The European Spring/Summer Institute (ESI) is a seven day academic program designed to bring together undergraduate and graduate students of various nationalities and academic backgrounds from the USA, Western and Eastern Europe, and other parts of the world to enjoy part of their summer holidays in a unique academic and cultural environment. The aim of the program is to provide students with an exciting opportunity to deepen their expertise by grasping the knowledge of EU politics and exchanging ideas with academics, EU policy practitioners and fellow students from various cultures. The summer program combines intensive academic courses with cultural, social, and recreational opportunities. The academic program is central to the design and purpose of the European Summer Institute. Two fully fledged academic courses will be taught during the seven day intensive spring program. The first part of the program will focus on the main aspects of European integration and evolution of EU institutions. The future of enlarged European Union and the need for the EU institutional overhaul will be also addressed. The second part will discuss the role of the separate EU actors involved in the decision making process and will  introduce the different lobbying mechanisms in use. Each course consists of eight lectures/workshops, two guest lectures, a summary session, and a final exam. The courses and guest lectures will enable students to understand the situation in the European Union after its historic enlargement on May 1, 2004. In addition, students will discuss the future perspectives of a further enlarged EU. Despite the heavy course schedule, students will also have a chance to share experiences in less formal environment.

For more detailed information about the Institute, please visit the ESI Website: esi.praguesummerschools.org

Faculty:

Lukáš Sedláček-  EU Projects, Telefonica O2

Martin Shabu- Editor, Weekly Magazine EURO

Dr. Miloslav Had - Czech Council on Foreign Relations

Mr. Patrik Zoltvany - Amrop Jenewein Group

Former guest lecturers:

Dr. Justus Schönlau - Centre for European Policy Studies, Brussels

Mr. Marek Havrda - European Commission, Brussels

Mr. David Stulík - European Commission, Brussels

Mr. Jiří Švarc, European Commission, Brussels

PhDr. Pavol Frič, Center for Social and Economic Strategies

Mr. Edvard Outrata, Senát České Rpubliky

Dr. David Coen, Director of the MSc in Public Policy in the School of Public Policy at University College London

Dr. Irina Michalowitz , Assistant Professor at the Institute for Advanced Studies, Vienna.

Kriszta Maria Takacs, PhD., Journalist/Researcher, Brussels