Number: MA/25/F2/0/008

Flagship: 2 - Europeanness: multilingualism, pluralities, citizenship

Faculty: FF

Project leader: Hříbek, Martin

The Bengali Summer School is a joint initiative of Charles University, the University of Warsaw and Heidelberg University, launched in 2018 to provide high-quality Bengali language instruction in Europe. Building on Heidelberg’s tradition of summer schools in South Asian languages, the programme benefits from the complementary teaching expertise in Bengali and Bengali studies at the three partner universities. Since its inception, the Summer School has rotated annually between the three cities, with editions held in Heidelberg (2018, 2024), Prague (2019), and Warsaw (2023). It will return to Prague in 2025 and to Warsaw in 2026.

The Summer School offers a European platform for learning the seventh most widely spoken language in the world. It is aimed at students of South Asian Studies, academics working with Bengali sources, NGO workers in the Bengal region, members of mixed families and heritage speakers. The programme combines intensive language training at beginner and advanced levels with cultural activities such as cooking classes, themed excursions and guided walks. The 2025 edition will run from 31 July to 16 August in Prague.

The project supports the 4EU+ strategy by promoting diversity, inclusion and capacity-building for outreach to South Asia, a region of growing strategic importance. It also fosters partnerships with international organisations, NGOs and global partners. Graduates of the Summer School have applied their skills to advance academic research, defend dissertations, publish in top journals and strengthen personal and professional connections with the Bengali-speaking world.