laurea magistrale (second cycle degree/two year master - 120 ects) in
Interdisciplinary research and studies on Eastern Europe

Course overview

Admission requirements and assessment of previously acquired knowledge/competences

1. CURRICULAR REQUIREMENTS

a. a First Cycle Degree or a certificate of study obtained abroad and recognised as being suitable in one of the following disciplinary fields: Law, Economics, Political Science, Sociology, Geopolitics, Demography, Gender Studies, Psychology, Anthropology, History, Philosophy, Literature, Language Studies, Cultural Studies, Agriculture.

b. knowledge of English language

c. essential computer skills

2. ASSESSMENT OF A SUITABLE PERSONAL PREPARATION

The assessment of a suitable personal preparation will be made on the basis of the candidates' qualifications, curriculum studiorum, motivations and, if required, of an interview.

The interview will cover the following topics:

- in-depth examination of the motivations

- assessment of the individual aptitude towards content of the degree programme.

Information on the admission notice

Programme profile

The 2nd cycle degree programme in Interdisciplinary research and studies on Eastern Europe, which jointly recognises this qualification with the Universities Budapesti Corvinus Egyetem (Budapest), Vytautas Magnus (Kaunas), Saint Petersburg, produces graduates who are able to analyse, interpret, assess and manage problems concerning the international dimension particularly of political, economic and social phenomena in Eastern Europe.
For this purpose, the programme, which is carried out entirely in the English language, includes learning activities in linguistics, economics, politological, historical and cultural studies, which are mutually integrated to provide an in-depth preparation on the operations of political, social and economic systems in the countries of Eastern Europe and their role in the international context.
The programme includes an obligatory period of international mobility (6 months), not only to enhance the learning value of the whole 2nd cycle degree programme through the attendance of (linguistic and subject-related) course units with their relative tests, but also for field research which the students will implement in preparation of their dissertations.

Expected learning outcomes

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING:
2nd cycle graduates:
- will possess in-depth theoretical and interdisciplinary knowledge in economics, politics, international relations, history, sociology/anthropology and cultural studies (with particular focus on the mass media);
- will possess in-depth knowledge of a specific geopolitical area (chosen from among the Balkans, Baltic countries, Russia/CIS and Central-Eastern Europe).

The above knowledge and understanding are achieved through the active participation in lectures and self-study of all the learning activities, in particular those concerning anthropologic, economic, philosophic, geographic, legal, politological, sociological, statistical-quantitative, historical, historical-economic, historical-philosophical disciplinary fields.
Particular explanations on specific subjects or concerning reference texts are offered by each professor during their own office hours.
Assessment of the achievement of the described learning outcomes shall be mainly through the final examination for each learning activity which, as indicated clearly in each course unit programme, may be written and/or oral, or through the production of individual and/or group papers .
During the methodological course units, the acquisition of a theoretical international standard on the writing of papers and dissertations, as well as the acquisition of statistical knowledge and the theory of the tools to be applied in the production of dissertations, is verified during the exams, for which short essays are produced.

ABILITY TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING:
2nd cycle graduates:
- will be able to recommend behaviour and provide useful information on effective negotiations, mediating among the different needs, considering the geopolitical and cultural contexts of the European countries they come into contact with, as well as the social and ethical implications of the application of any adopted measures.

For all the learning activities, in particular those concerning anthropological, economic, philosophical, geographical, legal, politological, sociological, statistical-quantitative, historical, historical-economic, historical-philosophical disciplinary fields, the achievement of the ability to apply the above knowledge and understanding will be accomplished through the critical study of texts proposed for self-study, stimulated by classroom activities, the research of case studies and applications presented by the professors.
Assessment of the achievement of the described learning outcomes shall be mainly through the final examination for each learning activity which, as indicated clearly in each course unit programme, may be written and/or oral, or through the production of individual and/or group papers and projects; particular importance is in this regard given to the elements of self-study in which the students develop and reprocess the acquired knowledge.
For the seminar units, the achievement of the ability to apply the above knowledge and understanding will be accomplished through the active participation in conferences and seminars proposed during the study programme.
Assessment of the achievement of the described learning outcomes shall be done not only through the final examination for each learning activity, the methods of which are indicated clearly in each course unit programme, but also through classroom exercises and group work.

JUDGEMENT SKILLS:
2nd cycle graduates:
- will be able to gather and process socio-economic data and use it to produce projects, manage mediations, draw up assessment reports at the request of research departments, international organisations, ministries, businesses and trade associations, public and private companies, public administrations.

Judgement skills are developed in all the learning activities, in particular those concerning anthropological, economic, philosophical, geographical, legal, politological, sociological, statistical-quantitative, historical, historical-economic, historical-philosophical disciplinary fields, through the active participation in classroom activities, exercises, seminars organised within the study programme and by the Faculty over the whole academic year, but also through the activities assigned in preparation of the final examination.
Graduates learn to apply their knowledge and acquire judgement skills through two specific fields of action:
- in their relationship with a an international pool of teachers who, inevitably applying a wide range of teaching and testing methods, allow the students to work in a complex environment and therefore acquire flexibility and the ability to adapt;
- during the mobility period, in which students combine disciplinary and language skills with a life experience, as well as direct contact with their area of specialisation. In this way students learn to apply the theoretical components acquired in year I of the programme to the theoretical and practical elements of year II, which also involve field research, the identification and processing of original sources, with the support of a group of international teaching staff that is able to transfer a more complete and complex set of methodologies and the familiarity with a multitude of approaches, which depend greatly on the skill of the graduates in order to gather and assess data and manage mediations.
The acquisition of judgement skills is assessed during the final examination in each learning activity; the evaluation of the students' ability to work autonomously and their judgement skills is done during the activities assigned in preparation of the final examination.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS:
2nd cycle graduates:
- will be able to communicate and write in the English language, as well as read and communicate at intermediate level in their chosen Eastern European language;
- will be able to adopt appropriate communicative registers according to the different socio-economic and geographic contexts of the Eastern European area.

