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Programme overview
The international Master in East European and Eurasian Studies (MIREES) is a Second cycle Joint Degree (120 ECTS), awarded by the University of Bologna, Department of Political and Social Sciences in cooperation with the partner universities of Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas, Lithuania and the University of Zagreb Croatia.
MIREES is an innovative graduate programme, taught entirely in English, unique in Italy and Europe, devoted to students that have a BA background in Economics, Politics, International Relations, History, Languages or Cultural studies at large, and would now like to acquire a specialized, in-depth knowledge of Eastern Europe and the broad Eurasian space, from Europe to China. That variegated, geopolitically crucial area, can only be understood through an interdisciplinary approach which combines political, economic, cultural and historical perspectives.
Moreover, students are asked to gain direct experiences on the ground, in the first place through a 5-months compulsory mobility in one of the partner universities from the area, secondly through guest lectures with professors, activists and politicians from Eastern Europe, Russia or Central Asia, and finally – if they wish – through fieldwork or further exchange programmes in preparation of their thesis.
MIREES combines an academic approach with professional training, forging potential insightful consultants, analysts, and managers as Area Experts for international agencies, public administrations, private and public companies, and NGOs, while also offering a solid basis for further academic studies at the PhD level.
Student Testimonials
Professors
Sonia Lucarelli. Professor at the University of Bologna, member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the Forum on the Problems of Peace and War in Florence and of the Institute of International Affairs (IAI) in Rome. She is member of the Directive Board of the Italian Political Science Association. Lucarelli has been Resident Member of the Bologna Institute for Advanced Studies, and Jean Monnet Fellow at the European University Institute. Her areas of expertise include the EU foreign policy and external image, European security, NATO, European identity and Foreign Policy, Migration and Global Justice.
Stefano Bianchini. Full Honorary Doctor of Vytautas Magnus University. Stefano Bianchini is Professor of East European Politics and History at the University of Bologna. From 2015 to 2021 he was Rector’s delegate for relations with Eastern Europe. Previously, he was the director of the two-years Interdisciplinary Master of Arts in East European Studies (MIREES). He is a member of the Executive Committee and former Vice president of the Association for Studies of Nationalities (ASN) based at the Harriman Institute, Columbia University, New York and Executive Editor of the blind peer-review journal “Southeastern Europe”, published by Brill, Leiden and other academic journals. As an expert of Balkan issues, he was an adviser of the ICTY, in the Hague
Tvrtko Jakovina. Full Professor and former head of the Department of History, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb. He is the author of several books including “The Third Side of The Cold War” /Treća strana Hladnog rata/ (2011), as well as many articles dealing with the foreign policy of Tito’s Yugoslavia and Croatian history in 20th century. His latest publication is a biography of the last Yugoslav minister of foreign affairs, Budimir Lončar. He is vice-president of the Croatian Fulbright Alumini Association, member of the Board of the Croatian-American Association, Management Board President of the Center for Democracy and Law “Miko Tripalo” and a member of several editorial boards.
Competencies acquired
The programme is aiming at preparing professionals 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 program includes learning activities in economics, politological, historical, cultural studies, and languages of the region 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. Master degree programme in Interdisciplinary research and studies on Eastern Europe combines different fields, expertises, methods and professional activities.
Career opportunities
MIREES combines an academic approach with professional training, forging potential insightful consultants, analysts, and managers as Area Experts for international agencies, public administrations, private and public companies, and NGOs, while also offering a solid basis for further academic studies at the PhD level.
Contacts of Political Science and Diplomacy Faculty (inquiries regarding study programme)
Contact persons of the programme at VMU |
Aistė Žemaityte, Aiste.Zemaityte@vdu.lt |
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