Join German Club at Pitt’s weekly meetings during Fall 2023 to converse in German and learn German culture!

The EU declared 2023 the Year of Skills to bring attention to the challenges the contemporary workforce faces and to the European responses. It is indeed a period of transition in labor, with no little unrest. The Yellow Vest strikes are perhaps the best known of the strikes that have taken place recently in Europe. This Conversation on Europe considers the state of labor and the security of employment. In conversation with our panelists, we will consider labor struggles, the disruption of historical industries, the insecurity caused by inflation, energy scarcity, and AI. We will consider the future in Europe of the developing culturally diverse workforce? And we will hear about EU level initiatives to develop skilled workers for the 21st century.

Moderator:
Randall Halle, University of Pittsburgh

Panelists are:
Jane Gingrich, University of Oxford
Stefan Olsson, Deputy Director General, European Commission, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion
Jamie Woodcock, University of Essex

About the Panelist:
Dr. Jane Gingrich is a professor in the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Oxford (Magdalen College). Dr. Gingrich research interests involve comparative political economy and comparative social policy. In particular, I am interested in contemporary restructuring of the welfare state and the politics of institutional change more broadly. Dr. Gingrich is currently working on a project examining how the introduction of market-oriented reforms in state services has altered citizen and group attitudes toward government.

Stefan Olsson is a Swedish lawyer with degrees in international and tax law. Having joined the European Commission in 1996, he dealt with fundamental rights issues as well as social dialogue. He was assistant to the Director General for Employment and Social Affairs (2000-2005) before leading units dealing with social and employment law and policy as well as administrative affairs. As from 1 November 2015, he took up the position of Director in DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion. He was responsible for the management of the European Social Fund in Romania, Bulgaria, Malta, and Spain, for the implementation of the Employment Strategy through tools such as the Youth Guarantee, the Long-term Unemployment Recommendation, and the network of Public Employment Services, as well as legislative and policy issues relating to working conditions including health and safety at work. From 1 September 2022, he serves as Deputy Director-General responsible for policy issues in DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion.

Dr. Jamie Woodcock is a researcher based in London and a senior lecturer at the University of Essex. He is the author of books including Troublemaking (Verso, 2023), Employment (Routledge, 2023), The Fight Against Platform Capitalism (University of Westminster Press, 2021), The Gig Economy (Polity, 2019), Marx at the Arcade (Haymarket, 2019), and Working the Phones (Pluto, 2017). He is on the editorial board of Notes from Below and Historical Materialism.

Join the French Club for a conversation hour for French speaking individuals of varying levels to practice the French language.

Are you looking to gain experience that will help prepare you for a globally-connected job market? Stop by Drop-In Hours to learn more about getting the Global Distinction added to your academic transcript, receiving special recognition at graduation, and standing out to prospective employers!

Fall 2023 Global Distinction Drop-In Hours: Tuesdays at 3:30-4:30 pm, except on October 3 and November 21.

Join Lingovation to discuss our plans for the year and help bilingual students find volunteer opportunities.

Join the German Department and its sponsors for a Night at the Movies on Pitt's Campus for the Oakland Premier of Mack The Knife. This critically acclaimed German film tells the story of the attempt to turn Bertolt Brecht's anti-capitalist play The Threepenny Opera into a commercially successful movie. While the Studio wants to censor the racy parts of Brecht's play and its socialist critique, the author does not bow down but takes the Studio to court. Using elements of Brecht's play with music by Kurt Weill, Lang's feature film thematizes the tension between art, politics, and commercial interests against the Nazi's rise to power.

Free Admission

On Wednesday, September 13 at 12pm, Professor Marian Zulean Professor of Sociology at the University of Bucharest (Romania) will discuss identity and security in the Black Sea Region. The talk will be held in 3911 Posvar Hall and will also be streamed on Zoom.

