MA Programme in Human Rights and Democratization

The Regional Master’s Programme in Human Rights and Democratization is a two-year interdisciplinary programme established with the financial support of the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) in 2010.  The programme is one of 6 Regional Master’s Programmes in Human Rights and Democratization worldwide, established with the financial support of the European Commission.

This unique programme is offered by four leading universities in Eastern Partnership Region: Yerevan State University (coordinator), Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Belarusian State University, University of European Political and Economic Studies (USPEE) in Moldova and in cooperation with the European Interuniversity Center (Venice).

MA in Human Rights and Democratization Eastern Partnership Regional Programme has the pleasure to announce that since the academic year of 2013-2015 the Programme will run in three semesters. According to the changes the first semester will be held at Yerevan State University. The Second Semester will run in one of the partner countries ( Belarusian State University; Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv; University of European Political and Economic Studies) and the third semester will cover the completion of thesis and internship. The 3 semester MA will provide flexibility and possibility for the students to study and gain first hand knowledge by studying in the Eastern Partnership region. The Master's Programme provides the students with the knowledge of human rights, issues and problems existing in the region, at the same time it provides the international experience of human rights protection. 

Eligibility

Candidates holding Bachelors’ degree in any undergraduate programme (or an equivalent qualification from a recognized higher education institution) and are interested in majoring in human rights, democracy building and democratization may apply for the Human Rights and Democratization Master Program. In case of ongoing studies applicants should provide documentation indicating that they will receive their first degree from such an institution by the time of enrolling in the programme. Candidates should be also equally fluent in English and Russian. The program has no age limitations. International students are most welcome to study at the Center for European Studies.

Please also note that applicants with academic and/or professional experience in above mentioned fields will have advantage.

Scholarships 

The Programme foresees certain amount of scholarships, which will cover travel expenses (up to Euro 600) and monthly stipend equal to Euro 250  for living expenses and accommodation. Scholarships will be provided only to non- resident students, studying in countries other than their country of residency. There is no tuition fee as such.

APPLICATION PACKAGE:

• Completed Application Form
• Curriculum Vitae in European Format
• Motivation Letters (1500-2000 characters) both in English and Russian  
• Essay (1500-2000 words) on Human Rights and Democratization related topics (more detailed information concerning the essay topics and requirements can be found in the section “Essay”) 
• Contact details for two nominees to provide Reference Letters (one from academia, and one from a current or former employer, if the applicant has work experience) 
• Scanned University Diploma or Diplomas 
• Academic Transcripts

Additionally, those who have taken English language proficiency tests may indicate their score and include Certificate(s) 

• English Proficiency Test Score- TOEFL (PBT 513-547; IBT 65-80) or IELTS (5.5-6)*

*The consortium reserves the right to request evidence of English language proficiency

HOW TO APPLY

The applicant needs to:

• Fill in the online application form: Parts A and B;
• Fill in Part C uploading CV, Motivation Letters, Essay, 2 reference letters, scanned university diploma/diplomas, university transcripts and English Language Proficiency Test Score (Optional)

Upon successful submission of the application, a confirmation letter will be sent to an e-mail address indicated in the application.

ADMISSION TIMETABLE

The Enrollment shall be undertaken in 3 stages:

• Stage 1- Submission of Application and Required Documents -May 15, 2013 - June 30, 2013
• Stage 2- Evaluation of applications and interviews with shortlisted candidates - July 1-20, 2013*
• Stage 3- Official Invitation - end of July - August 10, 2013

We encourage all applicants to apply as early as possible.

* Please note that inteviews with applicants from partner counties (Armenia, Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine) will take place in their countries. In case if applicant is unable to participate in an interview, a phone call can be arranged.  If a shortlisted applicant is outside of the partner countries, they will also be interviewed via phone call.

SELECTION CRITERIA

A selection panel will review all applications and evaluate them against the following selection criteria:

• Academic merit (Educational background, CV)
• Motivation: Interest in human rights and democratization issues
• Provided written paper
• Commitment to idea of voluntarism and social involvement
• Experience in relevant fields.

All successful candidates will be shortlisted and invited for interviews.

More information HERE.  

