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Call for applications

​​GLocalEAst Summer School

„Global Migration, Diaspora and Border Studies in East-Central Europe”

at the Viadrina Center B/ORDERS IN MOTION,

European University Viadrina in Frankfurt (Oder),Germany

September 5-16, 2022

Within the framework of the Erasmus+ project “Developing a new curriculum in Global Migration, Diaspora and Border Studies in East-Central Europe”, the consortium of six partner universities (see list below) invites master students from these universities to apply for a two-week international summer school “Global Migration, Diaspora and Border Studies in East-Central Europe” at the European University Viadrina in Frankfurt (Oder), Germany, which will take place from September 5 – 16, 2022.

Consortium partners are:

Thematic focus of the summer school

The Erasmus+ summer school „Global Migration, Diaspora and Border Studies in East-Central Europe” offers 30 international students from six partner universities (5 students per university) an opportunity to explore migration and borders issues, adopting both transnational and cross-sectoral perspectives by combining insights from research, practice and policy with a special focus on (South) Eastern Europe.  

In doing so, we address a topic that has become extremely urgent in light of Putin’s war of aggression in Ukraine. However, the complex and interrelated challenges of migration, diaspora and borders have a much longer history – also in relation to (South) Eastern Europe. The region became a “transit area” in the so-called “refugee crisis” in the EU that peaked in 2015, but the region was also a site of migration to Western Europe from the socialist era to the post-Cold War period, lasting until today. More recently, the region has also become a place of immigration – for example, from Ukraine and other European states, but also from as far away as China. The proclamation of independent states after the fall of the Iron Curtain, which in some cases led to war and/or frozen border conflicts (as in Georgia, Moldova, and Kosovo), as well as EU association processes and new global constellations in general, affect migration in different ways. Migration – be it labor, family, educational, or flight migration – is based, at least in part, on international relations between states and the European Union that attempt to channel migratory movements by adjusting their border and migration regimes.  In the receiving countries, immigration may lead to a strengthening of populism, which makes the integration of migrants very difficult, but it can also lead to new, creative forms of conviviality that respect a greater diversity in society. During the summer school, we intend to address the current, complex and interconnected challenges related to migration, diaspora and borders by offering an inter- and transnational perspective, while at the same time providing a profound knowledge of regional and local processes.

About the program

The Summer School offers students interdisciplinary and innovative courses that provide practical skills and better address the challenges in the field. These courses were developed by a consortium of academics from the six partner universities as part of the Erasmus+ project “Developing a new curriculum in Global Migration, Diaspora and Border Studies in East-Central Europe” (GLocalEAst).

Along with the acquisition of core academic knowledge in the field of migration, diaspora and borders, the Summer School curriculum also includes the acquisition of skills that meet the needs of the labor market and society in dealing with migration issues. These were developed in collaboration with civil society partners and local government institutions to create synergies with current socio-political issues.

The Summer School program combines various formats that facilitate the acquisition and deepening of knowledge and skills. Renowned scholars in the field of migration and border studies from the six partner universities convey central aspects in their lectures (core courses). An accompanying series of seminars (second courses) provides for discussions on selected case studies in order for participants to acquire practical knowledge. In working groups led by border and media specialists, participants creatively learn to design and produce a topic-related multi-media project. In the course of the summer school, excursions to thematically relevant locations in Berlin and on the German-Polish border are planned.

The Summer School awards a certificate of attendance. By successfully completing the summer school programmeincluding an active involvement in a working group, 4 ECTS credits can be obtained by participants.

About the venue of the summer school: European University Viadrina in Frankfurt (Oder), Germany

The European University Viadrina has the highest degree of internationalization among students in the German higher education landscape. It is located at the very east of Germany, in the German-Polish twin city of Frankfurt (Oder) and Słubice, just about 80 km from Germany’s capital Berlin. The Viadrina Center B/ORDERS IN MOTION, a research institute of the European University Viadrina, is internationally renowned in the field of border research and innovatively links interdisciplinary border and migration studies. The summer school is organized by the Center in cooperation with the International Office of the Viadrina.

Who can apply?

The summer school aims at graduate students from the 6 consortium universities who are interested in the exploration of migration, diaspora and borders issues.

Students who are not enrolled at one of the six partner universities are not eligible for application.

Please note that the summer school is directed mainly at master and doctoral students. In exceptional, well-founded cases of strong motivation and fulfillment of the selection criteria, applications of Bachelor students can be considered. Post-doctoral researchers are not eligible to attend.

Participants are required to have a very good command of English as the teaching language will be English. The number of participants is limited to 30 attendees.

Organizational information and application procedure:

For all participants, there is no enrolment fee. Thanks to the financial support of the Erasmus+ project, international students of the 5 non-German partner universities will receive a grant (lump sum) which covers expenses for travel as well as food and lodging. International participants are recommended to stay in a dormitory (single room as far as available) located at the Polish side of the twin city, within walking distance to the summer school venue.

Students from the University of Viadrina will not be provided with a grant, but they are highly encouraged to apply for participation in the summer school, too.

How to apply?

Participation in the summer school is bound to an application procedure. Decisions about participation will be made by a selection committee in the respective consortium universitywhere the applicant is enrolled (see list below).

In order to apply, please submit a motivational letter (max. 1A4 page), which describes your interest in the summer school and possibly also your knowledge, specialization and interest with regard to migration, diaspora and borders issues as well as your international experiences, intercultural competences and your level of English language competence. A short   CV is also required. Besidesinformation about your educational and academic attainments (transcript of records), please indicate courses, internships or practical experiences in the field of migration, diaspora and borders studies which you completed.

Selection criteria are:

Individual consortium partners may decide about the approval to participation in the summer school based on an interview in a second step.

The application is to be sent via email to the contact person of the respective partner university in which you are enrolled (please note the individual deadlines of the universities). The contact persons can also be approached in case of questions.

You will be informed about the decision by June 30th, 2022.

For further information about the GlocalEast Project, please visit  https://glocal.sk/

COVID-19 considerations

The summer school is currently planned as an in-class, on-site event in Frankfurt (Oder). Should mobility restrictions be in place in September 2022, it is intended to switch to a hybrid or online-only format, enabling remote participation. Please note that European University Viadrina may enact regulations which restrict access to the campus (currently, the “3G” rule – vaccinated, recovered or tested – applies) and oblige to wear a mask.

Travel considerations

Please note that the dormitory we recommend for student participants is located in Poland. Please familiarize yourself with the entry requirements.

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