Interview with Prof. José Antonio Saravia Bianchimano (UM, Uruguay)

Can you please introduce yourself and let me know about your areas of expertise?

I am a specialist in Russian history, which I studied in Russia for almost three years. Here at UHK, my focus is on the history of Uruguay and Argentina, which is one of my areas of interest. My colleague and I are also currently writing a book about certain politicians in Uruguay and their classifications in world politics.

What motivated you to come to UHK in the Czech Republic, and what inspired you to apply for this program?

I participated in this program with the motivation of discovering and learning about the diverse cultures and locations present in the Czech Republic. When my university received an invitation to send a representative to this program, I took it as a valuable chance to impart my expertise in specific fields. During the program, I have had the pleasure of meeting individuals who share my interests, and together, we have exchanged a multitude of ideas. In my opinion, this is the fundamental basis of the program.

How has your experience been in the Czech Republic so far since you arrived?

It has now been a week since I arrived in the Czech Republic. While I had visited Prague eight years ago as a tourist, this time around, I have not encountered any significant issues. However, I have faced a minor challenge with the use of a different currency than the Euro. Additionally, the frequent changes in weather, including rain and a bit of cold, have also been a small complication. Nevertheless, the city is highly accessible, and overall, my experience has been fantastic. I had the chance to climb the white tower in Hradec Kralove and witness the stunning beauty of the city from that vantage point.

What was your experience like when interacting with the Czech language for the first time?

During my solo exploration of the city, I encountered people, particularly the younger generation, who spoke English proficiently. As a result, I had no difficulty communicating with them or navigating my way around the area.

Have you taken part in a similar program before?

I have never participated in this type of program before; this is my first experience.

How did you balance your responsibilities at your home university while taking on this opportunity?

My home university was aware well in advance of my participation in this program, allowing us to make arrangements to ensure that certain classes were covered in my absence. As a result, my colleague is currently teaching those classes while I am here.

How would you describe your classes here?

I was taken aback by the significant number of Latin American students at this institution. In my class, approximately 60% of the students were from Latin America, while the remaining students were from Africa and other regions, creating a highly diverse learning environment. This allowed for a variety of perspectives to be shared, which in turn enabled students to gain a more comprehensive understanding of various issues. In particular, one student from Uganda remarked that certain aspects of the Latin American studies resonated with their country's situation, which I found intriguing. It was apparent that they were broadening their knowledge and discovering correlations within their studies.

Have you had the chance to engage with any students from Uruguay currently enrolled in UHK?

I have not had the chance to meet with any students from Uruguay since my arrival. However, I had arranged a meeting with Uruguayan students who are currently participating in the Erasmus program before my departure. I am delighted that students from my home university are warmly welcomed here, and this collaboration with the university provides our students with the opportunity to travel and meet individuals from various parts of the world.

What was the level of class participation like in your classes?

The classes were satisfactory, and it appeared that the students comprehended the subject matter. However, there was a lack of participation in some instances, with students failing to respond to questions, making it challenging to ascertain whether they understood or were simply hesitant. Also, I was impressed by the variety of courses available at UHK, which enables students to become familiar with a wide range of topics.

What new insights or knowledge have you gained during your time at UHK that you would like to share with your students back at Universidad de Montevideo?

Having assessed the effectiveness of this program through my observations, I will encourage students from my home university to apply for this program to maintain our collaboration with UHK.

Can you provide any suggestions for professors who are considering teaching at UHK in the future?

As a suggestion for UHK, I recommend informing the visiting professor ahead of time about the nature of the classes they will be teaching. This way, the professor can prepare appropriate teaching materials, deliver the lecture in a particular manner, or even provide students with the materials beforehand to familiarize themselves with the content. Additionally, if feasible, it would be beneficial to inform UHK professors in advance of the visiting professor's arrival to schedule them accordingly. By doing so, this early planning will mitigate any issues related to teaching materials.

What are your recommendations to UHK?

In terms of recommendations, I would suggest that the university provides more specific guidance on accommodation options rather than just presenting a broad range of choices, as it can be difficult to make a decision. Additionally, it would be beneficial if a local or a student familiar with the city could pick up visitors from the airport. This is because the student who picked me up was not very familiar with the city, and as a result, it took us longer than necessary to get to Hradec Kralove.

Did you try any Czech cuisine during your stay?

I had the opportunity to taste Svíčková and I found it quite enjoyable.