Off the beaten track with IRRS programme

Ten students from the MA programme in International Relations and Regional Studies (IRRS) at the Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies arrived in Pristina, Kosovo on Monday for a week long study trip as part of the course “Practical Field Research in the Conflict Areas.”

The University of Pristina and the OSCE Mission in Kosovo organized a series of expert speakers and site visits for the students. Led by Professor Eiki Berg and PhD fellow Thomas Linsenmaier, students are discussing the conflict between Kosovo and Serbia, and current events in Kosovo with expert academics and practitioners.

The study group are also conducting site visits to the towns of Gracanica and Mitrovica, as well as, a variety of institutions in Kosovo such as the Assembly of Kosovo, the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, the EU Office in Kosovo and other civil society organizations.

"For students, this week in Kosovo points to different conflict trajectories which otherwise would have remained unnoticed during the classroom hours. With Kosovo-Serbia dialogue at a standstill and some problems with implementation of past agreements, normalization between the two countries seems to be questionable as the long conflict between the two still looms large", says Prof. Berg.

For more information, please contact Prof Eiki Berg, eiki.berg [ät] ut.ee

Forwarded by:
Maili Vilson
Research Communication Specialist
Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies
University of Tartu
maili.vilson [ät] ut.ee
phone 737 6584