Georgia: Caucasus International University (CIU) and Western Carolina University (WCU) have signed a joint research contract to explore the influence of American literature on Georgian literary studies.
The project, titled “American Literature in Georgian Literary Studies”, is funded by the CIU Grant Competition for Fundamental Research, which aims to support innovative and interdisciplinary research projects.
The project manager is Dr. Nana Parinos, an associate professor at CIU, who specializes in American literature and culture. She will work with Professor Brian Railsback, the head of the Department of English and American Studies at WCU, who has extensive experience in teaching and researching American literature.
They will also collaborate with Dr. Irakli Kenchoshvili, a leading researcher at the Shota Rustaveli Institute of Georgian Literature, who will provide insights into the Georgian literary context and history.
The project will examine how American literature has been received, interpreted, and adapted by Georgian literary scholars and writers, and how it has contributed to the development of Georgian literary theory and criticism.
The project will also explore the similarities and differences between the two literary traditions, and the challenges and opportunities for cross-cultural dialogue and exchange.
The project is expected to last for two years, and will result in several academic publications, conferences, and workshops. The project will also involve students and faculty from both universities, who will have the opportunity to participate in the research activities and benefit from the international collaboration.
The project is part of CIU’s strategic development plan, which is based on its vision of being an educational-scientific institution that supports socio-economic progress and develops values of Georgian and world culture based on modern knowledge.
CIU has established partnerships with more than 90 universities worldwide, and actively engages in student and faculty exchange programs and international conferences.
WCU is also committed to international collaboration, and has been recognized as one of the top public regional universities in the South by the U.S. News & World Report.
WCU offers a variety of academic programs, including the Department of English and American Studies, which offers courses and degrees in literature, creative writing, professional writing, and film studies.
The project is a significant example of how CIU and WCU are fostering academic excellence and intercultural education through their joint research.
The project will contribute to the advancement of literary studies in both countries and will enrich the cultural and intellectual diversity of both universities and their communities.
