A selected group of 24 Master's students from across Europe participated in a week-long series of lectures, workshops, as well as formal and informal presentations of the EUI's graduate programme, and social activities. The main objectives of the Academy were threefold.
First, to introduce the participants to important issues of inequality in Europe and their impact on democracy and solidarity, which are considered important driving forces behind phenomena such as the rise of populism in Europe, Brexit, the illiberal political turns in Hungary and Poland, and the overall implications of the current war in Ukraine. Lectures by SPS Professors, Ellen Immergut, Arnout van de Rijt, Simon Hix, Filip Kostelka, Klarita Gërxhani, and a keynote lecture by Professor Jeffrey Checkel contributed to this objective.
Second, to provide the participants with an opportunity to present their research ideas and to obtain feedback both from peers and EUI fellows.
Third, to expose the participants to a full-immersion experience in the academic and social life of the EUI.
The SPS Summer Academy 2022 has successfully achieved its objectives, as attested also by participants of the Summer Academy:
“I am coming out of this Summer Academy feeling very motivated and inspired to improve my skills and also have met some great people. I really enjoyed how relaxed & horizontal the communication with the professors was.”
“It was a pleasure to be part of the SPS Summer Academy especially the chance to get in contact/to exchange with motivated students from all over Europe and all over the world.”
“I'm very impressed with the level of academic research we got to experience and the contacts we were able to make with professors and other researchers. That was very valuable for future career choices and for the expansion of my professional network!”
“I had a great time! Every aspect of the summer academy was great, and I met incredible people/researchers/professors.”