[Please, feel free to forward, circulate or publish. Deadline: 25.5.12]

WALKING THE ROPE: UKRAINE'S BALANCING ACT BETWEEN EUROPE AND EURASIA
A National University of "Kyiv-Mohyla Academy" Summer School for Foreign Students

27 August - 9 September 2012
(Monday arrival / Sunday departure)

Application deadline: 25 May 2012

School site: http://dfc.ukma.kiev.ua/comming-to-naukma/international-summer-programs/walking-the-rope-ukraine-balancing-act-between-europe-and-eurasia

Summer School Director:
Larysa Chovnyuk, M. A.
Head of the Department for Foreign Cooperation
National University of "Kyiv-Mohyla Academy"

Summer School Managing Coordinator:
Olha Fedotkina, M.A.
Manager at the Department for Foreign Cooperation
National University of "Kyiv-Mohyla Academy"

Summer School Co-Coordinator:
Valerio Trabandt, M.A.
Bosch Lecturer in Political Science
National University of "Kyiv-Mohyla Academy"

Academic Advisor:
Andreas Umland, Dr. phil., Ph. D.
DAAD Senior Lecturer in Political Science
National University of "Kyiv-Mohyla Academy"


COURSE DESCRIPTION

Prerequisites
A strong interest in contemporary Ukrainian affairs. Good English language knowledge.

Course Organization
The course is oriented towards advanced under-graduate students (2nd year and above), although graduate, post-graduate, and doctoral-level students are also encouraged to apply. The course focuses on political and social issues, and is particularly suitable for students in the social sciences, humanities, and law, but open to all faculties. After completion of the course, students will be issued NaUKMA transcripts. The course combines in-class sessions (lectures and seminars, interactive presentations with discussion highly encouraged), guest visits, joint discussions with local students, and tours to interesting sites in and around Kyiv.

Course Aims and Contents
Since its independence 20 years ago, Ukraine developed a stronger co-operation with the West and the EU, but also never lost its ties to Russia. Whilst important events seemed to change the path towards one or the other direction - namely the Orange Revolution in 2004 - Kyiv's orientation is still to both sides. It tries to negotiate an association and free trade agreement with Brussels while, at the same time, entering a post-Soviet free trade zone and considering Moscow's project of a Eurasian Union. How can one explain these balancing acts? Which were the critical transformations and events that determined the way in which Ukraine developed? What is specific for the Ukrainian culture and state, and where can we find typical traits of a post-Soviet society?

The summer school will introduce students to the analysis of these phenomena from different perspectives as the teaching will involve English-speaking political scientists, historians, economists, cultural scientists, and sociologists - mainly, but not only from National University of "Kyiv-Mohyla Academy".

Topics treated that in one way or another will, among others, include:

- Ukraine between Democracy and Authoritarianism
- The Origins of the Orange Revolution, and What Remains of It
- Ukraine's Relationship to the European Union & Russia
- The Transformation of Ukrainian Society in Comparative Perspective
- Ukraine's Economy and the World Financial Crisis
- Ukraine's Coming to Term with Its Past
- Ukraine's Post-Soviet Cultural Life, Social Change and Modernization Since 1991
- Ukraine and the Question of Gender Equality
- Ukraine and the Challenge of Ecological Change Including the Issue of Chernobyl

In case of full attendance of, and active participation in, these lectures/seminars, students may obtain 2.5 ECTS points.

The participants will attend about two classes per work day, and can have further meetings and trips during the afternoons and at the weekend. They will meet and work with lecturers and students from National University of "Kyiv-Mohyla Academy". The Summer school is organized by the Department for Foreign Cooperation
Two classes of survival Ukrainian are included into the program and covered by the general school fee.

Hours
Around 60 in-class hours (lectures, presentations, discussions) plus about 30 hours for course visits, meetings, group projects, project presentations etc.

Facultative Ukrainian-Language Course Work
Additionally, in parallel to the program, the students will be offered the opportunity to take part in a non-obligatory intensive course of Ukrainian. The course values 1,5 ECTS, with one or two sessions per work day, i.e. 14 x 2 = 28 hours. One course will be offered for those with no previous knowledge of a Slavic language, and one course for those with previous knowledge of a Slavic language (Russian, Polish, Slovak, Bulgarian, Serbian,...). Additional fees for these language courses will be charged (170-245 Euro depending on the number of the students registered). Language classes will not overlap with the program classes.

Course Instructor(s)
As the school is designed to be a mixture of different types of activities. Lecturers will be mainly professors and experts of the NaUKMA, but we also put a special focus on external speakers. For details please refer to the preliminary program to be published in due time.

Place:
National University of "Kyiv-Mohyla Academy"
Department for Foreign Cooperation
2 Skovorody vul. 04655 Kyiv
Ukraine
www.dfc.ukma.kiev.ua


COURSE FEES
The overal basic fee for the course is 500 (five hundred) Euro.

This basic fee of 500 Euro includes tuition and selected cultural events only. There may be additional, facultative cultural events suggested by the school to the students. Attendance of these non-obligatory events will be possible for moderate, separate fees.

Please, note that courses of Ukrainian language, international airfare, transfers, medical insurance, accommodation, meals, public transportation and other private expenditures are not covered by the basic fee.

