THREE UNIVERSITIES PROGRAM - AFTER THE EMPIRE

This program is a 3-week joint course offered by three leading universities in three countries:

University of Tartu - established in 1632 and one of the most well-known and oldest universities in the Baltic Sea area;
St.Petersburg State University - established in 1724 and listed as one of the leading universities in Russia;
Kyiv-Mohyla Academy - established in 1654 and widely recognized as the leading and most forward-looking university in Ukraine. 

The program will begin on the 1st of July 2013 and will continue for three weeks until the 20th of July 2013. Participants will spend one week in Estonia (Tallinn), one week in Russia (St. Petersburg) and one week in Ukraine (Kyiv).

The aim of this program is to introduce the crucial changes in all affected societies, brought about by the collapse of communism. The program will introduce the challenges of social, economic and judicial reforms and their past, present and future impacts on local as well as international scale. Students will learn of strategies to solve the problems of the transition period and get acquainted with political structure of different countries. Extensive cultural program is also part of the course consisting of visits to renowned historical sites, museums and art galleries as well attendances of theater performances. Lectures in English on a variety of topics concerning social, political, economic and judicial issues will be provided by the professors of the participating universities. Special seminars and meetings with diplomats, businessmen and politicians are part of the program, as well as visits to governmental and NGO institutions and/or media firms. Upon successful completion the participants will receive the University of Tartu Certificate of Completion and an Academic Transcript.

Week I: Estonia

Location: Tallinn, 01-07 July 2013

The lectures will include Soviet collapse from the Baltic perspective; the issue of Russian-speaking minority; the politics of memory; Estonia and the European Union; challenges of the economic transition; challenges of judicial reform. Visits to the Parliament and European Commission are also part of the program.

Cultural program will include: visits to the Museum of Occupation and underground city passages, city tour of Tallinn, welcome dinner and a boat tour on Tallinn Bay.

Week II: Russia

Location: St. Petersburg, 07-14 July 2013

The lectures will include Russia and the West; Russian economic and institutional reforms; Russia's activities in the UN; Russian civil society; oil and gas in Russian foreign policy; Russia and the problems of arms control; international activities of Russian Orthodox Church. Meetings with officials at St. Petersburg City Government and/or representatives of a media firm and/or foreign embassies are part of the academic program.

Cultural program will include: attendance of a performance at one of the theatres of St. Petersburg, excursion to the Hermitage, city tour of St. Petersburg.

Week III: Ukraine

Location: Kyiv, 14-20 July 2013

The lectures will include: History of Ukraine to the present; Cultural Identity of the Independent Ukraine; the transition period in Ukraine: challenges to the system of social protection and equity; political system in Ukraine: presidential and parliamentary elections; Ukraine and the international community; gender situation in Ukraine. Meetings with Ukrainian politicians and foreign diplomats are part of the academic program.

Cultural program will include: attendance of a performance at Kyiv Opera and Ballet Theatre, city tour, visit to the Lavra Cave Monastery, optional visit to Chernobyl (not mandatory).

The application deadline is 21 May 2013.

This program awards 6 ECTS credits.

The program fee is 2265 EUR. This includes tuition, accommodation with breakfast, transportation during the program, cost of the cultural and social program and services of the host university. The fee does not include the cost of Russian or other visas.

For application, please go to How to apply section of our website.

You can find impressions of the previous program here.