Written and oral communication skills are developed in particular during the oral examination of each course unit, as well as during practical exercises and learning activities which also require the production of reports and written documents as well as their oral presentation.
The acquisition of the aforementioned communication skills is also verified during the preparation and presentation of the final examination.
Foreign languages are learned during lectures and through the active participation of the students in laboratory work in groups of students possessing a similar initial knowledge of the language.
Knowledge of foreign languages is assessed:
- through the final examinations in all course units, not only the language subjects, given that the programme is held entirely in the English language;
- students must spend one term abroad, at one of the partner universities, where they shall sit the exams in the agreed course units.

LEARNING SKILLS:
2nd cycle graduates:
- will be able to use analysis tools and apply the learning methods developed to autonomously continue their studies;
- will be able to identify the appropriate tools and learning paths to develop their own cultural and specialist knowledge and professional skills.

Learning skills are acquired throughout the whole study period, using the above-described teaching methods and tools, with reference to other descriptors, which together will assure the achievement of the professional and specific learning outcomes.
Learning skills are evaluated through continuous assessment during the learning activities but also through the presentation of autonomously researched data during the preparation of the final examination.

Curricula

Internship

In cooperation with the International Relations Office and the Careers service of the Forlì Campus, the Faculty Work Placement office supports MIREES students in finding work placement and training programmes.

Work placement may be carried out in the departments of the partner universities (Saint Petersburg, Corvinus in Budapest and Vytautas Magnus in Kaunas) or outside the universities in Italy or in the countries of the partner universities.

Work Placement Office

Extra-curricular activities

During the whole academic year and for the purpose of expanding its range of cultural activities, MIREES organises or promotes together with other subjects, many extra-curricular activities (in particular conferences, seminars, workshops, book presentations, cinema events) on topics relating to the challenges of modern society in political, historical, economic and sociological thought concerning the enlargement of the European Union towards the East, relationships with new neighbours and the changes taking place in Eastern Europe.

International mobility

To graduate in LM MIREES students must spend a term (the first term of year II) in one of the partner or associate universities, as indicated in the degree programme website. Mobility is assured through Erasmus or another specific exchange programme called the MIREES Mobility scheme (MMS), specifically designed for non-EU citizens. For information and guidance on the possibilities of studying abroad, contact the International Relations office at the Forlì Campus.

Final examination

The final examination is a personal written dissertation which is presented and discussed orally. The subject or field must exclusively be traceable to one of the course units in the study plan of the degree programme. In this final examination students must demonstrate their full command of the expressive means of the language used, their full knowledge of the situation of Italian and foreign scientific research on the subject of the dissertation and must have an autonomous, well-argued position on such subject.

Access to further study

Career opportunities

2nd cycle graduates may fill the following professional roles and relative functions in the listed fields of employment:

1) Manager specialised in Central-Eastern European and Balkan countries.

Career opportunities:
- public and private tertiary sector organisations with international interests and activities in Central-Eastern European and Balkan countries;
- specialist sector studies in consulting activities.

Functions:
- designs, directs and manages economic activities above all with international relevance;
- manages investment and production projects of international relevance;
- works in the field of cooperation and development with Central-Eastern European and Balkan countries;
- works in commercial and economic mediation.

2) Mediator expert in the resolution of conflicts and diplomatic relations

Career opportunities:
Employed by or freelance consultant working for:
- international institutions and bodies (UN);
- national and international civil organisations and voluntary associations and tertiary sector institutions

Functions:
- works in the protection of human rights through the monitoring, electoral observation and production of reports;

- prepares and manages promotional programmes for the culture of peace, human rights and international solidarity;

- assists/participates in democracy diffusion processes;

- implements programmes for the pacific resolution of conflicts, disarmament and demobilisation, economic reconstruction;

- organises security systems;

2) Analyst expert in international relations

Career opportunities:
Employed by or freelance consultant working for:
- Research institutes,
- European Commission,
-Ministries, regional and local authorities working in international activities.

Functions:
- carries out research and studies in the referred sector;
- is able to outline scenarios;
- is able to implement feasibility studies or provide assessments on the state of implementation of reforms or measures adopted in a region/country of Eastern Europe.

More information

From AY2009-10 the 2nd cycle degree programme in Interdisciplinary research and studies on Eastern Europe jointly recognises the qualification with the University of Saint Petersburg

Contact details

Degree programme secretariat

Provides support to students and course instructors in relation to the organisation of teaching activities (exams, lecture schedule, graduation)

Provides support to incoming exchange students in cooperation with the student office.

Elisa Landi: phone +39 0543 374149 fax: +39 0543 374119