Czech Ambassador Launches Forum

photo opportunity, 7.30pm, Forum of British Czech and Slovak Historians, Bonar Hall, Park Place University of Dundee

The Czech Ambassador to Great Britain, Dr Pavel Seifter, is to launch a major new history forum at the University of Dundee which signals its growing reputation as an international centre for the study of Eastern European history.

Dr Seifter will host an evening reception to mark the first meeting of the Forum of British, Czech and Slovak Historians - a new venture aimed at forging greater links between Britain and East-Central Europe and which will bring more than 60 academics from the UK, Eastern Europe and America to Dundee between March 18 and 20.

Later this year, the Department of History - which recently received a coveted 5-rating for international excellence in the UK's Research Assessment Exercise - will launch a unique postgraduate course in Modern Slavic History which aims to build close ties between the University of Dundee and departments of history in Eastern European universities.

Discussions about a history partnership between Dundee and Charles University in Prague are expected to begin during the conference. It is hoped teaching staff and students of the new MPhil degree will eventually be able to access the rich source of historical material held in Charles University's archives, helping them to accurately explore how Russia and the Eastern half of Europe has been shaped over the past 150 years.

Course co-ordinator and British organiser of the Forum, Dr Mark Cornwall, said, "Dundee University's Department of History is already renowned for its expertise in Scottish History. Now, by initiating this unique forum and a major new postgraduate course, we are also building our reputation as an international centre for the study of East European history.

"Dr Seifter began his career at Charles University and during the 1990s was deeply involved in the political transformation of his country following the overthrow of Communism. His presence at the University is proof of how significant this event is regarded as being in helping to build relations between East and West."

University Vice-Principal Professor David Swinfen will be welcoming the delegates at 5.15pm on Monday March 18 in the Tower Conference Suite. Dr Seifter will host the welcome reception in the Bonar Hall at 7.30pm on Monday evening. Czech cultural attaché Ms Monica Studena will also be present.

Dr Cornwall can be contacted on 01382 334512

Note for Editors:

• The University of Dundee's Department of History offer several courses relating to the history of Eastern-Central Europe, including 'The Shaping of the Czech Nation, c.1800-1950'; 'The Collapse of Austria-Hungary' and 'The Making of Modern Eastern Europe'.
• Beginning his career as a lecturer at Charles University, Dr Seifter spent the 30 years following the 1969 Soviet Invasion working as a window cleaner. In1989, the Velvet Revolution brought about the overthrow of the Communist regime and Dr Seifter became heavily involved in the democratic reform sweeping his country.
• In 1993 he joined the office of Vaclav Havel, President of the Czech Republic, as Director of the Foreign Policy Department. During his term, he was centrally involved in all international policy questions affecting the country and its president. In 1997 he was appointed to serve as the Czech Ambassador to Great Britain.