EUROPEAN STUDIES

Moving to a different city within a country you are familiar with can still make you feel like you crossed borders. One thing about outsiders is that they bring something with them, new ways to communicate and fresh eyes on what you take for granted.

So, to satisfy my curiosity, I went and spoke to Alba, who is newly teaching the course Introduction to Political Science Research on Europe and beginning her research for her PhD here at OVGU. We start our journey with her first journey - living abroad.

Alba's mom being Spanish, she was curious about the other corner of Europe, which drew her to Lapland - one of the northern provinces of Finland - to study abroad. She liked it so much that she stayed past the first semester, and came back to work and then study for a master's degree. The master's in Finland put together the study of administration, business, and European structures.

Studying, and later at work in the International Office at the University of Lapland, started out with an adventure in intercultural communication. 'Doctor' and 'professor' and other honorifics were a bit unconventional for her teachers and colleagues. Most people won't tell you what to do, you have to figure it out for yourself. What to do? The people around her used first names, frequently thanked each other with concrete examples, and what about small talk? If you're looking for an alternative to this (sometimes odious) custom, chat with Alba and you may start to observe it yourself.

Well, this reception in Finland informed her more recent work in the sociology of work. Basically, this field asks questions about how people relate to each other at work, how the structure of their organization operates, and how change takes place on the institutional level.

We talked a lot about the problems of understanding change in society. It's not an easy subject to grasp even in a class let alone a casual conversation.

Many of these changes are still in progress. For Alba, who follows the news about issues like the abortion law discussion in Ireland and is curious about activists and lawmakers, the EU is a mine to excavate information about how the administration handles issues of gender. She is interested in how networks of people can move changes forward, a kind of impersonal leadership that relies on the group rather than one individual.

Moving to a new place is part of the experience in the program either in coming to Eastern Germany or in studying abroad. Beyond knowledge of European frameworks and theories, teachers also have their personal experience which they pass on if you pay close attention. Normally, you meet them in class once a week, and maybe when they're buying coffee at Dolce & Caffé, take a moment to ask them what they think about something relevant to you and observe what happens - you might be surprised.

If you want to participate in our 'Christmas get-together' for European Studies bachelor's and master's degree students, please sign up by the 24th of November.
On the 7th of December we will meet at 5pm in front of the library (building 30). All signed up European Studies bachelor's and master's degree students will get a glass of Glühwein (mulled wine) or a non-alcoholic option. Afterwards we will walk to the Christmas market/Lichterwelt Magdeburg.

Sign up link:
https://forms.gle/977Bs2CB3AaQy9Wo8

We are looking forward seeing you all soon!

Wissenschaft im Rathaus heißt es einmal im Monat im Alten Rathaus. Am letzten Montag des Monts präsentieren Magdeburger Wissenschaftlicher ihre aktuelle Forschung und tauschen dafür in Forschungslabor und den Hörsaal mit dem Rathaus.

Dabei werden aktuelle Forschungsthemen aus unterschiedlichen Wissenschaftsdisziplinen beleuchtet, die sowohl die ganze Bandbreite als auch die Schwerpunkte des Wissenschaftsstandorts Magdeburg verdeutlichen.

Die Vortragsreihe „Wissenschaft im Rathaus“ ist ein Gemeinschaftsprojekt der Magdeburger Forschungseinrichtungen, der Städtischen Volkshochschule und der Stadtverwaltung.

Beginn ist jeweils 19.00 Uhr im Bereich Ausstellung/Empfang.  Die Teilnahme an der Veranstaltung im Alten Rathaus ist kostenlos. Zur Planung der Platzkapazitäten wird um telefonische Voranmeldung in der Städtischen Volkshochschule unter der Rufnummer 03 91/5 35 47 70 gebeten.

Die aktuellen Termine können Sie hier einsehen.

Die Veranstaltung wird unter Beachtung der Auflagen aus der aktuell gültigen SARS-CoV-2-Eindämmungsverordnung durchgeführt. Die 3G-Regelung (geimpft, genesen, getestet) entfällt, da die Teilnehmerzahl auf weniger als 50 Personen begrenzt ist. Dennoch werden die Kontaktdaten erfasst und das Tragen eines Mund-Nasen-Schutzes ist im Alten Rathaus erforderlich.