Small States in Europe: Towards a Cross-Disciplinary Approach Erasmus Project

Project Title

Small States in Europe: Towards a Cross-Disciplinary Approach

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for higher education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2016

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: International cooperation, international relations, development cooperation; Quality and Relevance of Higher Education in Partner Countries

Project Summary

This strategic partnership created a pan-European, cross-disciplinary, consortium of experts in the field of small state studies. Its aim was to expand the traditional scope of small state studies by targeting new disciplines and thus enhance the possibility for a wider understanding of small states, their capabilities, challenges and interests. The primary objective of this partnership was to train young teachers and researchers in applying insights from small state studies to their research and teaching. Furthermore, the consortium’s aim was to develop four new curriculums in small state studies based on the four teaching and research themes developed by the partners.

The ten universities participating in this strategic partnership were all chosen based on their unique and outstanding academic standing in the field of small states and European integration.
1) University of Iceland – the Centre for Small State Studies is one of the leading research centres in the world focusing on small state studies;
2) University of Copenhagen – has developed extensive knowledge in the field of small states, particularly focusing on security issues;
3) Vilnius University – specialises in the foreign policy and economic security challenges of small states;
4) Tallinn University of Technology – a leader in the field of small state governance and entrepreneurship;
5) Lund University – has long tradition in research on small states and European integration
6) University of Ljubljana – holds expertise in the governance of small states and the challenges they face due to lesser capacities of their public administration;
7) University of Malta – expert in the field of small state studies and presents the view of a small island state dealing with challenges such as increased immigration and refugee numbers;
8) St. Andrews University – world-leading institute in IR and is increasingly interested in focusing on the field of small state studies;
9) Queen Mary University of London – was specifically recruited to the partnership because of its unique expertise in the legal issues facing small states;
10) Comenius University in Bratislava – has carried out various research projects on small states in Europe

The consortium developed four interlinked teaching and research themes (TRTs) that are built on the specific expertise of the partners and jointly create new cross-border synergies fostering the interdisciplinary development of small state studies at the European level. Together they formed an integral part of the objective of developing expertise in teaching in small state studies while moving the discipline forward into new fields.

The TRTs are:
TRT 1: Small states: Foreign policy and economic security;
TRT 2: Small states addressing the migration crisis;
TRT 3: Small states in international law
TRT 4: Small states and the challenges of good governance

The objectives of this project were linked to the following activities that were developed in relation to the four TRTs:

a. Two-week intensive summer academies, hosted in Reykjavík in 2017 and 2018
b. Intensive study programmes (one week duration) focused on training new and upcoming teachers. The programmes were hosted in Ljubljana in August 2017 and in Vilnius in January 2018
c. Multiplier event, hosted at the University of Malta
d. Transnational meetings, held at Queen Mary University in London and at the University of Malta
f. Development of four new curricula in small state studies based on the four teaching and research themes

The partners jointly developed the four teaching and research themes and contributed to the execution of the project according to their specific field of expertise.The project provided advanced Master’s students, Ph.D. students and post-doctoral researchers with greater skills and experience in teaching, and thus answered to the lack of training of teachers within higher education in Europe. The expected impact of this project was the integration of small state studies into new disciplines, as well as further strengthening small state studies in IR and Political Science. The objective was reached with the creation of four new innovative curriculums in small state studies that the consortium has developed. The curriculums have been well received and there have already been contacts from universities from outside the project that wish to teach these courses at their schools. The consortium has shared them within and beyond its network – through mailing lists and social media, as we as on social networking sites specifically targeting academics and researchers – where reception has been very good. These curriculums are available open access and will ensure the future sustainability of the project’s results and long-term benefits. In addition, the teachers trained through the project’s programmes will, by incorporating a small state angle to their teaching, ensure a wider impact from other disciplines on the study of small states.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 238114 Eur

Project Coordinator

HASKOLI ISLANDS & Country: IS

Project Partners

• UNIVERZA V LJUBLJANI
• QUEEN MARY UNIVERSITY OF LONDON
• KOBENHAVNS UNIVERSITET
• UNIVERSITA TA MALTA
• LUNDS UNIVERSITET
• TALLINNA TEHNIKAULIKOOL
• UNIVERZITA KOMENSKEHO V BRATISLAVE