International Summer University "Public Choice: The Economic Analysis of Government Failure"

New Economic School – Georgia in  partnership with Freedom Works (USA) and Institute for Economic Affairs (UK) are pleased to announce the call for participants for the International Summer University “Public Choice: The Economic Analysis of Government Failure”. The event will take place on 11th - 17th of August 2013 in Bakuriani, Hotel “Tbilisi”, Mountain Resort in Georgia.

Lecturers:
- Dr. Randal Holcombe, Professor of Economics, Florida State University, USA
- Dr. Pierre Garello, Professor of Economics, Paul Cezanne University, Aix en Provence, director of IES-Europe, France
- Dr. Roland Voubel, Professor of Economics, University of Mannheim, Germany
- Paata Sheshelidze, President, New Economic School – Georgia
- Gia Jandieri, Vice-president, New Economic School - Georgia

Requirements for Participants:
Participants of the Summer School can be from: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, USA, Germany, Israel, Turkey and Georgia.

Application Requirements:
- Candidates must sent CV and motivation letter to: university@nesgeorgia.org
- Participation fee: 100 USD (includes accommodation, meals, seminar materials and transportation from and to Tbilisi)
- Travel grants for foreign participants are limited. Applicants should note about their need of travel grant.
- The travel grant doesn't include the participation fee.
- There is no visa requirement for the citizens of listed above countries.

Financial Support:
 

NESG covers:
1. Accommodation expenditures for all participants;
2. Three times meals for all participants;
3. Transportation of all participants to and from the venue in Bakuriani, Georgia;
4. Travel expenditures of selected participants from following countries - Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, USA, Germany, Israel, Turkey and Georgia;

All participants pay fee of USD 100.

NESG is responsible for purchasing of flight tickets for the selected participants;
NESG is responsible for accommodation reservation;
NESG is responsible for transportation of all participants from Tbilisi and Tbilisi Airport to Bakuriani and back;

NESG is not responsible for:
- Health insurance and services;
- Tickets for not-selected participants;
- Other additional expenses;  

Special Offer for Donors: 
- An organization or person who is willing to support summer camp could nominate candidates for participation or create scholarship for applicants.
- Amount for one scholarship: 380 USD + international travel expenses.

Deadline: 
a) for international applications: July 1st, 2013,
b) for foreign participants applying for travel grant, application deadline is June 15th, 2013
c) for Georgian participants: July 15th, 2013

- Selected participants from foreign countries will be contacted before July 5.
- Selected Participants from Georgia will be announced at: July 28
- Every selected participant will receive reading materials by email and then a complimentary book: Public Choice – A Premier, 

Contacts 

Phone: + 995 322 399 375; Cellphone:+ 995 593 280 433
Email: university@nesgeorgia.org

Bucharest Summer University 2013

The Students' Union of the Bucharest University of Economic Studies (US ASE), through the Students’ Senate, gladly invites you to take part in one of this summer's most interesting educational experiences: Bucharest Summer University 2013. This 9th edition of the international summer school, held annually in Bucharest, gathers students from all over the world to discuss different topics in the economics field. This international cultural and academic event focuses on economic problems and related fields of interest and has as a main objective to promote the common academic values.

The courses will take place between the 11th and 25th of August 2013. Together with speakers and professors from top universities and companies around the world, the 55 participants will spend 2 weeks in the campus of the Bucharest University of Economic Studies including one extended week-end exploring particular destinations across the country.

Do not miss the chance to apply for this year’s experience! It’s the perfect opportunity to discover a new country, a lot of new people from all around the world and to learn a lot of great information!

This year's theme is "Information and Governance in the Future Global Economy".

What do you have to do to apply? It’s really simple:

• Write your Curriculum Vitae (you have the model here) and complete the Application Form (you can, also, download it from here).


• For a Total Payment Application (590 euros)* you can apply until the 20th of June at application@bsu.ase.ro


• If you want to apply for Partial Payment Application (290 euros)* – then you have to add to your CV and Application Form your letter of motivation and send them at application@bsu.ase.ro until the 20th of June.


• If you want to be considered for a Full Scholarship* you have to write an essay (1200 words in a Word document, written with Times New Roman, Size 12, Spacing 1,5) on the theme “My scenario for the future governance in the global economy” and send it to us, along with the other documents (CV, Letter of Motivation and Application Form), until 15th of June at application@bsu.ase.ro 

Applicants must be a student (bachelor degree and master degree) or a PhD candidate.

