The aim of this paper is to describe the development of Slovene Studies at the University of Vienna over the last five decades. After a period of insufficient staffing, the introduction of a visiting professor scheme in 1999, entailing teaching eight hours per week on Slovene linguistics and/or literary and cultural studies, was a major step forward. The scheme has been very well accepted by the students for its variety and the quality of guest lectures and has made a great contribution to the establishment of Slovene Studies. This positive development has not been mirrored in structural changes at the department, so that a lack of an adequate staffing structure within Slovene Studies has remained an issue. The present situation, sadly, is one where Slovene Studies is under threat, despite the existence of international memoranda, as well as the current cultural agreement between Austria and Slovenia.
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