Tag Archives: European Studies

PhD Fellowship in national minorities at the Department of Border Region Studies

The Department of Border Region Studies in Sønderborg invites applications for a PhD Research Fellowship on National minorities and minority-majority interaction in the Danish-German border-region after 1955. The project is to be seen in a European perspective.

The fellowship is relevant for master students with strong aspirations to get a PhD degreee in studies in border regions and national minorities. Accordingly, it is expected that the successful applicant has a master degree in a field within the humanities or the social sciences. Ability to read and understand Danish and German is demanded.

The Department of Border Region Studies is located in Sønderborg, Denmark, and rooted in the unique history of the Southern Danish border region. It has lively relationships with the business community and the cultural institutions of the region. The department constitutes an interdisciplinary unit with scholars being organised around three research groups focusing on business administration, regional economics, and people and society in border regions. The department offers teaching at all levels within European Studies, Regional Economics and Business Administration. There are approximately 800 students from about 50 countries enrolled at the department.

The successful applicant will participate in research and dissemination activities. The student will be enrolled in the relevant PhD programme at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU). As part of the PhD study, an individual education programme within the relevant discipline of the candidate has to be completed. You will be expected to complete a six-month stay at a research institution abroad and/or at a project partner, and over the period of the programme, to acquire experience of teaching or dissemination activities. You are also expected to participate in the various activities at the department and – apart from your stay abroad – to be regularly present at the department.

Information about the PhD programme at the Faculty of Business and Social Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, is available from www.sdu.dk.

Further information can be obtained from Professor Steen Bo Frandsen; who will be the main supervisor of the project.

Further information

Master of Social Science in European Studies

The Faculty of Business and Social Sciences
University of Southern Denmark, campus Sønderborg

Profile

“Europe of Regions” has become an increasingly fashionable way to describe European integration, but politicians, businesses and civil society usually do not have a clear picture of what “Europe of Regions” actually means. The aim of the Sønderborg profile in the European Studies program offered in cooperation with the University of Flensburg is to make the students familiar with ‘regions’ in the broadest sense, using historical, cultural, political, administrative and economical approaches to the term ‘region’ and illustrate the concept within European integration. The program includes a sophisticated course of qualitative social science methods. A special focus will be put on borders and border regions. Borders still represent barriers to integration, and border regions are laboratories of European integration.

A special feature of the study program is the opportunity to take electives at the University of Flensburg in the third semester, including the possibility to earn a dual degree. Other options are to specialize by taking electives within the other master programs offered at the Department of Border Region Studies in Sønderborg, or take a company/institution internship or study abroad.

The master programme European Studies (two years) is offered in co-operation with the University of Flensburg. All classes are taught in English. In the first year, you have to choose between two tracks: a track offered in Sønderborg focussing on the popular concept of the “Europe of Regions”, where you will be introduced to regions in an interdisciplinary program with a special focus on borders and border regions as laboratories of European integration. A track offered at the University of Flensburg focuses on more general aspects of European integration. In the third semester, students choose electives from either campus to specialise according to their interests. The master thesis is written at SDU in the fourth semester.

Career opportunities

The study program intends to provide the students with broad and specialized knowledge within political, economic and cultural aspects of the “Europe of Regions”, along with the ability to use scientific methods. This offers a broad range of qualified career opportunities with leadership potential:

  • Senior officers in EU institutions
  • Senior officers/European consultants at institutions on the level of national, regional, local and cross-border governance (regional offices, euro regions, municipalities Senior positions in private enterprises and the media European consultants
  • Senior positions in private enterprises and the media
  • European consultants
  • Academia

MSc. European Studies

Assistant Professorship in International Business-to-Business Relations and Supply Chain Management

Job description

At the Department of Border Region Studies (IFG), University of Southern Denmark, Campus Sønderborg, applications are invited for a position as Assistant Professor within the priority area Business-to-Business Relations & Supply Chain Management. The position has a time limit of three years. Expected start is autumn 2011.

The Department is situated in the beautiful premises at Alsion on the shore facing Sønderborg and the island of Als. From here there is only 30 minutes by car to the Danish-German border, only 35 minutes by plane to Copenhagen. Hamburg, Kiel, Aarhus and Odense can be reached by car within 1½ – 2 hours. Sønderborg has a rich cultural life and is surrounded by pretty landscapes inviting for recreational activities. The SDU-Campus Sønderborg houses Social Sciences, Humanities as well as Technical Sciences.

