On 9-13 September, 30 master students from across Europe gathered at the EUI’s Badia Fiesolana for week-long series of lectures, workshops, as well as formal and informal presentations of the EUI's PhD programme and social activities. With participants hailing from diverse academic disciplines and European countries, the Academy provided a unique opportunity for rich cross-cultural exchanges.
For participant Viktor Burgi, a master student at the University of Zurich, the SPS Summer Academy was an excellent opportunity to experience the EUI’s academic and social life first-hand: "It’s been great to meet scholars from the field of political science as well as other young, motivated people, engaged in this field, to discuss research proposals."
"I’m very grateful for having had the chance to be here this week! I’m strongly considering doing a PhD at the EUI, I’m getting a really good impression of the research environment here, I’ve met super friendly people, and everyone is open to help and give feedback," added Burgi.
This one-week full immersion in the EUI’s academic world allowed the participants to take part in plenary lectures and discuss cutting-edge research currently undertaken at the EUI Department of Political and Social Sciences (SPS).
"I'm really enjoying the SPS Summer Academy, it's been nice to get to know more about the EUI and the PhD programmes offered, as well as the research opportunities that the institute provides," noted Sofia Lopes, a master student at Leiden University.
SPS Professors Arnout van de Rijt, Ellen Immergut, Stefano Guzzini, Waltraud Schelkle, Filip Kostelka, and Simon Hix delivered thought-provoking lectures on a wide range of topics, from the resurgence of political movements among Europe’s young liberals to emerging trends in voter turnout and the complexities of transnational solidarity.
"I was highly impressed by the theoretical and methodological preparation of the master’s students that participated in my lecture and discussion about the new political behaviouralism, problems of the welfare state, healthcare systems and more broadly, the state of social solidarity today," shared Professor Ellen Immergut. "This was a great opportunity for the students to experience first-hand what it is like to be in a PhD seminar at the EUI."
An invited guest lecturer, Professor Alexandru Volacu from the University of Bucharest, delved into the democratic debate surrounding compulsory voting, discussing its potential to address declining voter turnout and its impact on democratic legitimacy.
Reflecting on the experience, Professor Volacu said: "This is a unique opportunity for students, especially those from CEE countries, to experience academic life at one of Europe's top political science research institutions. Throughout the week, I saw many outstanding students already engaged in serious research projects, and I believe the Summer Academy will serve as an important stepping stone for their future PhD pursuits and academic careers."
During two workshop sessions led by Max Weber Fellows Alexandra Jabbour, Virginia Rocha, and Paulus Wagner, students had the opportunity to present their research projects in small groups and to discuss them with leading scholars in the field.
Barbora Tallová, a master student at the University of Oxford, appreciated the diversity of perspectives: "I've enjoyed this very much. Coming from an educational background in the UK, it was academically stimulating to hear so many perspectives from continental Europe. I’m interested in merging political sociology with international relations in my work, and this experience has helped me explore that more deeply. Learning about the PhD prospects here and seeing what other students from different universities are working on has been fascinating."
Beyond the academic programme, students explored the city of Florence through a guided tour and engaged with current EUI PhD researchers in informal social settings, providing further opportunities for networking and collaboration. "I've had such a great time getting to know people and learning about their research projects. I'd totally recommend the SPS Summer Academy to anyone interested in these fields. You learn so much and get to interact with such interesting people," noted participant Sofia Lopes.
For many attendees, the combination of academic rigour and social engagement made the Summer Academy a memorable and enriching experience. Participant George Alatsidis, a student at the University of Bucharest, summed it up: "It was a perfect week—great people, great scholars, and amazing courses and workshops. I think we got a lot of scientific stimuli and ideas for progressing in our work or future endeavours. I would recommend it to anyone interested in political and social sciences."
The SPS Summer Academy continues to promote pan-European academic mobility and collaboration, offering students the opportunity to broaden their academic horizons and forge lasting connections with peers and mentors. "Our ambition is to inspire the attendees and help them make an informed decision about whether pursuing a PhD journey is the right path to develop their intellectual and professional potential," said the event convenor, EUI Professor Filip Kostelka. "We believe that this an important mission that can make a difference and we are grateful to our funders and the institute for their support.”
Applications for the next edition of the SPS Summer Academy will open in Spring 2025. Visit the Summer Academy’s blog for more information.
This Summer Academy was funded by the EUI Widening Europe Programme. Backed by contributions from the European Union and EUI Contracting States, the programme is designed to strengthen internationalisation, competitiveness, and quality in research in targeted Widening countries, and thus foster more cohesive European Higher Education and Research Areas.