By Ieva Radzevičiūtė, LRT RADIJAS, LRT.lt.

UK’s University of Cambridge is considering establishing a professorship in Lithuanian studies. The permanent academic post would focus on research into Lithuania’s history, culture and contemporary developments, with its initiators hoping it would help strengthen knowledge and understanding of Lithuania around the world.

Cambridge University already has scholars researching the Baltic Sea region, but it currently has no permanent specialist in Lithuanian studies who could supervise doctoral students and develop Lithuania-related research long term.

Charles Clarke, one of the heads of the Baltic Geopolitics Programme at the university’s Centre for Geopolitics, says this could change.

“The idea of a professorship in Lithuanian studies is to deepen understanding, both in the UK and more widely, of Lithuania’s place in history and its contribution to national and international life. We believe the best way to strengthen this would be to appoint an academic at Cambridge University, working closely with Vilnius University,” Clarke says.

He says the professorship’s work would not be limited to academic research. It could also include seminars, conferences, discussions and publications on topics relating to Lithuania.

Read more: LRT.LT