Mingyue attends Summer School in Belgium
I attended the Summer School for Data and Algorithms in Leuven, Belgium. This Programme was hosted by KU Leuven, Google and other renowned research institutions. Scholars and senior industry scientists were invited to speak about their cutting-edge research at the summer school. Furthermore, the discussions included but were not limited to practical techniques in data science tools such as MySQL, NPL (natural language processing) and its applications in social science, data cleansing and database imputation, and data analysis models ranging from traditional DID to regression discontinuity design. Many papers dealt with big data in social and political science. One study, for example, used machine learning to analyse a wide range of public policy documents concerning patents.
Also, this summer school offered a combination of talking with academic researchers and industry experts. This was appealing to me as a student preparing for a quantitative thesis project and looking for career opportunities as a data analyst in NGOs or public sectors. In addition, I used the Difference-in-Difference model to complete previous research on Spanish local election turnout and the COVID-19 pandemic. So I was able to re-access the data sample and fixed effects with other participants. In all, this intensive data summer school was an intellectually challenging but enriching experience. And I am very grateful that the Career Development Fund helped support my participation.
By Mingyue Feng
EUROSUD supports Irakli's professional development at the OECD Project
I would like to thank EUROSUD Studies and Career Development Fund for supporting me in professional development and joining the Global Relations Secretariat at Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). In the Eurasia Division I will be working in the Ukraine team and contributing to the planning of recovery projects for the next 6 months. It is a great responsibility and excitement to be at the forefront of the initiatives which aim at speeding up the reconstruction of Ukraine. Gained research skills and knowledge thanks to the immersive learning experience at the University of Glasgow, NKUA and LUISS have enabled me to contribute to the OECD’s work on Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction. For more than a quarter-century, the OECD has worked closely with the Eurasia region to encourage sustainable and inclusive growth in Eurasia, promoting structural reforms and capacity building, and facilitating policy dialogue. In the midst of Russia’s unprovoked war against Ukraine, the OECD is bringing together its latest insights, analysis and data to shed light on the policy challenges ahead.
By Irakli Gabidzashvili
City Chambers Civic Reception for the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Programmes - September 2022
Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree (EMJMD) Programmes coordinated by the University of Glasgow received a warm welcome from the City of Glasgow at a Civic Reception held at the grand Glasgow City Chambers, George Square, Glasgow on Tuesday 20 September.
Lord Provost, Jacqueline McLaren opened the ceremony to welcome the students, followed by a speech from Sara Carter, Head of College of Social Sciences.
Afterwards, the EUROSUD students had the opportunity to mingle with other Erasmus students from all eleven EMJMD programmes that are coordinated by the University of Glasgow, over drinks and canapes.
There was a professional photographer to capture some special moments including a photograph of each programme with their fellow students and staff for future memories.
EUROSUD INDUCTION 2022-24 Cohort 4
The EUROSUD International Master in South European Studies Induction took place on week beginning Monday 12 September. A variety of events took place over the week, both online and in-person, including College of Social Sciences Employability Team, Erasmus Mundus Association (EMA), Student Support Officers, Counselling and Psychological Services, Library Session, who provided as an introduction to the services on offer at the University of Glasgow for students and to introduce them to the various teams.
The Thursday session, for students to meet the EUROSUD team took place in the morning. Staff were delighted to meet the students in person for the first time. The afternoon session was via Zoom, and involved the EUROSUD Partners: National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Greece, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Spain, Aix-Marseille Université (AMU), France and LUISS Guido Carli, Rome, Italy. The students met the partners from each Institution for their Semesters 2, 3 and 4 pathways in break-out rooms, which gave them the opportunity to ask questions about their chosen pathways.
Thursday evening was the EUROSUD social event, which took place in the CCA – The Centre for Contemporary Arts: Saramago Café Bar in the City Centre. Professor Tsakatika joked with the students that the food was vegan, although there were plenty of burger places to eat in the city if they needed meat afterwards! However the food went down a treat with everyone saying it was very good, perhaps one or two converted meat eaters! The night was lovely and everyone got to meet, chat, eat and drink in a lovely environment.
The programme is excited to welcome the students to Glasgow for a great first semester!
Mariam Participated in an International Conference on Cultural Diplomacy in Berlin, Germany
I participated in the international conference "Cultural Diplomacy to Counter Disinformation," which took place September 3-5, 2022, in Berlin. The program included lectures, workshops, and panel discussions among representatives of the Eastern Partnership/EaP countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine).
