Teaching curriculum
for the European Regional Master’s Degree in Democracy and Human Rights in South East Europe (ERMA)
University of Sarajevo – University of Bologna
(Joint title)

 Center for Interdisciplinary Postgraduate Studies
University of Sarajevo

DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN SOUTH EAST EUROPE (ERMA)
(Master Program)

• Why to conduct the Master Programme in Democracy and Human Rights in South East Europe?

Human rights, including the right of the people to know their rights, are international expectations around the world, and now we are a part of that world community. Most countries have pledged to abide by these standards and in so doing, promise to protect and promote the rights of all citizens and inhabitants. Human rights education is strictly in accordance with the law and standards of good citizenship. Educating people about their rights before the law will ensure that they will be responsible citizens who will think for themselves, meeting their own needs through democratic means.

Human rights education reinforces the human rights to peace and to development, that is, the rights of human beings and nations to be free from aggression or other unlawful use of armed force and from mass impoverishment. The recent past proves that the lack of protection and violations of human rights together with a difficult transition towards a democratic system can destabilize the entire region with repercussions and consequences for the whole European continent. A lively intellectual centre is essential to the balanced development of a country or region. As we all know, today’s economies in Europe run essentially on brainpower. It is the responsibility of good education to produce the researchers, the experts, and the innovators without whom there is simply no prospect of growth. As PDHRE has noted in its report human rights now constitute the common heritage of humankind; accordingly, human rights education is a means of accessing that heritage through the universal commitment to the dignity and worth of each human person.

For years, the EU has been supporting Bosnia and Herzegovina in the field of education. A lot has been achieved in stabilizing the Western Balkans and bringing the region closer to the European Union. Cooperation in education, culture and youth policies has played no small part in this. The European Master in Democracy and Human Rights is an important initiative. It is organized jointly by the University of Sarajevo and the University of Bologna and it is financed by the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights. Around 30 young people graduate each year from all over South–East Europe. The participation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in this programme clearly demonstrates some of the benefits of European integration.

Therefore, continuing schooling future experts in the field of Human Rights and Democracy in South East Europe would be inestimably important.

• To Whom This Study is Intended?

This Master Programme is an educational activity intended for students that would combine practical experience in human rights issues with further academic study. After recognizing that human rights go across the disciplines of study, as political science, law, sociology, philosophy and social sciences in general, the Programme has adopted an interdisciplinary approach.
The Master Programme promotes development and realization of young generation of officials for state management, inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations, for universities and think tanks in Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo as well as in the countries belonging to the EU, the rest of Europe, and worldwide. The structure of the lectures, the access to internships and the Faculty are defined in order to emphasize among the participants a shared consciousness that the democratic development and human rights promotion, protection and implementation in the region depend on plurality of factors. Most of the relevant issues in the SEE stability, democracy, and development are mutually correlated and influence each other. Thus, a common regional effort in achieving them will have more chance for success in a context of inclusive policies and in the framework of a rapid European Union integration process.

• Working method

The Master Programme “Democracy and Human Rights in South East Europe” is a one year interdisciplinary master programme consisting of two semesters/three terms (first term ECTS 45 (5 clusters and two elective courses); second term – 7 weeks internship ECTS 12 and the third term of attending short seminars in Italy and writing up and defending the thesis ECTS 13 = ECTS 70). The curriculum of this Master Programme consists of five educational clusters/modules (lectures, seminars and tutorials), short seminars, the course from the Research Methods and Skills as well as Writing Skills, a 7 weeks internship, and the development, writing up and the public defense of the Master thesis.
For the full course of study, the programme awards a total of 70 ECTS and it can be taken only as a full time study.
Student credits:

1. First term: 5 clusters 45 ECTS and two elective courses
2. Second terms: 7 weeks internship - 12 ECTS
      3.   Third term: short seminars and development and defense of the Master thesis 13 ECTS
In the first term, from November to June, students are taught together in Sarajevo by lecturers and tutors from the participating universities members of the "International Network Europe and the Balkans" and experts from IGOs and NGOs. The language of instruction is English and attendance is compulsory. The academic programme is structured in five clusters. In addition there is a mid-term exam, which takes place in the last week of the first term. It is not by chance that the programme has been established in Sarajevo. The city offers to the students a unique multi-cultural environment. Bosnia and Herzegovina itself provides a glaring example of many of the problems faced by the different countries in the region and the region of South East Europe itself.
Alongside with the lectures and seminars, students have also visits to state institutions, International and Intergovernmental Organizations present and NGOs active in the field of human rights and democracy in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Throughout the lecturing period in Sarajevo, the students can follow seminars and workshops organized by the academic tutors of the Programme, as well as guest lecturers. Alongside with that, there are two field trips. After recognizing the power of the film to educate, influence and stimulate broad public, the Master Programme organizes screenings of human rights films. The main objective of this activity is to promote a forum for debate on human rights, democracy and rule of law, equality, and human development through socially conscious films. It also aims to disclose the human rights abuses, inequality, violence against women and children, social marginalization and exclusion and inspire solidarity, mutual understanding and the importance of personal devotion to human rights through creating effective contact with the victims of the human rights abuses.
In the second term, during summertime, students take up seven-week assessed internships at selected IGOs, NGOs, think tanks and research institutes across South East Europe. According to the educational structure of the Master's, the second term - mid June to end of July - is designated for student internships in relevant organizations working in the field of human rights and democracy. At that point students will have finished their theoretical education and will be prepared for real-life experience and for applying their knowledge in practice. Under the Programme's Statute, the internship placement will be in a country different to the country of citizenship of the student, decision aiming to promote diversity and different culture experience, believe to be a necessary prerequisite for experts aiming to work in the field of human rights and wrongs. Internship placements must be related to the chosen topic of the Master thesis. After completion of the internship the hosting organizations submit an evaluation as well as the students who are supposed to submit a short report.
During the third term of the programme, in autumn, students write up their Master’s Theses in Italy, accommodated at the University of Bologna Residential Centre in Santa Sofia. The class stays together in order to emphasize the community building element of the programme. There are short seminar courses aimed at addressing particular issues of interest. Alongside with that, there are two field trips. Students are invited to the opening and closing ceremony of the Cervia Summer School of the University of Bologna, where they also follow lectures and presentations of the key note speakers often EU officials and prominent academics dealing with EU integrations and EU affairs. The other field trip is to historical city of Venice, where they are visiting the European Master’s Degree in Human Rights and Democratization – sister programme focusing on EU countries, either to the Diploma Awarding ceremony held at the Palazzo Ducale, or staying with them at the Monastery of San Nicola, where they follow together seminars and lectures followed by discussions.
• Knowledge Evaluation
The final grade is cumulative and based on the evaluation of the students’ performance in all five clusters (written research papers and written exams) culminating with an oral Mid-term Exam in June (50%) as well as their defense of the Master Thesis (50%), attendance and overall performance is also taken into consideration. Methodology of conducting the curriculum includes lectures, tutorials, seminars, workshops, presentations, working visits and in addition interactive teaching methods. The group work will be implemented through seminars, workshops and other activities.
However, students’ work and activity (besides lecturers and Cluster Leaders) will be followed up and coordinated by specially selected academic tutors. Students are supposed to write their Master thesis in coordination with their supervisors and after that they defend it publicly. It will be evaluated by the Executive Board of the Master Programme. The supervisor is the member of the Committee for evaluation and defense of the Master thesis.
The final examination, which is an oral defense of the thesis, takes place in Sarajevo, B&H at the end of October followed by the diploma awarding ceremony. The successful students receive the European Regional Master’s Degree Diploma in Democracy and Human Rights in South East Europe, issued jointly by the University of Bologna and the University of Sarajevo and recognized by both. Attendance and successful completion of all components of the Programme is compulsory for issuance of Master diploma.
Bologna's standards will be applied in the implementation of the program: mobility (of students, lecturers, researchers), ECTS, partnership among universities (participation of foreign lecturers in the realization of modules, work on the development of teaching curriculum) and in addition, European dimension of higher education

• Admission Requirements

a) ERMA is open to candidates who hold a high standard university degree in disciplines relevant to human rights, in particular law, social and political sciences and humanities from an accredited university. The university degree of the applicants must be earned during studies lasting either 4 or 5 years within the former undergraduate studies provisions, or 5 years (3+2) within I and II cycle studies provisions in accordance with the Bologna process.
Fluency in English is a necessary prerequisite for admission, as the Programme language is English. Therefore the students must have sufficient language skills and provide evidence for their proficiency. The Master Programme recognizes the following international English Language proficiency certificates:
1. TOEFL – minimum score of 550 paper-based, computer based TOEFL is 213, IBT not less than 65;
2. British Council’s IELTS <http://www.ielts.org/> - minimum band 6.5 and no less than 6.0 in any of its subsections.
3. Applicants with English as native language or applicants who had previous university education in English language need to provide competency through their transcripts or certificates issued by the respectful universities.
The upper age limit of potential applicants is 35 years of age.  Twenty five (25) places are reserved for citizens of the countries of South East Europe involved in the program - Albania; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Croatia; Macedonia; Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo. Five (5) places are reserved for citizens of the European Union countries.
The selection of candidates will be performed by the Executive Board of this Master Programme on the basis of submitted applications and required documents in English (filled in application form, university diploma-certified copy; academic record/transcripts-original or certified copy; documentary evidence (certificate of proficiency etc.) of the knowledge of the English language; passport photocopy; certificate of citizenship; birth certificate; Curriculum Vitae (CV) in English, and two recommendation letters (to be submitted in sealed envelopes in English).
 

For further details on the program please visit:

http://www.cps.edu.ba/CIPSdocs/ERMA9_curricula.doc