The Department of Border Region Studies (IFG) is rooted in the unique history of the Southern Danish border region. At the same time, the department has a close relationship with the business community and the cultural institutions of the region. The comparative aspect including other (border) regions in Europe is particularly strong within the regional studies and within the border region studies. Due to a strong focus on comparative aspects the department has developed a broad international research network within Europe. In addition, the department has a special obligation to carrying out research relating to the German minority in Southern Jutland.

The IFG has three research priority groups: 1) Business-to-Business Relations & Supply Chain Management; 2) Regional Economics and the Spatial Dimension of Economics, and 3) People and Society in Border Regions. Research results disseminate in English, Danish and German in monographs, in national as well as international peer reviewed journals, and to the general public in the regional and national printed and digital media.

International Business-to-Business Relations and Supply Chain Management

The research priority group in Business-to-Business (B2B) Relations and Supply Chain Management (SCM) is still in the first phase of being established and manned. Its aim is to create new knowledge as to the interaction of the businesses. The focus is on relations in the total chain of activities from sub-supplier to the end-customer. The research in Supply Chain Management (SCM) is concentrated on international marketing. In order to create the desirable coverage it is therefore necessary to consolidate the competences in B2B marketing and create new competences within especially SCM and Logistics – important subjects at the Master of Science programme in Sønderborg.

The research in B2B as well as in SCM has natural interfaces with the other business-, regional- and macroeconomic research areas at IFG.

Selection Criteria

Applications are welcome from candidates working in any area of relevance to International Business-to-Business Relations and Supply Chain Management, but preference will be given to candidates with competence and interest to stimulate and strengthen collaboration with the other research groups at the department.

The successful candidate will be expected to

  • engage in research of an international standard corresponding to his or her position
  • contribute to the further development of the priority area,
  • play an active role in securing research funding,
  • publish in peer-reviewed academic journals as well as engage in other forms and levels of research dissemination,
  • participate in the teaching and administrative work of the Department, including but not restricted to the candidate’s area of specialisation.
  • supervise, or assist in the supervision of students as required,
  • undertake administrative duties as requested by the Head of Department.

The successful candidate will also be expected to satisfy the following selection criteria:

  • A doctorate in an appropriate field.
  • Proven research ability as judged by, inter alia,
  • the number and quality of monographs and refereed publications;
  • experience in research and teaching;
  • any research grant awards;
  • the ability to make an appropriate contribution to graduate teaching, including PhD supervision as well as to contribute to undergraduate programmes;
  • the ability to contribute to course development, including but not restricted to his or hers area of specialisation.

The department offers teaching at all levels within business administration (Bachelor of Science in Business Administration), in Business Relationship Management (Master of Science) and in European Studies. Fall 2012 a new master in Regional Economics and Development will be started. The department is also responsible for teaching the business economics components to the BSc Negot in Chinese in Sønderborg and is engaged in research and teaching collaboration with the Mads Clausen Department (Technical Faculty, Sønderborg, SDU) and with the neighbouring University of Flensburg, Germany.

App. 500 students from 50 countries worldwide are enrolled at the department. Teaching language is English only.

Further information can be obtained by contacting Research Director Svend Hollensen, e-mail or phone +45 6550 1221.

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Associate Professorship in International Business-to-Business Relations and Supply Chain Management

Job description

At the Department of Border Region Studies (IFG), University of Southern Denmark, Campus Sønderborg, applications are invited for a position as associate professor within the priority area Business-to-Business Relations & Supply Chain Management.
Expected start is December 1st, 2011 or soon thereafter.

The Department is situated in the beautiful premises at Alsion on the shore facing Sønderborg and the island of Als. From here there is only 30 minutes by car to the Danish-German border, only 35 minutes by plane to Copenhagen. Hamburg, Kiel, Aarhus and Odense can be reached by car within 1½ – 2 hours. Sønderborg has a rich cultural life and is surrounded by pretty landscapes inviting for recreational activities. The SDU-Campus Sønderborg houses Social Sciences, Humanities as well as Technical Sciences.

The Department of Border Region Studies (IFG) is rooted in the unique history of the Southern Danish border region. At the same time, the department has a close relationship with the business community and the cultural institutions of the region. The comparative aspect including other (border) regions in Europe is particularly strong within the regional studies and within the border region studies. Due to a strong focus on comparative aspects the department has developed a broad international research network within Europe. In addition, the department has a special obligation to carrying out research relating to the German minority in Southern Jutland.