SCHOLARSHIPS

German students may want to check the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) specialized stipend programme for the summer school attendance (1025 Euro per student). See http://www.daad.de/ausland/foerderungsmoeglichkeiten/ausschreibungen/19755.de.html

Please, note that those German students who wish to receive DAAD support have to apply separately and in parallel to the DAAD for this scholarship, before 25 May 2012. Note also that the DAAD has, unfortunately, only a limited amount of scholarships available for German students. Students who are able to cover their expenses and fees with other than DAAD funding or by themselves should indicate so in their application/s to the school, and DAAD.


GENERAL LOGISTICS

Arrival in Kyiv
Students are expected to arrive in Kyiv on Monday, August 27. Pick-up service from Kyiv-Boryspil International Airport can be arranged by the school organizers upon request by the school organizers for additional payment.

Departure is Sunday, September 9. Transportation to the airport can be arranged upon request by the school organizers for additional payment.

If you arrive earlier or depart later, we will not be able to help with transportation to the airport or train station, and also not be able to help with securing accommodation before 27 August and after 9 September.

Place
National University of "Kyiv-Mohyla Academy" (NaUKMA) is located in the historic Podil neighbourhood of Kyiv. The campus is located on 3 city blocks stretching from the Kontraktova Square to the Dnipro River.

The campus of NaUKMA is composed of a number of buildings, but most of the in-class sessions of the course will be held in the Department for Foreign Cooperation (Voloska vul. 8/5, Building 5, Auditorium 5-313).

Please visit www.ukma.kiev.ua for more information about the University.

Accommodation

1. NaUKMA student hostel. The hostel is the least costly option, offers basic accommodation, and is located on Kharkivske shosse (avenue), on Kyiv's left bank. It takes about 35 minutes by public transport to get to NaUKMA from the hostel. The hostel is divided into accommodation units with 7 simple rooms, mostly double, in each unit. The rooms of one unit share a common kitchen and 2 bathrooms. Dorm rooms are furnished with a desk, chairs, and beds. Linens are provided. The dormitory offers laundry facilities as well. Summer school students can request single or double (a room shared with another school student) accommodation. Single accommodation - 1200 UAH per person for entire school duration; double accommodation - 600 UAH per person for entire school duration. Please, note that this is a typical post-Soviet student hostel, and that the quality and service of the accommodation corresponds to the rent. You may be living on an upper floor, and will
 not have a lift at your disposal. Also, you might have only irregular water supply (i.e. have to use saved water). There is no WiFi, in that hostel. However, we had already placed, in this hostel, Western summer school students before who understood such limitations and accepted the living conditions (against the background of the low rental costs).

2. Private apartment. Apartments are usually located in walking (up to 15 minutes) distance from the University and from each other. The apartments have typically 2 bedrooms, a kitchen, a bathroom and a toilet. All apartments are furnished, and include kitchen supplies, towels, utilities, and a local telephone (outgoing international calls not allowed). It is recommended for two school participant to share one apartment. Apartments may cost (if to be shared by two participants!) - between 250 UAH and 500 UAH per night per person, depending on the quality of the apartment. Students may also arrange by themselves for such apartments. See for instance: http://www.homehotel.com.ua/eng/apartments/

Other accommodation options may be made available.

3. If preferred, you can also arrange accommodation in Kyiv by yourself. We would recommend to rent either in the Podil district or close to it, in order to avoid using public transportation during rush hours.

Some of the above rents in UAH proceed from the UAH/USD/EUR exchange rate as of 16 April 2012, and may change in the case of currency rate developments, until August / September 2012.

Meals
Meals will not be provided, but summer school students will be able to use the NaUKMA students canteen (25-30 UAH for lunch), the nearest Trapezna Cafeteria, located in one of the University's buildings (up to 50 UAH for lunches) and many other options available in the University neighborhood.
A list of restaurants/cafes in Kyiv can be found on http://www.restaurant.ua/kiev/restoran/

Miscellaneous:
Applicants are asked to inform themselves extensively about living and travelling for foreigners in Ukraine. While Kyiv is not more dangerous than other cities in the region, we would like to alert you to occasional petty crime in public transportation, the presence of HIV/AIDS in Ukraine, and the necessity to boil tab water that you want to use for drinking or preparing meals. In the case of a medical emergency, Kyiv has high class hospitals, but you should make sure that you have sufficient health insurance that will cover any possible expenses. There are other things to observe. You can find in the relevant information in the major travel guides, or/and at your Kyiv embassy's website.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Those interested in participation should submit a competed application form and other required documents (listed in the application form) by 25 May 2012 to the following e-mail address: [log in to unmask] Students will be notified of participant selection results by 10 June, and should confirm their participation by 15 June 2012. Course fee payments (partial) are due by 29 June 2012 (payment details will be provided upon receipt of confirmation of participation in the course).

Please, note that those interested in the DAAD stipend (http://www.daad.de/ausland/foerderungsmoeglichkeiten/ausschreibungen/19755.de.html ) should apply for it separately, in parallel, directly to the DAAD.

All questions about the course and the application procedure should be addressed to: Larysa Chovnyuk, [log in to unmask], tel. +38 0 44 425 77 70.

CONTACTS

Head of the Department for Foreign Cooperation
Larysa Chovnyuk
National University of "Kyiv-Mohyla Academy"
Department for Foreign Cooperation,
2 Skovorody vul., Kyiv 04070, Ukraine
[log in to unmask]
Tel: + 38 044 425 77 70
Fax: +38 044 425 50 16

http://dfc.ukma.kiev.ua/comming-to-naukma/international-summer-programs/walking-the-rope-ukraine-balancing-act-between-europe-and-eurasia