engaged and collaborative projects in its participating institutions and communities and beyond.