Circle U. climate summer school at HU: register now!

You’re a BA student at a Circle U. university and interested in climate science and politics? No matter your discipline, “Climate Change & Policy: How to Transition to a Post-Carbon Future” (24-28 July) is for you! Check out the programme and register now!

 

“Climate Change & Policy” – course description

A truly international experience

2023 programme and how to apply

Certificates and travel grants

 

Course description

So, you got the climate crisis on your mind, but aren’t sure how to address it in the context of your BA programme and beyond? Fear not, Circle U. has got you covered! No matter whether you study art history, agricultural sciences, mathematics or something else altogether – the summer school “Climate Change & Policy: How to Transition to a Post-Carbon Future” is for you. Taking place at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin on 24-28 July (with five additional online sessions), it will give you an interdisciplinary perspective on climate research, the potential of mitigation actions, policy initiatives, international negotiations, psychological aspects of climate change and more.

The school consists of interactive lectures, seminars, workshops, simulations and panel discussions – all led by renowned researchers and policy experts from various European countries. Next to equipping you with topical knowledge, it will help you enhance your critical thinking, communication and problem-solving skills. You will, for example, practise negotiating and strategic agenda-setting as you take on the role of a UN delegate. You will analyse and document examples of climate impact in your home region and research environmental and sustainability policies at your university.

A truly international experience

You will get to connect and work with peers from Circle U.’s nine European partner universities and enjoy the extra benefit of international exchange. Lecturers include Anne Jensen from Aarhus University’s Interdisciplinary Centre for Climate Change; Marnik Vanclooster, professor of Environmental Science at Université Catholique de Louvain; Hillary Briffa, lecturer in National Security Studies at King’s College London; Marcel Robischon, professor of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin; Jelena Luković, assistant professor of Geography at University of Belgrade and many others. 

This summer school is a truly international experience that will stay with you long after you’ve returned to your home university. Here is what some of last year’s participants had to say:

“I want to write my final thesis on the environmental justice movement. Thanks to this programme, I will be able to talk and write about the topic for a wider audience.” - Ester Buledi, student of Criminal and Civil Law at UCLouvain

“It taught me how to make an impact through my studies and also outside of my studies, and I hope to use this knowledge after the summer school!” - Melchi Gukhool, student of Life Sciences at Université Paris Cité

“In the summer school we are students from nine universities from all over Europe and we had good discussions, exchanged a lot of experiences – and made lots of friends!” Sanjaykumar Nilkanth Sheri, student of Aerospace Engineering at Università di Pisa

2023 programme and how to apply

The programme will start with five days of online sessions (10, 12, 14, 17 and 19 July), followed by a week of in-person classes and activities (24–28 July) in Berlin. All components of this summer school will be taught in English. The online sessions will be recorded for asynchronous learning: If you are unable to participate live, you may access the recorded sessions to work on your portfolio tasks afterwards. Please find the full programme here.

Full programme

Applications are accepted through the MoveOn portal until 28 February. Please register here [applications closed] and enter the required information. Along with the application form, please submit your CV and motivation letter (in English), your Transcript of Records as well as proof of enrolment at one of the Circle U. universities.* By 2 May, all applicants will be notified by email about the results of the selection procedure. If you have any questions regarding the application process, feel free to contact us by email.

Certificates and travel grants

Participants are expected to actively contribute to the discussions, fulfil a portfolio of online tasks and share their work in group presentations. Their contributions are assessed on a pass/fail basis and successful participants will receive a Certificate of Completion issued by Circle U.. In addition, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin will provide a Transcript of Records (5 ECTS). Please consult your local Examination Office regarding course recognition in your study programme.

The summer school is free of charge and comes with a grant. The rates follow the Erasmus+ guidelines, and will be paid out by the sending institution. The grant is composed of an amount for subsistence (70 euros per day) for a maximum of seven days (duration of summer school plus two days for travel), i.e. up to 490 euros in total, and a travel grant which will be calculated according to distance (Erasmus+ Distance Calculator). Please note that successful applicants will be asked to make their own travel and accommodation arrangements, Humboldt-Universität will provide a list of recommendations.

Apply now!

* Please note that for the purpose of selecting summer school participants we intend to disclose your personal data (name, semester, letter of motivation, grade point average) to our Circle U. partner universities (Aarhus Universitet, Univerzitet u Beogradu, King’s College London, Université catholique de Louvain, Universitetet i Oslo, Université Paris Cité, Universität Wien, Universitá die Pisa).