European Regional Master's Degree in
Democracy and Human Rights in South East Europe

A.A. 2011/2012

The European Regional Master in Democracy and Human Rights in South East Europe (ERMA) inaugurated its 11th generation on 29 October 2023 following the graduation ceremony of the 10th generation organized at the Law Faculty of Sarajevo.

The 29 students enrolled¹ are currently attending the third of five clusters which are part of the programme's first term, which takes place at the University of Sarajevo.

The first week of lectures was entirely dedicated to methodology workshops on academic writing, comprising research methods and technical requirements; the workshops, led by the ERMA tutors, were aimed at providing students with the technical skills required for academic writing.

The first cluster, Philosophy of Human Rights started on 7 November 2023 and lasted until 22 December 2011; the students attended lectures on the most important theories of the philosophy of human rights and studied the concepts of justice, equality and liberty; lectures were also held on human rights in the globalization era.

Professors from the universities of Sarajevo, Rijeka, Belgrade, Ljubljana, Budapest and Edinburgh lectured during the first cluster.

As part of cluster I requisites, the students wrote a paper on a topic related to the studied subject matter; they were coached in all phases, from drafting the outline to the first draft and the final paper - by the three tutors facilitating the fulfillment of topical and technical requirements.

Cluster II, Democracy, started on 19 January 2024 and ended on 10 February 2024 with a written paper as well. The first part of the lectures was dedicated to democracy building and civil society as drivers of democratic development; the second part of lectures pivoted around the transition from communism to democracy in Eastern Europe while the third part was dedicated to the EU enlargement process. The cluster was enriched by two guest lectures and practitioners: the former EULEX Head of Justice Judge Alberto Perduca, and the former EU Ambassador in Sarajevo, Mr. Michael Humphreys.

Methodology workshops on comparative research design were also held during the II cluster and the students were guided in how to apply comparative research methods in their paper.

The programme was visited by an EC evaluator on a follow up mission. During his stay Koen de Feyter met with the staff and students in order to carry out a mid-term assessment of ERMA activities.

The third cluster, Ethnicity, nationalism and Religion started on 13 February 2024 and will last until 16 March 2012. For this cluster the students will take a written exam.

During this cluster the students will visit the EC Delegation in BH and follow the two elective courses: Life Stories and Dialogues; Genocide and genocidal atrocities in theory and in International law.

During all clusters there are individual consultations, group workshops and paper coaching, organized by the three ERMA tutors.

Barbara Chiarenza
Academic Tutor
European Regional Master's Degree in Democracy and Human Rights in South-East Europe,
Center for Interdisciplinary Postgraduate Studies, University of Sarajevo,
Istituto per l'Europa Centro-Orientale e Balcanica