By Gandamar Kyaw
The last week of June is an exciting time for the Euroculture people. Why? Because it is when the Euroculture Intensive Programme, the IP, is hosted by one of the Euroculture Partner Universities. The 2023 IP was hosted by the Palacký University in Olomouc. Under the theme of “No Europe for the Young,” Euroculture students conducted research and presented their papers within their working groups. However, the IP is not all about writing papers and presenting them. If you are curious about what the IP looks like, continue reading this article!
City Orientation
During the opening activity of the IP, students spent their Sunday afternoons on a treasure hunt. If you saw many youths, looking slightly confused at a map trying to find the significant landmarks of the city, those were definitely Euroculture students.
IP Paper sessions, Panel, Feedback sessions, Lecture, Roundtable Discussions, and Student Project Presentation
The IP paper was the main component of this seven-day summer school. The IP theme, “No Europe for the Young” was divided into three sub-themes: Orientation, Representation, and Action. Students were divided into small groups, each supervised by two coordinators. They presented their respective paper and received feedback from peers and group coordinators. This year, students researched a variety of topics, such as: “Orientation in flux: Migrations and identities”, “Trending issues: environment, gender, and movements”, “Living in a digital World”, “Identity and Education”, “Political Representation”, “Media and Culture”, “Political actions and activism”, “Gender and employment”, and “Culture and education actions”.
Photo: IP Paper Session
Chill-Out Evening
After the presentations, a ‘Chill-out evening’ was hosted in the backyard of the university’s Department of History. It was the perfect place for the Euroculture students to chill, talk to their peers, and discuss multiple topics, such as IP papers, career paths, and first-and second-semester experiences.
Later in the week, students could benefit from interesting lectures, roundtable discussions, and IP Student Projects.
Photo: Lecture on Inequality, Education, and Meritocracy by Prof: Tomáš Katrňák, Head of the Department of Sociology at the Faculty of Social Studies of Masaryk University in Brno
Photo: IP Student Project Discussion
Photo: IP Student Project Presentation
Photo: Euroculture Panel Discussion
Other Social Events: excursion to Ostrava, Dolní Vítkovice, Anniversary Social Evening, Gala Dinner…
As mentioned earlier, the IP is about more than academic activities. It allows students to reunite with old friends while creating new friendships. This year, students did an excursion to Ostrava, Dolní Vítkovice, a nearly two-hour bus ride from Olomouc and as students, we were impressed by its industrial architecture. Another unforgettable memory of the IP was the anniversary social evening, celebrating the Silver Jubilee of the Euroculture Programme, and the Gala Dinner.
The Best Part of the IP?
The best part of the IP, was for me, without any doubt, the Career Day, which was organized by the Euroculturer members from the 2021-2023 cohort. The panelists, Euroculture alumni, shared their experiences, and job-hunting tips, and answered the audience’s questions. Since Euroculture is interdisciplinary, students come from different backgrounds and pursue diverse career paths, and panels were hosted based on four themes:
- Panel 1: Civil Society & International Cooperation
- Panel 2: Government & Governance
- Panel 3: Culture, Media & Communication
- Panel 4: Academia & Research
Photo: Panelists from Career Day
Photo: Organizers of Career Day/ Former Members of the Euroculturer (2021-2023 Cohort)
Chat with Euroculture past and present members
During our time in Olomouc, we had the chance to sit down together with the Euroculture staff, alumni, and current students to chat about their IP experience.
- Alumni’s Voices
“It was a bit chaotic and we had no on-site IP due to COVID. There were only group discussions and presentations. Our IP theme was Sustainability.”
Roan (Göttingen/Groningen) — 2020–2021 cohort
“My last IP was 20 years ago. This one is different. For me, the IP was very important. Also for the Euroculture family. Since we see all the students from the universities.
Christoph (Groningen) — 2003–2004 cohort
- Tutors’ Voice
“I am the tutor of group 2: Trending issues: environment, gender, and movements under Subtheme 1: Orientation. I have to grade 8 papers altogether. My favorite part of the IP is being around so many interesting people.”
Hermann Anton Lüken genannt Klaßen — Tutor, University of Goettingen
- Staff’s Voice
Hana, one of this year’s IP organizers, shared her experience in organizing the IP. “Organizing the IP is a lot of work. We started preparation a year ago: choosing general concepts, reservations in dormitories, and so on. We also have to decide on panelists, and roundtable themes, and arrange an excursion. I find organizing the IP to be intense.” Hana Ferencová (Euroculture Coordinator | Olomouc)
Photo: IP Organizers from Olomouc
- Current Students’ Voices
“For me, networking is the best part of the IP, seeing different people, professors, lecturers, and alumni, and reuniting with my friends from the first semester.” Phao Do (Uppsala–Goettingen) — 2022–2024 cohort
- Lastly: The President’s Remark
“What makes me proud is how students find their way in society. Using different skills and critical abilities, I want students to become good citizens in the workplace and multicultural contexts. I wish them to find solutions for societal problems, to have a positive attitude, and to be inspirational and creative. This is how I define the ‘Euroculture Mindset’.
Prof: Dr.Robert Wagenaar, President of the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree, Euroculture: Society, Politics and Culture in a Global Context
Photo: Euroculture Consortium President
Photo: Closing Ceremony
“We hope the participants of the Euroculture IP gained knowledge, friendship, and new connections and achieved their Euroculture milestones. We would love to extend our thanks to the organizers from Euroculture Olomouc for their hard work, making this amazing academic and social gathering possible.”
References:
[Photos: Courtesy of the Euroculture IP Organizing Team from Olomouc]
The Euroculturer 