Sep 17, 2007

MA Euroculture

Euroculture, Europe in the Wider World is a unique European, interdisciplinary, multilingual MA Programme during which the many different expressions and manifestations of self-understandings, societies, social groups and individuals of, about and within Europe are highlighted.

As a result of the ongoing transformation of Europe, the enlargement of the EU and globalization issues in recent years, a growing impact and awareness of cultural dispositions, conflicts and exchange have become evident. The undeniable relevance of values, identity concepts or perceptions requires sensitive and well-informed professionals in this field, to work as diplomats, bureaucrats, project managers, journalists and cultural consultants.

The MA Programme Euroculture, Europe in the Wider World aims to prepare graduates from all over the world for professions and research areas in which knowledge of present Europe and the European Union institutions are of relevance. The focus of the programme is on cultural and social developments, the political process of European integration, values, citizenship and cultural identity. The programme teaches students the methods and skills required to identify the European dimensions of social problems, to collect and process relevant information of European institutions and organisations and to reflect on the cultural aspects and factors that play a role in the process of European identity formation and European integration.

This three semester (16 months) Master's programme for advanced students is offered by a network of eight well-established European universities. These universities are:

Deusto-San Sebastian (Spain)
Göttingen (Germany)
Groningen (the Netherlands)
Krakow (Poland)
Olomouc (Czech Republic)
Strasbourg (France)
Udine (Italy)
Uppsala (Sweden)
The programme (16 months - 90 ECTS) is open to students who have successfully completed a university BA programme in the fields of Arts and the Humanities. At most univerities the language of instruction is English (Groningen, Göttingen, Uppsala, Olomouc, Krakow) while at some universities courses will not only be offered in English, but sometimes also in the national language (Deusto, Strasbourg, Udine).

Through its exchange with other European universities, the Ma Programme Euroculture, also offers the chance to gain experience with different languages, perspectives and cultural practices.

Students will spend terms at two different universities (the first and third semester will be spend at the 'home' university- the University of Groningen in this case- and the second semester at one of the partner universities. The location for the third semester also depends on the choice of the selected profile; internship or research. After successful completion of the programme students receive a double MA degree from the two universities where they have studied.



For more information on the network, and its partner universities, click here, or visit http://www.euroculturemaster.org



Background for the development of the MA Programme Euroculture

The dramatic changes in recent European history have highlighted several aspects of Europe's cultural heritage and the complexities of its identities. In eastern Europe, locked up behind the iron curtain for forty years, we have witnessed a resurgence of nationalism. Old collective identities from the time of the Russian, Habsburgian and Ottoman empires have come alive again. In western Europe strong efforts are being made to dissolve borders and create an economic and political union. This union has deep roots in European history, but it has been - and still is - regarded with a sense of ambivalence. Within the European Union we also acknowledge the postmodern paradox between globalisation and localisation.

In relation to the on-going process of severe changes, European universities face a special challenge and task to familiarise students with the history of European culture and to create opportunities for a more advanced education focusing on aspects of special relevance to the contemporary European social and political context. The Euroculture programme aims to provide its students with a good comprehension of historical, religious, linguistic and other cultural aspects that have played and will play an essential, but often neglected role in the European integration process.

http://www.rug.nl/let/onderwijs/internationalestudies/euroculture/index

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