The conference covered the topics of cultural diplomacy, countering disinformation, and civil society education and echoed the following questions: What is meant by cultural diplomacy? How can diplomacy counter disinformation? How should countries help the voice of the truth to sound louder with the help of cultural heritage and diplomacy? Can culture be the speaking trumpet of dispropaganda? Given that today's societies are more vulnerable to disinformation and propaganda, the conference's combination of theoretical and practical components served as a good toolkit for putting this experience into practice in the settings of both the EaP and Southeast European countries.
The conference was organized and implemented by Berlin-based NGO CRISP with the financial support of the German Federal Foreign Office and in a partnership with the Civil Society Cooperation Program.
I am grateful to my program and the Career Development Fund of the University of Glasgow for supporting my participation in the conference.
Mariam Gugulashvili, Georgia, cohort 2021–2023.
Meron (Ghebreigziabiher) Participates in Summer School in Prague
From the 14th to 20th of August I participated on the Summer School on Migration and Development, organized by GEOMIGRACE, a research institute collaborating with the Department of Social Geogra
phy and Regional Development at Charles University of Prague together with the support of IMISCOE (International Migration Research Network). The school invited experience and well-known scholars and experts, from international and non-governmental organizations, who delivered lectures, seminars workshops and panel on migration and development issues on different part of the globe. The topics that have been discussed during the week-school have ranged from Migration Theories and Myths, providing a solid theoretical base in order to understand the different types of migrations as well the correct terminology used in the academic field we assigned, from relevant example of migratory flows currently happening in the world. For instance, the Venezuelan case was discussed as an example of flow where millions of people were forcibly displaced worldwide, without UNHCR recognising them as refugees; on the contrary experts from IOM illustrated us the current case of the Ukraine refugees crisis showing how the UNHCR and EU approach to it was completely different.
Through the participation of various specialist coming from the field, I was able to get a clearer picture on how migratory flows have been managed over the years, how the integration of these populations is still a big challenge for the majority of the world countries, and finally still the existence of double-standards and prejudices when it comes to welcome certain flow of possible asylum seekers.
Finally, since we were 80 participants, including master’s degree students, PHD candidates and experts with several years of experience in the field, the discussions emerging during the lectures have been extremely interesting and motivating for me. I got the chance to understand how refugees and migration “crisis” are handed by relevant IOs and which aspects are prioritised; as my future goal would be to work on refugees matter in the Central Mediterranean route it was a fruitful opportunity for me to take part in this summer school.
By Meron Ghebreigziabiher
Nathan expands his Spanish knowledge in Granada, Spain
I spend the month of July improving my Spanish at the Centro de Lenguas Modernas in Granada. I have been studying Spanish for many years and the opportunity to spend a semester in Spain was one of the main reasons I elected to do the EUROSUD degree. I was able to take two courses in Spanish at UAM in the Spring semester and the Career Development Fund allowed me to continue my studies at the CLM for a month afterwards. I greatly enjoyed exploring another region (and dialect!) of Spain and am excited to leverage my Spanish abilities as I look to begin my Thesis in year 2 of the degree.
by Nathan Guerin
𝐉𝐮𝐚𝐧𝐣𝐨 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞
FFIPP Network for Human Rights in Israel and Palestine’s Summer School has provided a multidisciplinary approach about colonisation process, conflict management, repression, human rights, international law and non-violent forms of resistance. We have been able to meet first hand, experts and researchers whose focus is the palestinian-israeli conflict and workers from several NGOs, such as Defense for Children International or Adalah, The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel. It has also offered us the opportunity to know deeper about Mediterranean Relations, the key role of Israel in Middle East and the difficulties of the International Community to enforce International Law. Furthermore, as part of the programme, I am doing an internship Jerusalem during 4 weeks in the NGO Civic Coalition for Palestinian Rights in Jerusalem, which main focus are providing legal aid, international advocacy and monitorize the last policies of Israeli government towards the city.