Website: http://www.bsu.ase.ro/index.html

ISWinT 2013

ISWinT (International Student Week in Timisoara) is an international festival that gathers participants from all over the world each year since 1994. The purpose of this festival is to give the students from different countries the opportunity to communicate freely, to express their opinions in a productive manner, while enjoying a taste of our local culture. 

A simple word, ISWinT, brings with it 7 days of festival, perfect opportunities to meet new people, to discover new places, new traditions, to attend parties. And that is not everything this event comes with. ISWinT brings workshops, themed evenings and many many other activities. During the event you will not only discover Timisoara, you will also discover its surroundings with beautiful landscapes and the magic that comes with it. You will have the opportunity to discover the others participants’ tradition at the “Nations Party” where each country is presented by participants by means of singing, theater or video-projection, so that we that we can get a clearer picture of their culture and habits.

The purpose of the 2013 edition (15-24 July 2013) of the longest-running student festival worldwide is to create a suitable environment for cultural exchange by getting the local community involved in the activities organized for the participants.

 

This year’s theme is focused on the exchange of ideas through which we aim to underline, in an objective manner, the differences between cultures, leaving behind the stereotypes and preconceptions related to the nationalities’ customs and traditions. This way we hope to bridge the gap between the different perspectives of the participants which will lead to their acknowledgement of the importance of cultural diversity.
 
This year’s breakthrough is the idea of encouraging the participants to leave their mark on our city. For this to be possible, we have in mind a series of new activities which will allow the participants to bring their contribution to the enhancing of Timisoara’s cultural diversity.
 
To sum up, during the 20th ISWinT edition our purpose is to bring to light the impact of the cultural diversity, as well as the importance of creating an environment where all these differences are highly valued and appreciated. All this and much more can be made possible by exchanging ideas with a little glimpse on a culture snapshot.

Here is a list of the workshops that will take place this summer:

1. Magic

2. NLP

3. Fashion Design

4. Restyle

5. Non-formal Education

6. Video

7. Stop Motion

8. Dance

9. Handmade

10. Graffiti

11. Photography

12.Self-defence 

This year, the participation fee is 110€ and includes:

• accommodation in the student dorms for 10 days
• three meals per day
• all the materials needed for workshops
• all the activities
• entrance to all the parties
• public transport
• a city tour
• one day trip
• lots of other surprises.

The only thing the fee doesn’t cover for is the travel ticket to and from Timisoara and visa costs.

For those of you who don’t need a visa to come to Romania, the application period is extended until the 15th of June. 

Apply now to the 20th edition of ISWinT! All you have to do is fill in the application form. 

If you have any questions, send an e-mail to: contact@iswint.ro

Master of Arts in Human Rights and Conflict Management

The Master of Arts in Human Rights and Conflict Management at Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna (Pisa, Italy) is designed to provide students from different cultures and backgrounds with a deep understanding of the linkages between human rights and conflict management theory and practice. The curriculum, strongly field oriented, prepares participants for working with NGOs, governments, aid agencies, the UN system and regional organisations, also operating in the context of complex emergencies and joint operations.

The Programme is divided into two didactic modules, running between mid January and the end of July 2014, followed by an internship or field experience of min. 3 and max. 6 months, starting from August 2014, and a presentation of the students' final dissertation in spring 2015.

Key features:

• 1 year post-graduate professionalizing and field-oriented programme

• Interdisciplinary nature of the programme with a methodology characterized by a combination of theory and practice

• Lecturers and trainers chosen among high level academics, diplomats, international organizations officers and NGOs activists, thus offering a wealth of both academic and field expertise

• Mandatory internship/field experience in leading organisations working in the areas of human rights protection/promotion, conflict prevention/resolution, humanitarian assistance or development, either in the field or at Headquarters

• Career service with specific sessions on career coaching and recruiting session with UNV

• International and multicultural student environment

Why should I apply?

You should apply if you are looking for a professionalizing and mission/field-oriented international master programme, as offered by the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, an example of academic excellence in training and research. If your training needs include practical skills, besides relevant theoretical knowledge, as well as internship/field-experience with prestigious international organizations, this training programme is highly relevant for you.

