Department of Latin American Studies (OLAS)

What is OLAS

The Department of Latin American Studies (OLAS = Czech abbreviation) is part of CenMAS and builds on the long-standing tradition of Ibero-American studies at the Faculty of Arts, Charles University. It evolved from the former Center for Ibero-American Studies (SIAS), which was established in 1967 as an interdisciplinary unit dedicated to research and teaching in Ibero-American studies.

Today, OLAS focuses on the study of Latin America from historical, cultural, and social science perspectives. It offers specialized courses within Master’s and doctoral programmes, covering fields such as history, ethnology, Hispanic studies, literature, and art history, with a focus on the cultures, histories, and societies of Latin America, as well as Spain and Portugal. Teaching is provided by OLAS staff in collaboration with external experts from other academic institutions.

How it is evolving

The transformation of the former Center for Ibero-American Studies into OLAS reflects a broader shift towards modern area studies. The focus is moving from a primarily historical orientation to a more interdisciplinary approach that also addresses contemporary social and political issues.

Role within CenMAS

OLAS represents one of the core pillars of CenMAS. It brings in-depth regional expertise, provides specialized teaching and training in Latin American studies, and actively contributes to broader interdisciplinary and comparative research activities within the center.

You can find more information about OLAS on the website HERE (in Czech).