Joint European Master in Comparative Local Development for the Balkans and other areas in transformation

Master’s Programme 2006-2007

Co-De JOINT EUROPEAN MASTER IN COMPARATIVE LOCAL DEVELOPMENT

The University of Trento, coordinator, (Italy), the Corvinus University of Budapest (Hungary), the University of Ljubljana (Slovenia) and the University of Regensburg (Germany), in collaboration with the University of Belgrade (Serbia and Montenegro), the University of Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina), the European Academy of Bolzano/Bozen (Italy), with the support of Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Autonomous Region Trentino-Alto Adige/S�dtirol and the Autonomous Province of Trento (Italy), offer 18 months (95 ECTS) of training for a post-graduate Master�s course degree. The CoDe Master is an Erasmus Mundus Programme. Its main objective is to provide participants with the necessary knowledge and skills for introducing, supporting and co-ordinating processes of change and transformation at the local level. The focus of the programme is local development, with the following characteristics: public, private and non governmental actors are the fundamental agents; social stability and economic prosperity are pursued, in conformity with the acquis communautaire and European standards and best practice. The general approach is comparative and interdisciplinary.

THE MASTERS PROGRAMME
English is the general working language of the programme; depending on the internships knowledge of a different language may be required

I. An introductory course to the Master�s programme will be organised at a third country university. The course will include introductory lectures in all disciplines and provide information on organisational matters. A set of suggested readings will be given to students prior to the introductory course in order to allow them to catch up with the most important topics.

II. In order to make participation more efficient from the beginning and to lay the foundations for an inter-disciplinary approach, within the pre-programme (distance learning, online forum) the participants will be required to study some basic topics in the three main disciplines assisted by the tutors.

III. Lectures are structured in 10 courses (of 20 hours each) on the following subjects:
1.Principles and problems of local development: economic aspects
2. Principles and problems of local development: legal aspects
3. Principles and problems of local development: social and political aspects
4. EU integration and multilevel governance
5. Local development and entrepreneurship policies
6. The management of diversities in society
7. Principles and problems of local development: financial aspects
8. Sustainable local development
9. Project cycle management
10. The role of language and culture in international relations and business

Lectures will be supplemented by laboratories and guest lectures.

IV. Laboratories (100 hours) analysing successful experiences of local development and �co-habitation� from an interdisciplinary and intercultural perspective. Some laboratories will be conducted by external experts in the field and may be conducted in German or Italian.

V. Internships (350 hours) in qualified organisations (institutions of local and regional government, public/private partnerships, decentralised administrations of national government, industrial districts, trans-border co-operation-projects, policies for enterprises and local development, services to enterprises, local banks, NGOs active at local level or for the promotion of local development) located in the countries of the partner universities or in international organisations. Knowledge of either German or Italian is essential for most internships.

VI. Participants are required to attend intensive courses of Italian and German (50 hours each), both organised within the Master activity. Slovenian and Hungarian language courses might be offered upon students� request.

VII. Distance learning and on-line teaching will be used in the pre-programme as well as during the intervals between the terms for further analysis of the topics treated during the lectures.

VIII. Project work: analysis, research and experience aimed at the elaboration of an original and innovative project for local development in areas in transformation. The project may be presented either as a paper or a report preferably including an operational activity plan (according to the guidelines of the European Commission, laid down in the Project Cycle Management Handbook). The evaluation of the Project Work is an important part of the total evaluation of participants’ work.

IX. Discussion groups: in order to stimulate active participation, students are required to present and discuss the work done in the Master�s Programme, with particular reference to their Project Work and with the help of facilitators.

MASTER’S DEGREES
Upon the successful completion of all activities in the Master, the Academic Authorities of the organising institutions will award a joint Master�s degree corresponding to:
- in the Italian University system: a Master di secondo livello according to the DM 509/99;
- in the German University system: a Mastergrad according to Art. 18 paragraph 1 HRG, Art. 86 paragraph 1, 86 a paragraph 3 BayHSchG;
- in the Hungarian University system: a Kieg�sz�to alapk�pz�s (M.A.) according to the DG 4/1996 referred to in the preamble;
- the University of Ljubljiana (Slovenia) will award a degree corresponding to the Slovenian University system�s Magistrski �tudij according to the Art. 94 and 97 of the Statute of the University.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
In order to qualify for the programme candidates have to comply with the following requirements:
1. A four-year university degree (minimum) in economics, law, political science, sociology, or an equivalent qualification;
2. Age: preferably under 40;
3. Fluent English and computer literacy.

Among the applicants who meet all these requirements, priority will be given to candidates employed in the private, public or non governmental sectors related to local development.

TUITION AND FEES
Tuition and fees for participants are � 7,000. Students will be provided with access to the facilities of the participating universities (library, computers, e-mail and Internet) as well as to the universities� cafeterias and restaurants at student rates

SCHOLARSHIPS
A number of scholarships are offered to students from countries outside the European Union. The amount of the scholarship is 21.000 EUR per year. These scholarships are funded by the European Commission within the Erasmus Mundus programme. For additional information see http://europa.eu.int/comm/education/programmes/mundus/

HOW TO APPLY
The application requires that candidates fill in and send the following two forms and related documentation:
1. The expression of interest until December 20th, 2005
2. The application form, the two reference-letter forms, and the project work proposal form must be submitted BOTH in electronic form AND in hard copy with original signature to the Master�s organisation (see contacts below) until January 16th, 2006

The single documents to be submitted are:
a. The complete application form;
b. An updated CV;
c. Two letters of reference, one by a qualified academic referee, the other by a qualified professional. Each reference form must be completed and signed by the referee and submitted in an official envelope (i.e., from the referee�s univesity or company) which has been sealed and signed on the flap by the referee. These must be returned to you signed and sealed to be mailed in your application package. References are confidential and the evelopes must not be opened;
d. The Project Work proposal (using the form available online).

Please note: Incomplete documentation will not be taken into consideration.

To the attention of all applicants who need a visa: All applicants who need a visa must send a ADDITIONAL hard-copy version of the complete documentation to Italian Embassy or Consulate in their home-country. The application will only be taken into consideration if a hard-copy version of the whole documentation is handed in at, and stamped by, the Italian Embassy or Consulate the Italian Embassy or Consulate.

CONTACTS
Dr. Martina Cvajner
Joint European Master in Comparative Local Development
Dipartimento di Economia, Universit� degli Studi Di Trento
Via Inama, 5 - 38100 Trento, Italy
Tel +39-0461-883446
Fax +39-0461-882803
Email: master-code@unitn.it
Web: www.mastercode.unitn.it