The Visegrad Summer School is a two-week educational programme which provides an interdisciplinary learning space for young Czech, Hungarian, Polish and Slovak students, and for their peers from other Central and Eastern European countries. The programme consists of lectures, panel debates and seminars on issues and challenges relevant to the Visegrad Group region, the European Union and the CEE countries. The topics cover current social, economic, political and cultural issues, such as need of providing global institutions, Eastern Partnership, environmental protection, as well as regional and Euroatlantic cooperation. As former editions have shown the Visegrad Summer School is an unique forum to build relations of acceptance, friendship and cooperation between young people, who will soon shape the future of their countries and the continent.

aim

The Visegrad Summer School is an initiative organised by the Villa Decius Association since 2002. Our idea is to create an alternative platform to university for advanced studies on the Visegrad Group as well as other Central and East European countries. The programme is an opportunity for the participants to get acquainted with and discuss current social, security, economic, political and cultural issues. It is also an opportunity to learn about each other and start an international cooperation between the people and the countries.

programme

The programme of the ninth edition of the Visegrad Summer School includes debates on current political, cultural and social challenges in the global and European perspective, e.g. extremism, migration issues, Eastern Partnership, environmental protection, energy security policy, climate crisis and also regional and Euroatlantic cooperation. Global poverty, stabilizing missions at Afghanistan, Balkans and Africa will also be discussed. An important part of the democracy section are lectures on the integration role of countries and a presentation of the regional responsibility for global problems. Students apply the theoretical knowledge in practical activities during workshops - they develop, political, social and cultural projects that aim at establishing collaboration between them and their countries. On the weekend participants will be invited for study visits to borderlands of Malopolska region. Students will also attend artistic events and learn about the culture of Krakow.

draft programme

target group

Students, graduates, PhD researchers, young professionals from the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Ukraine and other CEE countries. We are looking for active, open-minded and creative people. The working language of the School is English, so good communication skills in English are essential.

costs

the organizers provide:

• educational programme and materials
• special events
• accommodation and board

participants cover:

• travel costs to/from/in Krakow
• their own insurance
• registration fee of 75 EURO

Students from other countries are eligible to apply providing they cover the costs of their participation - 500 Euro as well as individual insurance and travel costs to/from/in Krakow.

enrolment

Each candidate should provide:

•  a letter of motivation explaining how he/she would benefit from the School
•  a completed application form
•  a detailed CV
•  references

The application should be emailed and confirmed by post to:

Call for applications for the Visegrad Summer School opens on 1 March 2010.
The deadline for applications is 31 March 2010.
Accepted participants will be informed by 30 April 2010.

coordination

Anna Kowalska, project coordinator
Jadwiga Figiel-Stoch, project coordinator

organisation:

Partners:

Słowacja - Centrum pre výskum etnicity a kultúry

Czechy - Asociace pro mezinárodní otázky

Węgry - Centrum Węgierskie w Krakowie

Ukraina - EuroRegio Ukraine

strategic sponsor and partner:

donors:

Projekt zrealizowano przy udziale finansowym Miasta Kraków	Projekt zrealizowano przy wsparciu finansowym Województwa Małopolskiego

strategic sponsors:

media partners: