Call for Participation
Draft, December 2010
The International Summer/Spring School in Karelia (ISSK) is organized by the Petrozavodsk State University (Russia) and four Finnish universities: University of Lapland, University of Tampere, Aleksanteri Institute at the University of Helsinki, and the University of Eastern Finland.

ISSK is a meeting-point for Russian, and Finnish and other Nordic university students with focus on European, Russian and Northern studies. Since the initial Summer School in 2003, the goal has been to bring together a limited number (25-30) of MA students for one week at the Petrozavodsk State University (PetrSU) (and in 2011 also at the University of Helsinki and that of Eastern Finland, Joensuu) in order to further increase their knowledge of Nordic-Russian policies and cooperation, and promote dialogue and discussion.

Coming now into its 8th year of existence in 2011, the ISSK expands its scope and vision, and geography (where to take place) to attract larger audience of students and provide them with a more diversified academic, professional and social learning experience.

How to apply?
There is no fixed form of application. Instead of it, send a free application and indicate the following information:

● Full name and address, including e-mail address

● Home university and (major) academic discipline

● Brief statement of interest in the study program.

Send an application to the organizers (see below) by 26 March, 2011.

NB! Non-Russian students and lecturers will need a visa, issued by Petrozavodsk State University in order to get free accommodation in PetrSU dormitory/hotel. ONLY those with PetrSU visas will be allowed to stay at PetrSU rooms.

NB! Please note that the process of issuing invitation for a visa to Russia, and visa itself can take up to 2 months (plus delivery by regular mail) for students/lecturers from countries having no visa facilitation agreement with Russia (please check that out beforehand). Each participant is supposed in good time to apply for the invitation and visa to Russia.

Please find the invitation/visa application form in the Annex 1.

And find the instruction for visa application to Finland in the Annex 2.

For whom
ISSK'11 is purposed for the students of international relations, political sciences, other relevant social sciences, economics, and Northern and Nordic studies.

Assessment
● For a successful completion of the course, each student is required to attend all lectures and excursion, and actively participate in daily workshops.

● Additionally, each student needs to write an essay of 10-12 A4 pages, i.e. 22.000-24.000 items (not including reference list, figures and tables) on a selected topic, relevant to the main theme of ISSK’11, and submit it to his/her university coordinator within one month after the completion of the course.

● With those requirements fulfilled the course will carry up to 5 ECTS.

Costs
● There is no registration fee.

● The participation costs will consist of travel costs to and from Helsinki, Joensuu and Petrozavodsk, accommodation costs in Helsinki and Joensuu, nourishment, and the visa costs.

● Other costs, e.g. small refreshments, accommodation in Petrozavodsk, will be covered by the organizers.


ISSK’11: Working methods and program structure
One week course

The ISSK’11 is a one week intensive course that will study Stability, Peace and Security in general, and particularly in the context of the Arctic and North Europe taking both a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach. Through bringing together recognised Finnish/Nordic and Russian experts, ISSK’11 will provide students with an overview of stability and peace, conflict and war, and security studies in the Arctic and North Europe. Some current research projects being conducted at some of the region’s foremost educational institutions will also be highlighted.

Daily programme
Daily schedule of the ISSK consist of

● two lectures in the morning

● student workshop(s), supervised by the experts, after lunch

Students will give their active contribution during the lectures, workshops and the final round-table discussion in order to increase their understanding of various environmental policy issues in the North.

Excursion
Additionally, there will be an opportunity to participate in a full / half-day excursion within Karelia, to nearby sites of general interest.

Contact Information for ISSK’11
For additional information about the ISSK'11, do not hesitate to contact the director, the coordinator, Gleb Yarovoy and members of the ISSK Organizing Committee:

• Lassi Heininen, director University of Lapland lassi.heininen@ulapland.fi

• Tapani Kaakkuriniemi University of Helsinki tapani.kaakkuriniemi@helsinki.fi

• Hanna Peltonen University of Helsinki hanna.o.peltonen@helsinki.fi

• Nina Tynkkynen University of Tampere nina.tynkkynen@uta.fi

• Joni Virkkunen University of Eastern Finland joni.virkkunen@joensuu.fi

• Gleb Yarovoy, coordinator Petrozavodsk State University gleb.yarovoy@mail.ru

For more information of the ISSK, e.g. the Final Reports of the previous Summer Schools – see PetrSU website: http://petrsu.ru/Faculties/Politology/int_sum_sch.html