University of Copenhagen Stops Modern Greek Studies Program after 50 Years

The University of Copenhagen administration has decided to stop the Modern Greek Studies program for graduates and undergraduates after almost 50 years in the curriculum.

In the past five years, the program was part of a more general program entitled “East and Southeast Studies”, included the modern history of Greece, Cyprus and Eastern and Southeastern European nations with emphasis on Russia, Poland and the countries of former Yugoslavia.

The main weight of the study was the learning of the Greek language so that students were enabled to read Greek sources, literature and other cultural texts, for deeper understanding of modern Greek history, social development and culture.

However, in recent years the number of students enrolled in the program was dwindling dramatically. At the same time, the Danish government made substantial cuts in education funding. These two factors made the focus on Modern Greek Studies unsustainable.

A problem arising from the closing of the program is the Modern Greek Studies library, consisting of 7,000 books. The university library warns that 3/4 of the books will be destroyed because they take up too much space.

The books are a unique collection of Greek literature and literary studies, history textbooks, art, ethnology etc. and they are not available anywhere else in Denmark or other Nordic countries.