CIVICA Summer School “Reconstructing Europe after Crises”

Having previously participated in CIVICA courses as a Teaching Assistant, I've been receptive to any opportunities that the Alliance has to offer. When a friend of mine from EUI in Florence sent me a link to the summer school's program suggesting that we should both apply, I didn't have to be asked twice. I was confident about attending the summer school, because it offered a blend of an insightful discussion of European issues among fellow social science PhDs and professors with a promise of an inspiring interdisciplinary exchange that cross-cuts the academic environments that we operate in on day-to-day bases.

Beyond the aforementioned interdisciplinary character of the summer school, and the obvious perks offered by the venue of Villa Vigoni and the picturesque town of Menaggio by the Como Lake, I've mostly appreciated the level of immersion in the academic and non-academic discussions. Attending seminars or 2-day long academic conferences is one thing, but spending an entire working week in a villa with a group of like-minded-yet-diverse academics allows for more in-depth discussions and establishing actual human connections, not just "networking". Our big universities, the city metropolis that we live in, and the digital media we use mould us into speeding through our lives, and it's great to take a moment and slow down a little from time to time.

I was able to acquire a novel perspective on issues such as Covid governance, the European refugee crisis, or the Next Generation EU funding. To differing degrees, I deal with these issues in my research, but using very different tools and theories than the ones I was presented with during the summer school.

Don't hesitate! The PhD path is filled with application opportunities, calls for papers, grants etc., and at times it might be a little overwhelming to decide how to channel your energy. Well, definitely channel some of it towards CIVICA, if you get the chance.