Applications are now open for the ECMI Summer School 2015 on National Minorities and Border Regions. The topic for 2015 is: "The changing order and new insecurities: impact on minorities in Europe".

ECMI will hold the fifth annual Summer School on National Minorities and Border Regions (NMBR) on 09-15 August 2015. For the fifth consecutive time, prominent scholars from diverse European institutions and experienced practitioners will gather in the border city of Flensburg to deliver lectures and seminars, to share their expertise and exchange views and ideas with a group of international participants.

Background
Europe and its neighborhood are undergoing significant changes that will shape the political and economic development in the 21st century. While EU member states are facing an increase in Euroscepticism and right-wing populism, the Eastern European neighborhood is struggling with a dilemma: towards East or West? Global concerns such as climate change, aging populations, youth unemployment, or violations of human rights are also issues that Europe needs to address. The changing order and the new global challenges are most adversely affecting the most vulnerable groups of society: national / ethnic minorities and indigenous peoples. The ECMI Summer School 2015 on National Minorities and Border Regions in the 21st Century will take an interdisciplinary approach and will evaluate the current situation in Europe and its neighborhood exploring its impact on national minorities. Critically examining the mechanisms of the national and EU institutions to confront the new challenges, the course will build upon the existing knowledge and open discussions to yield innovative approaches and new ideas. To introduce the participants to the topic and to provide them with in-depth knowledge on the issues, case studies from academic as well as practitioners’ perspectives will be presented. Focusing on border region cases and especially on the Danish-German border region experience, the peculiarities of specific geographical areas and the role of state and non-state actors will be considered. The topic will be approached through a historical timeline: analyzing the relevant historical background, discussing the present state and envisioning the future patterns as an outcome of the discussions and workshops during the course.

Structure
The Summer School will include 3 elements: preparatory e-learning (online preparation for the course 1 month prior arrival), residential and alumni elements. 7 days of diverse, interdisciplinary and intensive residential element of the course will include: • A keynote speech delivered by a prominent international scholar/practitioner • Academic lectures delivered by international scholars • Practitioners‘ seminars • Interactive workshops facilitated by trained professionals, using methods of non-formal education • Discussion sessions with opportunities to discuss the topic of the day with a guest speaker, ECMI researchers and among participants • Presentations of the Summer School participants (case studies, research, etc.) • Different social events planned for evenings • Working in 5 subgroups, followed by group presentations, sessions moderated with the methods of NFE • Meetings and discussions with local politicians, minority representatives, and youth groups • Trips to the regional sights in the Danish-German border region. The educational guided tour will be provided • Graduation ceremony: The Chairperson of the Flensburg City Council (Stadtpraesidentin), Ms. Swetlana Krätzschmar, will deliver the certificates and meet the participants.

For further information about the application procedures, fees and scholarships, please see the ECMI web-page:http://www.ecmi.de/trainings/summer-school/

Deadline for applications: 15 May 2015

Kind Regards/Freundliche Grüße/Venlig hilsen

Tamari Bulia
Project Coordinator/PA to the Director

European Centre for Minority Issues (ECMI)
Schiffbruecke 12
D-24939 Flensburg
Germany

P: +49 461 14149 12
F: +49 461 14149 19
E: bulia@ecmi.de
W: www.ecmi.de