The aim of Transdisciplinary Balkan Studies: Geophilosophy of the Balkans (GEOBALKANS) is to modernize educational approaches on crucial issues related to (self)understanding of the region to face up the current and future challenges of reconciliation and Europeanisation. In light of the increasing and resurfacing illiberal tendencies that stall its European perspectives the project starts from the premise that studies in social science and humanities in the Balkans are mostly nationally biased, lacking cross-regional and trans-disciplinary dimension. This bias, notably, critically impairs the processes of reconciliation and democratisation of the region. Based on this, GEOBALKANS’ main objective is the establishment of an integrated, trans-Balkan and trans-European school that will fuse the best European practices in the study of the respective fields, giving them a sound regional dimension, supported through trans-disciplinary cutting-edge methodologies and cooperation in social sciences, humanities and natural sciences, flexible (conventional and digital) study approaches, covered by distinguished regional and European experts in the field. GEOBALKANS consists from a number of incremental and interrelated activities for the achievement of the project objectives and results. Key result of the project will be the establishment of the joint, integrated graduate programme Transdisciplinary Balkan Studies: Geophilosophy of the Balkans. This general objective will be achieved and implemented through a significant number of Intellectual Outputs, Learning/Teaching/Training Activities and Multiplier Events as follows: • 4 Intellectual Outputs (IO1 Methodology and Programme Syllabus, IO2 Training and Learning Materials, IO3 Open Educational Resources, IO4 Model and guide for implementation) • 8 Learning/Teaching/Training Activities (subdivided into 3 Intensive Program for Teaching Staff, followed by 5 Intensive Programmes for Higher Education Learners) • 1 Multiplier Events By developing a curriculum for an integrated MA and PhD programme GEOBALKANS will be “supporting individuals in acquiring and developing basic skills and key competences” in the field of trans-disciplinary and critical political and social studies of the Balkans, hence providing prospective students and existing teaching staff with innovative methodologies and apparatus of critical and contemporary concepts for analyzing the historical and contemporary socio-political and cultural contexts and phenomena in the Balkans, Europe and world-wide. Bringing together as project partners universities, departments and teaching staff that cut across multiple disciplines and social sciences, which in a joint effort and trans-national partnership will develop programme that goes beyond the strict traditional confines of political sciences studies, the project will offer studying opportunity for students coming from different under-graduate backgrounds, and thus support permeability between the different education and training pathways. The project brings together universities on a trans-Balkans and trans-European level and creates high quality and innovative teaching, learning and research resources for trans-disciplinary and critical studies of the Balkans, while setting reconciliation, justice, equality and promotion of European values as its motivational and forward-looking vision. The project will have a positive effect on the educational function and scope of societal impact of the beneficiary partners, but has the potential to extend towards the local, national and international levels of other Higher Education Institutions and NGOs in all consortium countries through the established networks of researchers, teachers, academics and civil society actors. GEOBALKANS establishes a consortium of five prominent universities that will jointly organize and implement the project. Participants are FON University from Skopje, North Macedonia, SINGIDUNUM University from Belgrade, Serbia, PANTEION University, Greece, L'ORIENTALE University from Naples, Italy and University of VERONA from Verona, Italy.
By developing a curriculum for an integrated MA and PhD programme GEOBALKANS will be “supporting individuals in acquiring and developing basic skills and key competences” in the field of trans-disciplinary and critical political and social studies of the Balkans, hence providing prospective students and existing teaching staff with innovative methodologies and apparatus of critical and contemporary concepts for analyzing the historical and contemporary socio-political and cultural contexts and phenomena in the Balkans, Europe and worldwide. Bringing together as project partners universities, departments and teaching staff that cut across multiple disciplines and social sciences, which in a joint effort and trans-national partnership developed programme that goes beyond the strict traditional confines of political sciences studies, the project will offer studying opportunity for students coming from different under-graduate backgrounds, and thus support permeability between the different education and training pathways. Therefore, by fostering a transnational project of this kind, we had the following key objectives in mind: • Design, develop and implement a joint, integrated Graduate Program “Geophilosophy of the Balkans.” Bringing into dialogue various traditions of critical theory and multiple disciplines from the humanities and social sciences we will offer cross-disciplinary and critical understanding and tools for analysis and research on contemporary political phenomena, by setting the geopolitical location, relations and politics of the Balkans as its major focus of knowledge production and research. • Develop innovative and sustainable graduate education in the region that will 1) provide students with first-hand critical knowledge and experience from the process, 2) expand the local and regional educational and research basis on social, political and cultural phenomena and 3) develop and strengthen the academic and civil society resources that will foster greater tolerance and reconciliation, promoting European values in the WB region; • Advance the study of the Balkan problematic by providing state of the art digital approaches, including Open Educational Resources hosting explicitly and for the first time these issues, other digital technologies as well as options for e-learning and distance learning as set out in the European Framework for Digitally Competent Educational Organisations; • Strengthen regional cooperation and organizational capacity in the Balkans to jointly work at EU/international level, including improved academic and administrative management competences for preparation, implementation, monitoring and follow-up of a joint Graduate Program.
The aim of Transdisciplinary Balkan Studies: Geophilosophy of the Balkans (GEOBALKANS) was to modernize educational approaches on crucial issues related to (self)understanding of the region to face up the current and future challenges of reconciliation and Europeanisation. In light of the increasing and resurfacing illiberal tendencies that stall its European perspectives the project starts from the premise that studies in social science and humanities in the Balkans are mostly nationally biased, lacking cross-regional and trans-disciplinary dimension. This bias, notably, critically impairs the processes of reconciliation and democratization of the region. Based on this, GEOBALKANS’ main objective was the establishment of an integrated, trans-Balkan and trans-European school that will fuse the best European practices in the study of the respective fields, giving them a sound regional dimension, supported through trans-disciplinary cutting-edge methodologies and cooperation in social sciences, humanities and natural sciences, flexible (conventional and digital) study approaches, covered by distinguished regional and European experts in the field. Given the fact that at the time when GEOBALKANS was planned and the project’s consortium established very few academic programs offered critical and trans-disciplinary approach to examining the socio-cultural-political features of the region, the needs to be addressed with this project were directed towards to in-depth scholarship regarding the Balkans not only as geographical region but also as a specific cultural and political subject, and also towards better civil consciousness about the everyday political challenges that the region is facing with and it has to do with education as one of the strongest premises for active citizenship.