Curriculum:

The curriculum is strongly multidisciplinary and field oriented and includes courses in: International Law, International Humanitarian Law, International Human Rights Law, Geopolitics, HRs philosophical dimension, Economic Development, Theories and Techniques of Conflict Management, International PK and PB operations, International HR Field operations, International Election Observation missions, International Humanitarian operations, International Project Development, Personal security, Stress Management, Preventive Medicine & First Aid, Essentials of Research and Writing, Career coaching.

Internship:

The internship is meant to supplement the in-class training with a relevant hand-on experience, to be carried out with a renowned organization working in the areas of human rights protection/promotion, conflict prevention/resolution, humanitarian assistance or development, either in the field or at headquarters.

Tuition fee:

The tuition fee for the full Programme is 7.250,00 euros, payable in two installments. It covers the following: attendance costs and participation to field trips, didactic material (in electronic format), tutorship, lunch (on class and exam days), access to all facilities of the Scuola (including library and computer rooms). It does not include accommodation costs in Pisa and during the internship, nor travel expenses.

The Master Programme offers one scholarship in memory of Gualtiero Fulcheri – former UN Assistant Secretary General - covering the full tuition fee and to be awarded to the most deserving applicant. Depending on financial availability, reduced tuition fee might be offered to citizens from non-OECD countries who are eligible for a study visa for Italy .

Contacts

For further details, please visit www.humanrights.sssup.itor contact:

Master of Arts in “Human Rights and Conflict Management”

Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna

Via Cardinale Maffi, 27 56126 Pisa - ITALY

E-mail: humanrights@sssup.it

Tel. +39 050 882653/55

Fax +39 050 882665

Top Dissertation Structuring Tips

The hardest part of gaining a Master’s degree apart from the extensive research it requires is the dissertation writing process. Many students have a problem with the structuring process which, if mastered would make the whole process easy and straightforward. 

The dissertation structure is critical first because it displays the work in a way you can work easy. The structure also makes the research look live and real. It facilitates the research mapping process, which is the biggest challenge you would face without.

Top dissertation structure tips

• 1.  Always plan your structure in a visually clear manner. According to experts, using a diagrams, gaps and text and images to actually map out how the dissertation will look works wonders. It enables you visualize the whole project and this makes work much easier.
• 2.  The Introduction and a conclusion are the parts that must never miss out on a dissertation. There are also smaller bits of the paper you must understand to ensure that it meets all guidelines. In many cases, different colleges treat the extras like dissertation methodologies, literature reviews and bibliographies different.
• 3. Always have a word limit in mind. To get this in perspective, when you are mapping out the dissertation structure, arrange to have the different sections with a word count limit. This way, you can create a way to collect enough words for the entire paper.
• 4. Always remember to have your strongest points early on in the essay. These points should be structured to flow with each other according to message, bringing clarity and meaning to the dissertation.
• 5.  Place ideas which sound similar next to each other. Those which differ should be at two distinct ends to improve clarity and understanding. It’s also a way of ensuring that the readers aren’t confused.
• 6.  Make it readable. This does not matter whether your essay is done at masters or undergraduate level. The examiners want the dissertations easy to follow, understand and remember. The most memorable and useful dissertations are written in simple and readable language. As such, keep your sentences short, lively and distinct. Keeping different ideas separate can also help you achieve readability.
• 7. Use bulleted points and numerical digits to break up structure. Psychologists say that these techniques encourage readers. Whether these make the structure less clogged or scattered, numbers and bullets also help readers understand the dissertations better.
• 8.  It’s also important to structure the dissertation in a way that clarifies the message. For instance, if you used different sources to clarify ideas, make these clear in the implementation of the structure. It will make it easy for readers to follow.
• 9.  Use signpost sentences to direct the readers. These means that the sentences or titles tell readers what they will expect when they read on. They will also be the guidance when implementing the visual structure of the dissertation.
• 10. Refer back or point forward where necessary. It makes no sense to keep repeating statements in their dissertation because these eventually make it repetitive. As we discussed, as you will see are just some of the statements you can use to direct readers without repeating.
• Overall, what matters for a dissertation is how direct, stable and clear structure determine whether or not a writing is effective. Try to make your dissertation clear by keeping away vagueness.

Sandra Miller is a freelance writer from Brooklyn. She always uses professional editing service to help make her writing perfect.