The discussion is based on his new co-edited volume, "Social Values and Identities in the Black Sea Region" (Roman & Littlefield, 2023), which explores the nexus between geopolitical challenges and cultural frameworks in the Black Sea region. His talk will also discuss how the war in Ukraine affects regional dynamics. Jennifer Brick Murtazashvili will moderate the discussion.

The talk is part of the Governing Deep Differences speaker series at Center for Governance and Markets and is co-sponsored by the Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasia, the Ford Center for Human Security, and Ridgway Center for Security Studies.

he purpose of the Student Club Coalition is to give clubs related to Latin America, the Caribbean, and the diasporas, an opportunity to be officially related to and involved with CLAS, providing mutual support for student engagement.

Join the French Club for a conversation hour for French speaking individuals of varying levels to practice the French language.

Join advanced Swahili students from Swahili 3 to practice the language outside of the classroom!

Note: Meetings will take place weekly in the Global Hub, during Fall semester, except on September 20 and October 18.

While most of August Wilson’s plays were set in Pittsburgh, they reach far beyond the three rivers. Join the University of Pittsburgh Library System for a discussion on Wilson’s impact on a local, national, and international level.

A Reception with light refreshments will follow.

Register here: https://pitt.libcal.com/event/11206480

Join weekly Bate-Papo Portuguese conversation practice for all levels, from brand-new beginners to advanced or heritage speakers!

Note: Meetings will take place weekly in the Global Hub, during Fall semester, except on September 27, October 18, and November 1.

Join the Spanish Club as they introduce themselves and their officers! After introductions, the group will break out into Spanish conversation tables.

Mangia con noi! Bring your lunch and chat with us! Pitt students only, all levels welcome!

In response to the devastating earthquake that struck the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco, the Pitt community, as well as our neighbors affected by this event, will gather together in the Global Hub. Together, we will share stories about and connections with this beautiful country and unite in compassion. Moroccan tea, pastries, and dates will be offered.

Join the Asian Studies Center to learn more learn about the SCREENSHOT: Asia Film Festival, enjoy snacks, watch trailers, and earn prizes!

Students in the Medical Humanities Learning Community will hear from the Global Studies Center about the Global Health certificate program.

Come practice your conversational Polish at these weekly meetings!

Interested in experiential learning opportunities on environmental sustainability and indigenous rights? Join community organizers as well as Pitt students and faculty to hear about their work on the Pine Ridge Reservation, home of the Oglala Lakota Nation. Lakota Perspectives on Environmental Sustainability and Indigenous Rights (3 cr.) is the first service-learning program launched by the University Center for International Studies. Learn about what you can accomplish and how to apply for Summer 2024.

Join Valerie Bowden as she shares her experience backpacking across Africa by herself. During her "Cape to Cairo Route", she was inspired to relocate to Ethiopia where she lived for 8+ years. She is the founder of CRDLE which now does business throughout the continent. If you have ever dreamed of traveling, living, or doing business in African countries, you will not want to miss this event!

The Center for African Studies organizes the Let's Talk Africa series to bring our learning community together to talk about Africa-related matters. It is designed to bring students and faculty together to talk about their experiences studying about or in Africa, doing internships, conducting research about Africa or Africa-related topics, or other learning activities in African Studies. Let's Talk Africa is a forum that allows students and members of the community to talk about Africa's achievements while also exploring challenges and policy solutions.

The Let's Talk Africa series serves as an informal forum for the Pitt community and beyond to discuss experiences and issues related to Africa. Participants share insights on studying, interning, researching, and working in African Studies, fostering dialogue on achievements, challenges, and policy solutions.

Portland State University (PSU) adopted a new textbook NihonGO NOW! starting with the first year Japanese a few years ago and the second year in 2021. Join Dr. Watanabe as she focuses on the curriculum of the second year Japanese and share examples of adaptations such as vocabulary and grammar quizzes through Canvas, the flip-class approach, an assignment to develop fluency, and incorporation of conversational and transactional perspectives.

Dr. Watanabe will also talk about the importance of orientation at the beginning of a course in order to clearly indicate what it takes to study the Japanese language as well as to build a safe learning environment.