The Arqus Joint MA’s Programme in European Studies kicks off with the Opening Conference “Europe as a Global Actor”

The first edition of the Arqus Joint Master’s Programme in European Studies kicks off next week at the Universities of Granada, Graz, Leipzig and Vilnius to provide participants with a thorough and multidisciplinary understanding of Europe’s role in the world. For its opening, the Alliance is organising the International Conference ”Europe as a Global Actor – Exploring Future Perspectives in Teaching and Research”, an open event that will be structured in a hybrid format from 9^th to 13^th October 2023.

The Joint MA’s in European Studies focuses on the relationship between Europeanization and globalization, the impact of global developments on Europe and the changing role of the continent in the new world order. The full-time Programme has 120 ECTS structured in 11 modules plus the Master’s Thesis, and is totally flexible by combining face-to-face, hybrid and online teaching methodologies. The Master also incorporates interdisciplinary approaches with multiple perspectives and different points of view and counts on multinational and interdisciplinary teaching teams in all modules.

During the first edition of the 2-year Master’s Programme, a total of 52 students, two-thirds of them coming from EU Member States and the rest representing almost all continents, will analyse the global challenges which European societies are confronted with, which have multiplied and become more complex over the last few years.

The Opening Conference will not only celebrate the launch of the Arqus Joint Programme but will offer discussions on the type of challenges that emerge for research and teaching in European Studies in a global age of crisis, on how these are addressed by the Arqus universities, and which competencies students and employers look for when anticipating their role in new global dynamics.

How shall actors in Europe respond to multiple and interconnected crises, including climate change, the rise of populism, global health, economic ruptures, and war? These profound questions, among others, will be addressed by Arqus experts at the Conference, advancing the critical perspectives, specialized knowledge and cutting-edge expertise about the processes of globalization, European integration and fragmentation that students will acquire during the Joint Master’s Programme.

As stated by the Arqus Coordinator, Dorothy Kelly: “the kick-off of the Joint Master’s Programme in European Studies is a major milestone for the Arqus Alliance, result of an intense and successful collaboration process of four Arqus universities over more than two years. The Programme will differentiate our Arqus students on a European and international level, not only because of the academic excellence of the experts involved and its interdisciplinary character but also because of the unique intercultural experience that students benefiting from the mobility opportunities will have. This Opening Conference marks the beginning of a unique journey towards greater integration that I am sure will result in higher quality teaching and research of our universities in the field of European Studies”.    

The Conference will count on a keynote on Monday, 9^th October at 18:00 CEST, given by Madina Tlostanova, Chair Professor at Linköping University (Sweden) and devoted to remaining Europe in the face of the complex political, enviro-climatic, and onto-epistemic challenges. Roundtables and student activities are also scheduled. These will be organised locally at the Arqus universities and streamed online. Interested audiences of academics, researchers, students and professionals working in this area worldwide are welcome. 

The detailed Programme as well as information about the registration process may be downloaded here:

After registering, participants will receive a confirmation email containing information about how to join the sessions.

More information about the Joint Master’s Programme in European Studies can be found here.