Global Studies meets Peace and Security Learning lessons in TNE Ulf Engel DAAD Transnationale Bildung: Ziele und Wirkungen Berlin, 2 June 2014
Talking points 1. Leipzig Addis Ababa cooperation in TNE 2. SWOT analysis 3. Developing E-learning elements 4. Transcultural challenges 2
1 Leipzig Addis Ababa cooperation in TNE based on DAAD CfA German university programmes abroad (add. BMBF funds) granted for 2012/13-2015/16 finance volume: 400,000 partner institutions: Global and European Studies Institute (GESI), UL Centre for Area Studies (CAS), UL Institute for Peace and Security Studies (IPSS), AAU 3
Joint Master s programme since 2012 Global Studies 1 with a special emphasis on peace and security (based on EMGS) 2 years (2 nd term in Leipzig) joint curriculum development, admission, supervision joint degree tuition fee: 3,600 per year fee waivers for the best 20% of applicants (reduced rate at 2.500 p.a. planned) additional scholarships acquired to reduce fees (DAAD surplace & Germany grants, AAU, La Francophonie, employers) Note (1): Global History, New Political Geography & various Area Studies. 4
Joint PhD programme since 2012 Global and Area Studies 3 years (2 nd term in Leipzig) joint curriculum development, admissions, supervision joint degree tuition fee: 5,000 per year additional scholarships help reduce fees for candidates 5
Enrolment figures MA applications 34 25 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 MA plan 10 15 20 25 MA real 13 6 PhD applications 19 28 PhD plan 4 4 6 8 PhD real 6 1 Note: Students are from Ethiopia, Cameroon, Djibouti, Germany, Somalia, Tanzania Ukraine and Zambia; age: between 23 and 59 years; gender: 13 F & 13 M; ca. 40% of MAs and 85% of PhDs are working at the same time (or part-time); ca. 50% fully self-paying (rest is sponsored ). 6
2 SWOT analysis 7
Strengths Programmes of advanced international standards: students, faculty, curriculum, course literature, joint programmes instead of twinning EU-accredited Masters provided by renowned universities in the countries: UL and AAU Competitive in terms of thematic focus, mobility options and fees compared to similar programmes offered in US or UK High standards in international teaching and research provided by experienced faculty members at UL CAS and IPSS pan-african scholarly network Integration into Leipzig teaching (second term) and to the well-established MA programme Global Studies and the PhD Graduate School Global and Area Studies Masters programme research oriented and interdisciplinary which is an ideal preparation for border transcending PhD programme After initial set-up phase consolidation of personnel at Leipzig side Opportunities Becoming a leading university within the IGAD region is a cornerstone of AAU which overlaps with the programme vision of recruiting more outside of Ethiopia and enrolling more students in general High visibility due to thematic focus. IPSS signed MoU with World Peace Foundation at Fletcher School, Tufts University and Think Tank for Research of Islam and Muslims in Africa RIMA Contributing substantially to capacitybuilding at IPSS (most of the PhDs are to continue teaching at IPSS) and to the general higher education landscape Integration into IPSS activities with African Union offering internship, employment, networking and access to officials Politically backed by city partnership and internationalization strategy of UL Maintaining a stronghold of humanities in a technology oriented higher education landscape Weaknesses Call for applications needs to be professionalized and broadened so as to increase the pool of very good candidates beyond Ethiopia Supervision and UL presence needs to be increased; managing mobile faculty members agendas Accommodating full term or part time working students in intensive course programmes and helping to accomplish tasks in due time Differences in grading cultures between UL and AAU needs to be bridged Transfer of earnings from AAU to UL and from UL to AAU for financing of staff has not been entirely solved Too little involvement and ownership of IPSS so far Threats Institutional insecurity and lack of commitment on behalf of AAU: Africa Programme of IPSS might be restructured after recent changes Earnings through fees need to be stabilized (basically: commitment of sponsoring institutions, incl. AAU) Change in leadership at IPSS Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats Source: Joint GESI/IPSS analysis. Addis Ababa, 6 March 2014. 8
Some Strengths joint programming instead of simple export competitive in terms of thematic focus (1 st GS in Africa), mobility options and fees compared to similar programmes offered by US or UK universities integration into Leipzig teaching (second term) and to the well-established EU-accredited Master s programme and the PhD Graduate School Global and Area Studies 9
Some Weaknesses visibility of the programme; management of call for applications; regional spread suboptimal supervision and UL presence managing flying faculty members agendas accommodating full term or part-time working students in intensive course programmes and help structure to accomplish tasks in due time too little involvement and ownership of IPSS so far 10
Some Opportunities becoming a leading university within the IGAD region is a cornerstone of AAU which overlaps with the programme s vision of recruiting more outside of Ethiopia and enrolling more students in general highly attractive programme due to thematic focus substantial contribution to capacity-building at IPSS integration into IPSS activities with the African Union politically backed by city twinning agreement (Addis/Leipzig) and internationalization strategy of UL 11
Some Threats institutional insecurity, opaque structures and (partly) lack of commitment on behalf of AAU instability of income through tuition fees (CfA, commitment of sponsoring institutions) managing (digital) cultures of communication and creating trust 12
3 Developing E-learning elements DAAD programme Adaption of E-Learning elements for German university programmes abroad (funds from Stifterverband der Deutschen Wissenschaft) volume: 25,000 for 2014 13
Aims of E-learning I development of a remedial course (Propädeutikum) Introduction to scientific working for the MA programme to complement the presence course with its E-learning platform Moodle features: sequenced learning units regular tests to check on learning achievements operated throughout the term 14
Aims of E-learning II establishment of a virtual classroom (MA & PhD) supervision by one lecturer of AAU and UL each previously: communication of drafts per e-mail with a risk that some communication gets lost in the supervision triangle in protected Moodle fora all discussions are available to those concerned developing best practice for future cohorts (FAQs) peer review learning: students jointly to discuss their exposés 15
Aims of E-learning III provision of video sequences on the curriculum for the foundational modules GS 710 Global History und GS 720 International Studies making available different theoretical and political perspectives on controversial issues 20 video units on globalization issues (such as, for instance, the rise of the BRICS, the Arab Spring, new regionalisms, etc.) 10 video units on possible fields of employment 16
4 Transcultural challenges programme management (e.g. grading cultures) expectation management students (e.g. learning culture, AAU) faculty (AAU, UL) conceptual, epistemological debate (poststructuralist, post-colonial Global Studies vs. positivist, normative RC Peace and Security Studies ) 17