The IFG has three research priority groups: 1) Business-to-Business Relations & Supply Chain Management; 2) Regional Economics and the Spatial Dimension of Economics, and 3) People and Society in Border Regions. Research results disseminate in English, Danish and German in monographs, in national as well as international peer reviewed journals, and to the general public in the regional and national printed and digital media.

International Business-to-Business Relations and Supply Chain Management

The research priority group in Business-to-Business (B2B) Relations and Supply Chain Management (SCM) is still in the first phase of being established and manned. Its aim is to create new knowledge as to the interaction of the businesses. The focus is on relations in the total chain of activities from sub-supplier to the end-customer. The research in Supply Chain Management (SCM) is concentrated on international marketing. In order to create the desirable coverage it is therefore necessary to consolidate the competences in B2B marketing and create new competences within especially SCM and Logistics – important subjects at the Master of Science programme in Sønderborg.

The research in B2B as well as in SCM has natural interfaces with the other business-, regional- and macroeconomic research areas at IFG.

Selection Criteria

Applications are welcome from candidates working in any area of relevance to International Business-to-Business Relations and Supply Chain Management, but preference will be given to candidates with competence and interest to stimulate and strengthen collaboration with the other research groups at the department.

The successful candidate will be expected to

  • engage in research of an international standard corresponding to his or hers position
  • contribute to the further development of the priority area,
  • play an active role in securing research funding,
  • publish in peer-reviewed academic journals as well as engage in other forms and levels of research dissemination,
  • participate in the teaching and administrative work of the Department, including but not restricted to the candidate’s area of specialisation.
  • supervise, or assist in the supervision of students as required,
  • undertake administrative duties as requested by the Head of Department.

The successful candidate will also be expected to satisfy the following selection criteria:

  • A doctorate in an appropriate field.
  • Proven research ability as judged by, inter alia,
  • the number and quality of monographs and refereed publications;
  • experience in research and teaching;
  • any research grant awards;
  • the ability to make an appropriate contribution to graduate teaching, including PhD supervision as well as to contribute to undergraduate programmes;
  • the ability to contribute to course development, including but not restricted to his or hers area of specialisation.

The department offers teaching at all levels within business administration (Bachelor of Science in Business Administration), in Business Relationship Management (Master of Science) and in European Studies. Fall 2012 a new master in Regional Economics and Development will be started. The department is also responsible for teaching the business economics components to the BSc Negot in Chinese in Sønderborg and is engaged in research and teaching collaboration with the Mads Clausen Department (Technical Faculty, Sønderborg, SDU) and with the neighbouring University of Flensburg, Germany.

App. 500 students from 50 countries worldwide are enrolled at the department. Teaching language is English only.

Further information can be obtained by contacting Research Director Svend Hollensen, e-mail or phone +45 6550 1221.

Read more

A Borderless Europe?

International Conference SDU Sønderborg 2010, Sept. 30. – Oct. 2. 2010
Call for papers
On the threshold of a ‘borderless Europe’, research on every day life experiences with borders and border issues has become more relevant than ever. The mobility of everyday life reflected in increasing migration rates and cross-border commuting implies movements and activities crossing national, administrative, cultural and mental borders challenging dividing lines between European states, East and West, center and periphery, rich and poor within as well as conceptions of internal and external Europe.
Since the late 1990s, the European Union has had a new focus on the peripheries and borderlands of Europe. From considering them enclaves of stagnation and as more or less passive recipients of subsidies, the new profile in EU regional policies is that border regions are motors in the European integration process and encouraged to act as entrepreneurs of their own and the European developments. This shift marks new possibilities for cross-border and inter- regional cooperation.
However, even in today’s Europe, where we conceive the European state borders as more permeable than before, particularly within the ‘Schengenland’, the unambiguous absence of borders can prove hard to find. Historical conflicts, as well as politically discursive and mental barriers between the European populations seem to be more persistent than EU attempts to demolish border and integrate Europe. As for the European integration process, this point can be taken further, that integration is not a matter of overcoming the borders in Europe; rather it is a question of acknowledging the co-existence of many different versions of the European borders.
In contrast to considering borders to be mere physical dividing lines or easily dissolvable, this conference takes a cross-disciplinary perspective on borders and borderlands, discussing them as socially constructed, multiple practices and complex psychological patterns. Borders may thus represent boundaries as well as thresholds of passages, they can be symbolic or material, soft or hard, and they can appear permeable or extremely solid. This ambivalent character makes it crucial to investigate how the people of Europe practice and experience borders in everyday life.
This conference invites contributions that empirically as well as theoretically reflect on the challenges associated with living on, by, with and across the European borders. Contributions can have both contemporary and historical outlook. The conference committee welcomes contributions from all disciplines related to border issues (such as Ethnology, Anthropology, Sociology, European Studies, History, Political Science, Law, Economics, Geography, Business Studies, etc.)
The question of a ‘borderless Europe’ will be addressed from theoretical and empirical as well as practical perspectives:
1. How can we theoretically as well as methodologically conceive and conceptualise the complex character of European borders? 2. How are borders experienced in European every day life – not least among those living outside or at the external EU-borders? 3. Which kinds of challenges are connected to the governance of regions and cross-border cooperation? 4. How persistent are historical memory, discourse and imaginings in maintaining European borders?
5. What effect does EU’s regional policies have on cross-border mobility and the economic landscape of regional disparities in Europe? 6. How does new external EU-borders (Schengen) influence everyday life in border-regions?
The conference will be grouped into following themes:
I. II. III.
Borders and regionalisation. Cross-border cooperation. Borders and mobility. Migration and commuting. Borders and Europeanisation/globalisation. Tracing links.
Abstracts should be between 300 – 500 words and send to the organising committee no later than April 15. 2010.
We intend to publish an anthology based on revised versions of selected conference papers. If you are interested in contributing to the anthology, please send full papers to the organising committee no later than September 1. 2010.

