Erika attends a short course from the CIVIS Alliance
MUSEO-POLIS: A Summer School on Museum, Democracy and Citizenship in Southern Europe
by Erika Delgado Rubio
As an EUROSUD student, I recently had the opportunity of participating in a short course from the CIVIS alliance, a prestigious network of ten European universities that aim to promote higher education and research. On this occasion, I joined MUSEO-POLIS: A Summer School on Museum, Democracy and Citizenship in Southern Europe, which took place in Marseille, France.
Under the coordination of Aix-Marseille Université and within the premises of the MUCEM – Musée des civilisations de l'Europe et de la Méditerranée –, I became part of a diverse environment, as the course considered students with different backgrounds and nationalities, as well as many specialized professionals like anthropologists, curators and historians. For three days, I listened to and debated on discussions about migration, religion and democracy in relationship with museums as representative institutions of historical and contemporary events. The course enriched my knowledge of democratic development in Southern Europe and the current re-foundation of democratic citizenship. It was dynamic and entertaining not only because of the lectures received but also because of the organization of guided tours to temporary exhibitions of the Mucem, like “Abd el-Kader”, a display of the life of an Algerian religious and military leader that fought against French colonial occupation, and “Pharaons Superstars”, a cultural approach towards Egypt and its presence in the Mediterranean.
Additionally, the course included a visit to two other relevant places: La Vieille Charité Museum and the Mucem Conservation and Resources Center. The first exhibited “Objets migrateurs, trésors sous influence”, where I could compare ancient and modern precious objects that characterized a migrant’s journey and that distinguish societies today; while on the other hand, the second allowed us to understand the museum process of acquisition of objects and how they conserve and classify them for future exhibitions. As a matter of fact, I examined this last place in the company of two senior curators, being able to ask questions and dialogue directly with them regarding their valuable work.
From a museum perspective, the recognition of national treasures contributes to the notion of identity and assists in the task of writing history for increasing representation and maintaining democracy construction. Thus, it is important to acknowledge these institutions for the progress of the own nation.
MY EUROSUD INTERNSHIP at NewGenPeacebuilders - Merima Muhic
My EUROSUD Internship at the NewGen Peacebuilders
Hi! My name is Merima, a second year EUROSUD students from Zivinice, Bosnia and Herzegovina. I am currently finishing my year at Autonomous University of Madrid while also interning with the NewGen Peacebuilders, an NGO from the US.
The opportunity to study in various locations, and now even do an internship in another, has been a truly eye-opening opportunity! I have managed to pick up so many lessons, experiences, and connections at each of the locations, helping me become informed in both the theoretical and practical aspects of Southern Europe. I believe this type of experience would have only been possible with EUROSUD.
At NewGen Peacebuilders, I work on a research project on positive peace and peace education in the Western Balkans. My engagement with this specific topic began while the organization was doing a “pilot program” with another NGO already present in the region. The results from the pilot program raised even more questions and interest in the region, as well as what else can be done, in a more meaningful and impactful way.
I have always been interested in informal education and what can be done in the region with young people that hasn’t been done so far! I love working on the ground and seeing months of research and planning come to reality, so I truly hope that whatever we find out at the end of my internship results in a great opportunity for the countries and young people from the region. I remain grateful to EUROSUD for inspiring us to think outside of the box and push our limits!
EUROSUD first Instagram 'Live' Q & A Event
EUROSUD Instagram 'Live' Q & A Event
The Instagram 'live' Q & A Event took place today 23 June 2022 at 1-1.30 BST. Despite our Programme Director, Dr Myrto Tsakatika, having some technical issues and not managing to get online, the event was well attended.
There was chat about the programme and questions were answer by:
- Lauren Hoare (Erasmus Mundus Project Manager)
- Cristóbal Sánchez (EUROSUD Alumnus) from our first cohort 2019-21.
You can watch the recording here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CfJeQppKsK8/?hl=en-gb
Aiqian Li - Chinese Vlogger
Our Chinese Vlogger, Aiqian
As a Chinese Vlogger, a video I posted on Bilibili's platform exceeded 1 million(100万) plays on June 19. It introduces the slides “Parabelrrutsche”in the building of the Technical University of Munich in Germany. The slides can be quickly slid down from the third floor, fulfilling the students' dream of leaving classroom by slides.
I also introduced the EUROSUD programme in my vlogs. Three Mobilities and Lisbon's winter school allowed me to travel in 22 countries in a year and a half. During this period, I gained knowledge and experienced the local life and culture of southern Europe.
Aiqian says " I am honoured to have received funding from the EUROSUD Career Development Fund, which will be used for more video editing and promotion. I also believe that more students will be interested in the application of EUROSUD and then benefit from this perfect programme".
𝐄𝐔𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐔𝐃 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐚𝐭 𝐏𝐚𝐧 𝐁𝐥𝐞𝐮
Hi, I'm Marta from Italy, a final year student of the second cohort of EUROSUD. I am currently in Marseille for my internship at Plan Bleu, one of the Regional Activity Centres of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
When I started this programme in Glasgow, in the middle of the pandemic, I did not have many ideas or expectations about how things would evolve, given the gravity of the situation. Unexpectedly, apart from all the difficulties related to lockdowns and online classes, I made the most of the three mobilities, and I am very excited and satisfied with the results of the programme, and the precious friendships developed over the 2 years.
After Glasgow and Athens, I followed the pathway of the Aix-Marseille University. The programme focuses on Euro-Mediterranean cooperation, and thanks to the seminars held during the semester by professionals in the sector, I got to know Plan Bleu, the association where I am doing my internship. Plan Bleu is very active in the region in the field of protection of the Mediterranean Sea against pollution and climate change. In fact, its work programme is approved every two years by the contracting parties to the Barcelona Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution. During my internship as assistant to the Deputy Director of the Association and of the Sustainable Development and Foresight Project Officer, I oversaw analysing and developing a foresight scenario for the 2050 horizon, in order to help formulate guidelines for Mediterranean countries to achieve the SDG targets by 2050. In addition, I oversaw writing different reports on the Blue Economy and on the adaptation of the maritime ecosystem to climate change, besides my dissertation on the development of the offshore wind industry. Finally, I was involved in the student association Téthys, a Euro-Mediterranean university consortium linked to the Aix-Marseille University that allowed me to attend events such as the "Forum des deux rives" or the "Oceans' mission 2030's torchlight initiative" sponsored by the European Commission.
Although my knowledge about the challenges of climate change was limited at the beginning of the internship, the Master programme and in particular the French pathway helped me to lay the foundations to develop my knowledge in this field, which I appreciate very much. I am now starting to look for job opportunities in Marseille, and I am sure that this internship experience, as well as the network developed during the different mobilities, has provided me with valuable contacts to start my job application process.
by Marta Avesani
Final Dissertation Colloquium - Research Track students (2022-24 students)
EUROSUD Final Dissertation Colloquium - 2022-24 Student Cohort
Programme Director Dr Myrto Tsakatika and Dr Simone Tulumello (ICS – Ulisboa) were in Rome last week, where they held the final Dissertation Colloquium for Research Track students in person, in the premises of our partner University LUISS. After the Colloquium, the students showed them around campus and then on to the local pizzeria!
