Brussels Excursion with Euromasters and the Transatlantic Masters programme – in cooperation with the University of Bath

10-14 November 2025

In mid-November we spent two days in Brussels, visiting our alumni and their work places at EU institutions and NATO. In the study trip HU-students, from the Department of Social Sciences, including the Euromasters and Transatlantic Masters programme, and my dear colleague Milena Romano from the University of Bath with her students participated.

A big thank you to Jenny Hayhurst, Spokesperson at the UK Joint Delegation to NATO, and Ambassador Lapsley for meeting with us and setting up a great programme including other military and diplomatic officials. Another thank you goes to Chris Ruff, Coordinator for Stakeholder Relations at DG Trade, and Anna Baierl, Senior Manager at Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie, for sharing their experiences as well as the highs and lows of the first years of their careers. Always encouraging and inspiring without concealing the realities of today’s working world!

It was wonderful to connect different Euromasters cohorts on this occasion. Watch out for the application deadlines at University of Bath and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill!

Black Sea Summer University 2025: „Shifting Tides: Exploring Conflict Dynamics in the Black Sea Region“ – Summer School in Georgia

24-30 July 2025

From July 24 to 30, 2025, the Black Sea Summer School brought together students, scholars, and policy experts in Tbilisi, Georgia for an intensive week of academic exchange and regional exploration. Organised by Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin in collaboration with Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University and the Georgian Institute of Politics, the programme focused on critical developments in the Black Sea region through a multi-disciplinary and international lens.

Supported by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) with funding from the Federal Foreign Office of Germany, this summer university offered participants a fully funded opportunity to engage with pressing issues such as democratisation, Europeanisation, regional security, and the role of civil society in shaping political transformation.

Over the course of one week, a selected group of students from Humboldt-Universität, Tbilisi State University, and Middle East Technical University in Ankara participated in expert-led lectures, interactive seminars, and site visits that connected theoretical knowledge with the lived realities of the region. The programme included contributions from leading scholars such as Professors Silvia von Steinsdorff, Özlem Tür, Kornely Kakachia, and Claudia Matthes, as well as guest speakers from organisations including the German Council on Foreign Relations and the European Union Delegation to Georgia.

Key focus areas included:

• The future of democratic governance in the region and the challenges posed by populism and corruption
• The European Union’s strategic engagement in the Black Sea, including hybrid threats and energy security
• The evolving role of civic actors and grassroots movements in democratic resilience
• The geopolitical implications of conflict in and around the Black Sea

In addition to its academic content, the programme allowed for cultural immersion through guided walking tours in Tbilisi, visits to historical sites such as Mtskheta and Ananuri, and shared dinners that fostered informal exchange and cross-cultural dialogue.

All participants received a certificate of participation equivalent to 5 ECTS credits. The event served not only as an academic deep dive into regional affairs but also as a platform for building lasting connections among young scholars with shared interests in international politics, European studies, and conflict resolution.

We are grateful to our partners and supporters for making this programme a success and look forward to future editions that continue to explore the critical issues shaping Europe today!

Brussels Excursion with the students from the course, Actorness of the European Union and inter-institutional dynamics

13-15 November 2024

As part of the Actorness of the European Union and Inter-Institutional Dynamics course led by Dr. Claudia Matthes at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, students participated in a significant academic excursion through the ShapingEU project, in collaboration with UC Louvain and the Circle U. alliance.

This initiative, centered on the bloc seminar The EU and Eastern Europe: Peace, Democracy, and Cooperation, began with online preparations, including group simulations focused on a scenario in which the European Council convened an extraordinary meeting to negotiate a new Strategy for Enlargement. This immersive process illuminated the intricate interplay between EU institutions, member states, and aspirant countries, while addressing the geopolitical stakes of enlargement.

The excursion opened with presentations by Dr. Claudia Matthes and Prof. Ivana Radić Milošavljević from the University of Belgrade, offering a comprehensive overview of the EU’s enlargement procedures, along with the political, economic, and legal benchmarks that guide accession. Students also presented their research and began group negotiations as part of the simulation. The program continued with an insightful presentation by Benjamin Bodson, followed by group simulations where students worked toward reaching an agreement and drafting a conclusion on the enlargement strategy.

The final day featured a visit to the European Commmission, where students explored the institutional mechanisms underpinning enlargement and engaged with European Commission representatives. Mr. Hugo Keizer delivered a presentation on The European Commission: The Political Executive of the European Union, outlining its central role in shaping and implementing enlargement policies. Mr. Maarten Lemstra provided an update on the State of Play in EU Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy 2024, offering an in-depth analysis of the EU’s ongoing enlargement process, with a specific focus on the geopolitical and policy dimensions. Mr. Martin Muehleck then followed with a presentation on Ukraine’s EU membership aspirations, concentrating on enlargement, rule of law, anti-corruption, and fundamental rights.

This enriching academic experience demonstrated the multifaceted nature of EU enlargement, intertwining institutional procedures with broader geopolitical dynamics. It offered students valuable insights into how the EU employs its enlargement policy as a strategic tool to promote regional stability, uphold democratic values, and foster coherence in a complex global environment.

Brussels Excursion with the students from the course, Rule of Law and Democracy in the Western Balkans

14-17 November 2023

Our students, part of the ‘Rule of Law and Democracy in the Western Balkans’ course led by Dr. Claudia Matthes at Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, embarked on a transformative excursion as part of the ShapingEU project in collaboration with UC Louvain and the Circle U alliance. From insightful bloc seminar at UC Louvain to immersive site visits in Brussels, every moment between November 14-17, 2023, deepened our understanding of the EU. Grateful for these enriching experiences!