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AFP News
Deadline for applications: November 17, 2008
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ CURRICULUM RESOURCE CENTER The Curriculum Resource Center (CRC) of Central European University, sponsored by the Higher Education Support Program of Open Society Institute, announces a call for proposals to develop new, innovative and relevant university courses.
Applications must arrive to CRC by 17 November 2008 (to the address: CRC - Central European University, 1051 Budapest, Nador u. 9, Hungary or to the cdc@ceu.hu e-mail address).
1. Applicants are invited to develop and teach a one or two semester long course in the discipline areas listed below. The course should be clearly directed towards one of the following levels: introductory, intermediate, advanced, post-graduate. 2. The competition is open to individuals and groups for 10 month grants. During this period, successful applicants should first develop and then implement their proposed course. Grantees are not required to stay in Budapest for their grant period. 3. Course Portfolio (see more on this on our website http://web.ceu.hu/crc/cdc_propl.html)
1. to encourage the introduction of new courses, which are innovative in content, methodology and teaching approach. 2. to have a measurable impact on the host department's curricula and its mode of delivery. In this way, the program seeks to further the development and dissemination of new curricula across the target regions. 3. to provide incentives and means for interdisciplinary and international co-operation amongst academics. 4. to promote innovative, collaborative projects with priority given to groups of academics from at least two different countries or cities of the region who aim to design a course from an international perspective. 5. to fund courses that are at least partially based on applicants' original research in their field.
Application is restricted to resident citizens of the non EU member states in Eastern- and Southeastern Europe, the Former Soviet Union and Mongolia who are teaching at a university in any country of this region. Citizens of new EU member states are eligible only if ● they propose courses on Roma related issues. ● they participate in group projects with colleagues from non-EU countries (in fact such collaborative proposals are strongly encouraged). In such group projects the group leader must come from the non-EU country. Previous CRC participants may apply for a CDC grant; Academic Fellowship Program fellows may only receive a CDC grant one academic year after finishing their AFP fellowship. Those who benefit presently from an alternative Soros grant should contact the CRC office to discuss their eligibility.
All applicants should show how they intend to apply new teaching methodology to delivering the course. Project proposals should demonstrate the following: ● potential to contribute to curriculum reform at host departments ● innovative character and approach ● potential of being incorporated into the university curriculum for longer term ● relevance to regional or global issues ● scientific quality in the selected field ● feasibility
1. At the end of their grant period, all grantees (groups) are expected to submit a final syllabus for the new course they have developed and taught, together with a final activity and financial report. In addition, at the end of the course development period, interim reports will be required on the progress of the grant. 2. All accepted applicants are required to attend two modular workshops: one workshop at the beginning of their grant period, (focusing on issues regarding course design and curriculum development), and another before their teaching period covering matters regarding course implementation and evaluation). The exact dates will be confirmed and announced later for selected applicants. 3. Production of Course Portfolio (see details in the program description on our website http://web.ceu.hu/crc/cdc_propl.html )
1. Each CDC grantee will receive a monthly stipend for a period of ten months. The amount of the stipend is not negotiable. Group stipends for the teaching period will be calculated from the amount of a full stipend in proportion to the degree of involvement of each participant (involvement should be expressed clearly as a percentage in the course plan). Group leaders will, in addition, receive a small group leader's fee for their extra responsibilities. 2. An allowance for legitimate course development expenses (book purchases, reader production, teaching materials, photocopying, slides, etc.). Grantees are strongly encouraged to produce readers for their courses (collection of articles, papers, chapters, documents, etc. that represent readings and other materials for the course). The grant will not fund the production of printed textbooks or publications. Please note that the CDC grant cannot fund the purchase of any equipment (computers, scanners, printers, etc.) 3. An allowance for additional, justified travel costs and administrative expenses in the case of group grants. 4. By negotiation, an allowance for justified travel to a library outside the home city, within the region, for the development of course materials etc. Costs of study or conference participation cannot be covered. 5. Consultation time with CEU professors with knowledge in the relevant topic areas will be offered.
Selection and Evaluation of Grants Applications will be evaluated and judged by CEU academics with sufficient knowledge of the higher educational needs of the region. Following the selection acceptance becomes valid after an agreement on terms and conditions is signed by the future grantee. Finished course syllabi will be evaluated by CEU professors, and those meeting the standards of the CRC office will be placed on the CDC website. CDC office will also conduct course/project evaluation trips, visiting a selected number of grantees during the course implementation period.
