European Integration Summer School (EISS)

About the programme

The programme is available for Norwegian/Nordic residents and students from partner universities. 

Although it has recently been challenged by a series of crises, such as the ongoing pandemic, the European Union (EU), which presumably is the most prominent institutional foundation of regional integration in Europe, still remains of paramount importance in several policy areas at the global stage. The EU clearly is not a superpower, but it certainly ranks as one of the most important actors on the global stage. The EU not only affects the lives of more than 500 million inhabitants living within its territory, but it also has a significant impact on millions of people living outside of its borders. How can we study the European Union as a prime organization of Europe’s contemporary political order? 

Are you aspiring for a career in international business or public administration with exposure to Europe and the European Union? Then you are most welcome at EISS, and you certainly will benefit from our summer school.

For more than 30 years, EISS has received national and international recognition as being a place that provides an exceptional learning environment for its students. EISS provides you with the opportunity to catch up with top scholars and experts. In 2020, the UiA Department of Political Science and Management was awarded a prestigious Jean Monnet Center of Excellence (JMCoE) by the European Commission as a recognition of its strength and competence in both research and teaching in the field of European Studies.

From 2024, the summer school will be offered as a Blended Intensive Program in collaboration with the FORTHEM European University Alliance.

On-campus school at UiA (Kristiansand), 9–26 July 2024 (date of arrival and departure on 8 July and 27 July) including a digital component at the beginning of the summer school. 

What will you gain?

In short, you will:

• Deepen your knowledge on a wide range of issues pertaining to European integration.
• Add an international dimension to your specific field of training (e.g. in law, public administration or economics).
• Engage with top scholars and experts in a very personal way.

If you aspire for a career in business or public administration and will be exposed to Europe and the European Union, then you are most certainly going to benefit from our Summer School.

Teaching methods

Language of instruction: English.

Structure: The course Current Issues in the European Union ST-420 is worth 10 credits and will be offered during the period of July 9-26, 2024.

Current issues in the European Union

Course schedule (subject to minor adjustments): Coming soon

Recommended previous courses

Knowledge of EU politics at an introductory level is recommended, e.g., ST-202 European Union Politics (UiA).

The European Union - Institutions and Politics

Suggested reading for preparation:

• John McCormick, Understanding the European Union. A Concise Introduction (London and Basingstoke: Palgrave 2020)
• Michele Cini & Nieves Peréz-Solórzano Borragán (eds), European Union Politics (Oxford: Oxford University Press 2019).

Learning environment

The summer school has received national and international recognition as a program that provides an exceptionally good learning environment for students.

You will have the opportunity to interact with both Norwegian and international students, and the course maintains a high academic standard. This is achieved through the involvement of top researchers and renowned experts in the field of European integration.

The course includes both a digital and a physical component, with the main emphasis on face-to-face lectures and seminars at Campus Kristiansand. Additionally, social gatherings and excursions are organized, including a trip to Bragdøya and Preikestolen.

Many of our former students particularly highlight this unique combination of academic professionalism and social events as especially appealing.