Curriculum Resource Center

Announces Fall 2008 Sessions organized in cooperation with the Departments and Programs of the Central European University

In the Fall 2008 semester CRC is offering the following sessions:

1. Open House Sessions in broad discipline areas

The Open House sessions are organized in broad discipline areas covered by one or more CEU departments. These sessions are intended to introduce participants to CEU’s approach to a relevant discipline and new techniques for designing courses in that field. To this end the sessions will provide participants access to the facilities and resources of the CEU and the appropriate department, as well as general training workshops on course design and teaching methodology. Participants are invited to use the CEU library, visit relevant classes and meet faculty. The primary target groups of the Open House sessions are junior academics who are at the beginning of their teaching career, or mid-career and senior academics who would benefit from the above offerings.

Open House CRC sessions offered in Fall 2008 will be hosted by the following CEU departments on the dates indicated:

• History – November 17 – 21, 2008 (deadline for applications: October 7, 2008)
• Medieval Studies – November 17 – 21, 2008 (deadline for applications: October 7, 2008)
• Anthropology – November 24 – 28, 2008 (deadline for applications: October 15, 2008)
• Philosophy – November 24 – 28, 2008 (deadline for applications: October 15, 2008)
• International Relations and European Studies – December 1 – 5, 2008 (deadline for applications: October 20, 2008)

2. Course Innovation Sessions

These sessions intend to explore the cutting edge developments in a particular discipline. The sessions are meant primarily for senior faculty with significant teaching and research experience or for outstanding, research-oriented junior faculty. By discussing recent developments and exploring contemporary debates with CEU’s host departments and faculty, participants are expected to revise or update their courses or offer new courses in their particular area of interest. Additional training on course development is also offered by the CRC. These sessions are organized with a strong involvement of CEU departments and often will be combined with a workshop or a conference on the topic of the session.

In Fall 2008 we offer the following Course Innovation Sessions:

Department of Public Policy, Political Sciences and the Center for Media and Communications Studies (CMCS)
Audiovisual Mass Media: Between Politics and Regulation
October 13 – 17 , 2008
(deadline for applications: September 1, 2008)

This CRC workshop is co-hosted with the Center for Media and Communications Studies (CMCS) and incorporates courses offered by the Department of Political Science and the Department of Public Policy. The selected topic is located at the delicate interface of politics and public policy of the media sector comparing the policy objectives, instruments and outcomes with a focus on Central and Eastern European countries. The interdisciplinary approach allows participants to reflect on the likely interactions of political aims and regulatory means. The workshop will then discuss the role of stakeholders in shaping media policy, look at the agendas of a variety of social, political and economic forces, and put a particular spotlight on debates around media pluralism.

The workshop is recommended to faculty with a teaching interest in the audiovisual sector in the context of political communications and media policy looking at audiovisual mass media from a comparative and interdisciplinary perspective.

History
Urban History in a Global World - New Trends of Historical Scholarship
October 27 – 31, 2008
(deadline for applications: September 15, 2008)

Parallel to the present-day internationalization, the paradigmatic sense both of the process of urbanization and modernity (or post modernity) associated with urbanity, urban history gained much significance in historical scholarship. In addition, spatiality as a crucial variable of societal processes also shapes the image held by such places as metropolises and the most diverse urban forms past and present alike. We intend to reveal some more recent tendencies of the practice of urban history with special regard to social and cultural history. The workshop is recommended to historians, geographers, anthropologists or sociologists having an interest in urban past.

IMPORTANT NOTE: As a preparation for this session, we ask applicants to submit a one-page description of their approach to Urban Studies, as it relates to their course design. Applicants may refer to specific authors, works, theories, or broad approaches with which they are familiar. This short description should be attached to the application package when submitted to the CRC.

Legal Studies - International Business Law 
European Contract Law
November 10 – 14, 2008
(deadline for applications: September 25, 2008)

At Central European University in Budapest, teaching European Contract Law is a real novelty, though the contract laws of most of the EU countries are influenced in one way or another by German, French or common law. The question therefore is: What - and how - to teach in the frame of a contract law course? Common law in addition to the Principles of European Contract Law of the Lando-Commission? Or should parts of the national civil code be included in addition to the Principles?

This session tries to answer these questions relevant not only for doing business among enterprises coming from EU Member States but also for those coming from a country outside the EU but intending to do business with a company having its business registration in one of the EU Member States. It is recommended to faculty who intend to address these questions in their courses.

3. Topical Issues in Curriculum Development

These sessions are expected to cover topical issues of particular importance to the development of higher education in the region, in all areas related to curriculum development. Organized by the CRC office in co-operation with a wide range of strategic partners, these sessions address current trends in curriculum development, degree structures and particular or special interest issues. These sessions could be directed at a particular group of academics or focus on a target region or institution(s).

In Fall 2008 we offer the following Topical Issues in Curriculum Development:

Center for Policy Studies - Open Society Institute
Incorporating Diversity in Public Administration Higher Education
November 3 – 7, 2008
(deadline for applications: September 15, 2008)

Ethnic, linguistic, religious, gender and other forms of diversity are central issues for public administration. However, contemporary public administration education rarely relates diversity to public administration, and often, public administrators lack the awareness and skills to integrate diversity into their work effectively. By incorporating diversity into the curriculum of university departments, schools and institutes of public administration can build public administrators’ awareness and skills in managing diverse communities.
This CRC workshop will bring together educators from a range of social, political, and economic contexts and institutions. Participants will: get to a better understanding of the principles that link diversity and public administration; enhance their knowledge and skills so as to incorporate diversity into their curriculum effectively; and clarify how public administration education/institutions can be a model of good diversity management. The workshop offers an opportunity for teachers in higher education to discuss and develop their courses and generate ideas for future cooperation.

The workshop is organized jointly by the CRC, the Central European University’s Center for Policy Studies, and international experts and partners of the Managing Multiethnic Communities Program of Local Government Initiative/Open Society Institute and is designed for teachers of public policy and public administration.

IMPORTANT NOTE: There are many approaches to the public management of diversity. This workshop will include a session during which experienced lecturers and participants will present and discuss the theoretical frameworks and approaches that underpin their courses. As a preparation for this session, we ask applicants to submit a one-page description of their approach to diversity, as it relates to their course design. Applicants may refer to specific authors, works, theories, or broad approaches with which they are familiar. This short description should be attached to the application package when submitted to the CRC.

All CRC Applicants must:

• Be university teachers and/ or professionals (who teach part-time) in the Social Sciences and Humanities from the region (non EU countries) who are preparing to revise or develop their courses;
• Have sufficient English language ability, both written and spoken, to participate in discussions and use resource materials;
• Submit an application with all accompanying required documents as stated on the CRC application form and in the general announcement.

All costs related to transportation and accommodation during the sessions will be covered by the CRC.

Curriculum Resource Session application forms, application deadlines, the session schedule and further information on the center’s outreach activities and resources may be obtained from the CRC office at the Central European University.

MAILING ADDRESS: Curriculum Resource Center (CRC) / Central European University
Nador utca 9, H -1051 Budapest, Hungary;
Tel: + (36 - 1) 327 3189 or 327 3000; Fax: + (36 -1) 327 3190
E-mail: crc@ceu.hu;
WWW address: web.ceu.hu/crc/