International Conference SDU Sønderborg 2010, Sept. 30. – Oct. 2. 2010

Call for papers

On the threshold of a ‘borderless Europe’, research on every day life experiences with borders and border issues has become more relevant than ever. The mobility of everyday life reflected in increasing migration rates and cross-border commuting implies movements and activities crossing national, administrative, cultural and mental borders challenging dividing lines between European states, East and West, center and periphery, rich and poor within as well as conceptions of internal and external Europe.

Since the late 1990s, the European Union has had a new focus on the peripheries and borderlands of Europe. From considering them enclaves of stagnation and as more or less passive recipients of subsidies, the new profile in EU regional policies is that border regions are motors in the European integration process and encouraged to act as entrepreneurs of their own and the European developments. This shift marks new possibilities for cross-border and inter- regional cooperation.

However, even in today’s Europe, where we conceive the European state borders as more permeable than before, particularly within the ‘Schengenland’, the unambiguous absence of borders can prove hard to find. Historical conflicts, as well as politically discursive and mental barriers between the European populations seem to be more persistent than EU attempts to demolish border and integrate Europe. As for the European integration process, this point can be taken further, that integration is not a matter of overcoming the borders in Europe; rather it is a question of acknowledging the co-existence of many different versions of the European borders.

In contrast to considering borders to be mere physical dividing lines or easily dissolvable, this conference takes a cross-disciplinary perspective on borders and borderlands, discussing them as socially constructed, multiple practices and complex psychological patterns. Borders may thus represent boundaries as well as thresholds of passages, they can be symbolic or material, soft or hard, and they can appear permeable or extremely solid. This ambivalent character makes it crucial to investigate how the people of Europe practice and experience borders in everyday life.

This conference invites contributions that empirically as well as theoretically reflect on the challenges associated with living on, by, with and across the European borders. Contributions can have both contemporary and historical outlook. The conference committee welcomes contributions from all disciplines related to border issues (such as Ethnology, Anthropology, Sociology, European Studies, History, Political Science, Law, Economics, Geography, Business Studies, etc.)

The question of a ‘borderless Europe’ will be addressed from theoretical and empirical as well as practical perspectives:

  1. How can we theoretically as well as methodologically conceive and conceptualise the complex character of European borders?
  2. How are borders experienced in European every day life – not least among those living outside or at the external EU-borders?
  3. Which kinds of challenges are connected to the governance of regions and cross-border cooperation?
  4. How persistent are historical memory, discourse and imaginings in maintaining European borders?
  5. What effect does EU’s regional policies have on cross-border mobility and the economic landscape of regional disparities in Europe?
  6. How does new external EU-borders (Schengen) influence everyday life in border-regions?

The conference will be grouped into following themes:

I. Borders and regionalisation. Cross-border cooperation.
II. Borders and mobility. Migration and commuting.
III. Borders and Europeanisation/globalisation. Tracing links.

Abstracts should be between 300 – 500 words and send to the organising committee no later than April 15. 2010.

We intend to publish an anthology based on revised versions of selected conference papers. If you are interested in contributing to the anthology, please send full papers to the organising committee no later than September 1. 2010.

Further information about the conference