How to Apply 1. Applications must be presented in English on CRC Course Development Competition forms (photocopied forms are acceptable). 2. For individual proposals, the application form must be accompanied with a description of the proposed course (in the form of a draft syllabus), preliminary bibliography of materials to be used in preparation and teaching, a curriculum vitae (also highlighting research activity), a signed statement that the course will be introduced by the applicant and he/she is going to teach it, a letter of recommendation and a letter of endorsement from the host university. The letter of endorsement should include the host university's commitment to allow the proposed course to be taught, and should clearly indicate the period when the course will be taught. 3. For group proposals, the application should be submitted by the project leader. In addition to the above it should contain a list of the individuals involved in the project, their CVs, institutional affiliations, contact information and a letter from each individual stating their willingness to be involved in the project. For group projects letters of endorsement must be submitted from all the institutions that will host the course (Please feel free to duplicate the letter of endorsement form if necessary). Please always indicate the name of the group leader in e-mails sent from a different e-mail address. 4. Application forms can be obtained from local CEU representatives, the Curriculum Resource Center at Central European University or from our website. 5. Applications must arrive by 17 November 2008 (address: CRC - Central European University, 1051 Budapest, Nador u. 9, Hungary or cdc@ceu.hu) - please note that letters of endorsement and recommendation will be accepted by regular mail, fax or directly from the e-mail address of the writer of the letter). In case of group projects all materials should preferably be sent in one pack/e-mail. In order to avoid materials sent separately getting lost, the name of the group leader should clearly appear on them. Applicants will be informed about the results in mid-December. Courses should be taught during the first and/or second semester of the 2009/2010 academic year. Discipline Areas for the Course Development Competition:
Please, see below the short description of the topics.
Borders, States, and the Post-cold War International System With the recognition of Kosovo's independence in February 2008 and the Russian-Georgian war which led to Moscow's formal acknowledgement of Abkhazia and South Ossetia's independent status, one of the pillars of the post World War II's order, namely the inviolability of state borders (and thus the territorial integrity of modern states), was left in shatters. How different is the political order in the early 21st century going to be? What role is left for Westphalian sovereignty and modern statehood? What are the rules of engagement of contemporary global politics? We invite proposals to develop courses which aim to critically rethink the following issues, which could be developed individually or as part of the same course: ● Formation of the post-World War II international system; ● The International System in the 21st century; ● State building and state collapse; ● Theories of borders; ● Theories of nationalism; ● Comparative perspectives on state formation in Europe; ● Conflicts in post-Communist Eurasia; ● ‘Virtual' states. Applications are welcome from within all the disciplines of social sciences, and particularly welcome from international relations, security studies, history, and political science.
Medieval Studies/History/Byzantine Studies Processes of Cultural Translation (along the northern/eastern fringes of the "Byzantine Commonwealth") Not least in the wake of postcolonial studies the reciprocity of processes of cultural translation (literally and metaphorically) are being re-understood, while increased attention to spatial issues allows an ever more refined mapping - geographically as well as mentally - of such instances of cultural imposition, exchange and borrowing. Throughout the Byzantine Empire's existence - in changing spatial and geopolitical constellations - the rich web of Byzantine culture (ideology, theology, learning) interacted with numerous cultures along the northern and eastern rims of the empire's sphere of influence, through various means (diplomacy, warfare, trade, travelling, etc.). These processes of cultural translation should be at the core of the proposed syllabus topics, both between Byzantine and neighbouring cultures as well as among those neighbouring cultures themselves. A focus on continuity and ‘tradition' beyond the Byzantine period into the (early) modern age to the present day (Byzance après Byzance) is strongly encouraged. Proposals are welcome for BA, MA and PhD level.
Sociology/Anthropology Social, Cultural and Political Economies of Inequality: Comparative and Historical Perspective We invite proposals on theories and structural conditions of inequality in terms of gender, class, race region and so forth, as well as the social and political responses to it in historical and global perspectives, with a focus on inequality in the post-Socialist space. The course should have a comparative approach either in examining inequalities in various post-Socialist countries or compare them with cases elsewhere.
Constitutional Law Fair Trial Rights In the field of comparative constitutional law proposals are expected to address issues concerning civil and political rights (human rights) in established and emerging democracies; enforcement of socio-economic rights, freedom of religion and free speech in a global world; protection of bodily privacy; governance in transition to democracy; comparative constitutional adjudication; constitutional transplants and European Union law with emphasis on constitutional law. It is not possible to protect substantive rights without also ensuring the possibility to enforce those rights. Therefore, proposals on general fair trial rights, due process and legislative procedures would also be welcome.
Political Science Political Attitudes The research on political attitudes lies at the cross-road of political psychology and mainstream political behavior studies. It deals with the ‘software' of politics: values, personalities, attitudes, emotions, perceptions and cognitions. We invite proposals that address a combination of individual psychological mechanisms, social identity, ideological orientations, prejudices, political culture, authoritarianism, voting intentions, partisan sympathies and values. Courses that also discuss the role of institutions in the formation of attitudes are particularly welcome.
Religious Studies/Political Science Religion and Politics After decades of neglect, religion has emerged as a factor that is increasingly relevant to the study of politics. We invite proposals to develop courses focusing on the following issues:
● Theoretical approaches to the study of religion and politics in the domestic arena ● Theoretical approaches to the study of religion and international relations ● Empirical analysis of the relationship between religion and politics ● The secularization thesis and its critics (within any discipline) In addition, participants are welcome to suggest possible lenses through which the intersection between religion and politics can be discussed (for example, but not limited to: security, political economy, culture, environmental concerns, foreign policy analysis).
Roma related courses With the goal to further encourage the integration of issues related to Roma into mainstream academic disciplines we welcome proposals for academic courses in all areas of humanities and social sciences dealing entirely or in a significant part with this topic. |
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