By Juan José (Juanjo) Luis Delgado
Suljo Participates in Summer School in Turkey
From 24-29 July, I participated in the Summer School on International Protection of Refugees in Çeşme (Izmir Province, Turkiye), organized as a part of the Human Rights Academy by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, UNHCR, and Mülkiye Migration Research Center (MÜGAM). The school included lectures, discussions, and panels on the topic of refugee and migrant human rights, as well as debates about management and different policies of the migration situation in our countries. As a EUROSUD student from Bosnia and Herzegovina, I shared some of the challenges that my country, as well as the rest of Southern Europe is facing in this field. Furthermore, we discussed possible solutions, and positive examples coming from civil society, media, governmental policies, etc. The 20 participants of the summer school were coming from more than ten countries, and included MA and Phd candidates, human rights lawyers, social workers, artists, and researchers, which allowed us to have a fruitful discussion during all our sessions. It was particularly interesting to me to hear about first-hand experience from people who work in international organizations about migrations such as UNHCR, or to talk with me who have been researching the topic of migration for decades already.
During my first two semesters in Glasgow and Athens, we have worked on the topic of migrations in Southern Europe during multiple courses, which offered me a great background knowledge before attending the summer school. Besides the academic aspects of the program, I was given the opportunity to discuss and network with motivating people from around Europe and the MENA region, and soon I hope to collaborate with them on new projects and research activities.
By Suljo Corsulic – 2021-23 student cohort
Sebastian presents paper at the 14th Victorian Popular Fiction Association Annual Conference (13-15 July 2022)
Contagion, Decadence, Contingency: Debating and Examining Deconstructions and Reinforcements of Imageries and Mythologies of Purity and Contamination in Victorian Popular Fiction
My participation in the 14th Victorian Popular Fiction Association Annual Conference (13-15 July 2022)
Thanks to the support of EUROSUD Studies and Career Development Fund, I was able to participate in the 14th Victorian Popular Fiction Association Annual Conference held at the University of Loughborough from the 13th to the 15th of July 2022. During the three work-intensive days of the conference, a wide range of scholars and researchers in the field of Victorian Literature Studies presented papers related to this years’ conference general topic “Purity and Contamination in Victorian Popular Fiction and Culture”. Although relying on different theoretical and methodological approaches of Literary Studies, Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies, all papers had one thing in common: they all analyzed representations of purity and contamination in Victorian popular fiction, offering new perspectives on the mechanisms of construction of imageries and mythologies of purity and contamination in Victorian imagination. The topics of the papers, among others, included: Gothic monsters, contaminated aesthetics, purity and contamination in detective and sensation fiction, sin and moral corruption in fiction, imperialism and travel fiction etc. One of the highlights of the conference was undoubtedly the keynote lecture “Poisoned by Books: Reading and Writing in the fin-de-siècle Gothic” given by Prof. Andrew Smith.
On the second day of the conference, I had the opportunity to present my paper “Mythology of Purity and Contamination of Decadent Imagination in Machen’s Horror Fiction”. My presentation started with a close reading of Oscar Wilde’s De Profundis, an intriguing autobiographical quest for the sources of author’s own “degradation” which is, ultimately, found in utter “contamination” of Wilde’s aesthetics by the “perverse” aestheticism of his lover, Lord Douglas or Bosie. Namely, in De Profundis Wilde depicts his fall under the influence of Bosie’s lifestyle as a process of being “lured into the imperfect world of coarse uncompleted passion, of appetite without distinction, desire without limit”, whereby Bosie’s lifestyle and its underlying notion of aestheticism are represented as the source of contamination of Wilde’s aesthetics and ethics which, being “lured into perversity”, ultimately became detached from its initial “pure” form. Taking De Profundis as the epitome of the mythology of “purity” and “contamination” of the decadent aesthetics (and decadent imagination), my paper briefly touched upon consolidation and reinvigoration of such mythology not only in decadent literature of fin de siècle but also in anti-decadent literary criticism of critics such as Benedetto Croce and Mario Praz. Ultimately, my paper focused on the analysis of Arthur Machen’s early horror fiction – the novella The Great God Pan and the short story The Inmost Light – demonstrating how in both texts decadent imagination was represented both as a possible source of ideological “contamination” and as a “pure” aesthetic and political vision of re-sacralization of modernity, whereby characters of mad scientists represent the “contaminated” decadent imagination, while modern flâneurs embody its “pure” form. After the end of my presentation, a lively and rich discussion continued.
All in all, I benefited immensely from attending the conference and being able to share my research with renowned scholars in the field in which I would like to continue my PhD studies in Comparative Literature. Not only did I gain a better insight into the research field, but I also gained additional impetus for carrying out my research in an interdisciplinary and transnational academic environment.
By Sebastian Kukavica - 2020-22 Student Cohort