On Sunday, November 1, 2026, from 12:00PM to 4:00PM, the Slovak Studies Program with the help of our generous sponsors will host the 36th Annual Slovak Heritage Festival in the Commons Room of the Cathedral of Learning on the University of Pittsburgh campus in Oakland. We are excited to be back again for a joyous day of Slovak culture, music, history, food and education. At Slovak Fest, you can wander through our vendors and informational display tables, explore the Czechoslovak Room, enjoy a lineup of traditional music and dance performances, attend lectures on Slovak culture, and maybe even meet the ambassador! Admission is free, and parking in Oakland is free on Sundays.

The Slavic Languages and Literatures Department at the University of Pittsburgh is proud to be the home of the only permanent Slovak Studies Program in the United States. Our goal is to encourage young people to learn more about Slovakia and the role of Slovaks in America, and to promote and preserve Slovak heritage, language, and culture. There is no better place to do it than right here in Pittsburgh! Thanks to all the organizations and individuals whose combined support has allowed Pitt to serve as a beacon of the Slovak diaspora.

The European Studies Center invites you to an open series with hybrid and asynchronous forms. The series takes participants from a shared research foundation in European policy to a finished policy brief published in the Interdisciplinary Review of ValEUs (IRV).

The series teaches the craft of writing for impact and how to transform complex political, economic, and cultural questions into clear, concise, and persuasive policy briefs that reach governmental, non-governmental, and international audiences.

Participants will learn to: 
Identify and define a policy problem with precision 
Conduct concise, evidence-based analysis grounded in real research 
Communicate complex issues in accessible, policy-oriented formats 
Develop practical, actionable recommendations for decision-makers.

Who Should Participate:
Faculty and researchers seeking to broaden their academic work
Humanities Scholars
Graduate and undergraduate students
Educators (Continued-Education Certificate)
Professionals interested in public policy, international affairs, transatlantic relations/European Studies.

No prior policy-writing experience is required.

The High School Model European Union is an annual event for area high school students. The goal of the Model EU is to give high school students a chance to learn about the workings of the European Union through a hands-on simulation. Playing the roles of presidents and prime ministers, students spend a day engaged in intense negotiations over conflicting issues about the EU. The objective is to simulate a specific European Council meeting that focuses on recent current events impacting the EU. Model EU enhances students’ understanding of classroom learning and gives them a real sense of the challenges involved in the decision-making process of the European Union.

Registration cost: $35 per student

The High School Model European Union is an annual event for area high school students. The goal of the Model EU is to give high school students a chance to learn about the workings of the European Union through a hands-on simulation. Playing the roles of presidents and prime ministers, students spend a day engaged in intense negotiations over conflicting issues about the EU. The objective is to simulate a specific European Council meeting that focuses on recent current events impacting the EU. Model EU enhances students’ understanding of classroom learning and gives them a real sense of the challenges involved in the decision-making process of the European Union.

The European Studies Center invites you to an open series with hybrid and asynchronous forms. The series takes participants from a shared research foundation in European policy to a finished policy brief published in the Interdisciplinary Review of ValEUs (IRV).

The series teaches the craft of writing for impact and how to transform complex political, economic, and cultural questions into clear, concise, and persuasive policy briefs that reach governmental, non-governmental, and international audiences.

Participants will learn to: 
Identify and define a policy problem with precision 
Conduct concise, evidence-based analysis grounded in real research 
Communicate complex issues in accessible, policy-oriented formats 
Develop practical, actionable recommendations for decision-makers.

Who Should Participate:
Faculty and researchers seeking to broaden their academic work
Humanities Scholars
Graduate and undergraduate students
Educators (Continued-Education Certificate)
Professionals interested in public policy, international affairs, transatlantic relations/European Studies.

No prior policy-writing experience is required.

2026 - 2027 Series
Re-Centering Narratives: Indigenous and Island Peoples

This professional development workshop series is designed for K-12 educators seeking to deepen their understanding of global issues through literature. This year, we will explore the theme of "Re-Centering Narratives: Indigenous and Island Peoples." Through global and regional perspectives, we will discuss narratives of Indigenous and Island Peoples, whose identities, spaces, and lived experiences are informed by global phenomena such as migration and displacement, economic and political struggles, environmental issues, human rights, and human conditions. By exploring compelling stories from diverse cultural perspectives, educators will gain insights into the complexities of this theme, its impact on individuals and communities, and how to engage students in meaningful discussions around these topics.

Each session features a carefully selected book, paired with historically contextualized presentations, interactive discussions, teaching strategies, and cross-disciplinary activities to inspire classroom implementation.

Sessions this year will take place virtually on Thursday evenings from 6:00-7:30 p.m. (ET). Three Act 48 credit hours (for PA educators) and a copy of the book are provided for each session.