The 30th Summer University on Federalism, Decentralisation and Conflict Resolution will take place from 12 to 30 August 2024. MLaw students can register to participate in the form of a block course. 

How can federal and decentralised structures contribute to peace-building and democratisation? What do the cases of Ethiopia and India teach us about the advantages and disavantages of federal structures? How do federal systems, including in countries such as Switzerland, adapt to new challenges? What is the future of federalism and decentralisation in the 21st century? These and other questions will be dealt with at the upcoming Summer University on Federalism, Decentralisation and Conflict Resolution. This three-week course is organized by the International Research and Consulting Center at the Institute of Federalism and the Chair for Constitutional and Administrative Law at the University of Fribourg. The course aims to provide a series of lectures, held by the Institute’s staff and renowned guest lecturers, covering interdisciplinary theoretical perspectives and analyses of specific case studies from all over the world.

The topics covered include:

• Federalism and Decentralisation as Theoretical Concepts
• Power-sharing in Theory and Practice
• Multilevel Governance, Intergovernmental Relations and Fiscal Federalism
• Conflict Resolution and Imposed Federalism
• Fundamental Rights and Diversity Management

In addition, a range of activities, including group work and simulations, will enable participants to apply the knowledge gained to real-life cases and discuss the trade-offs and challenges in the application of federal structures.

Prerequisites: The minimum prerequisite for participation is a bachelor degree of law, political science, international relations, economics, history, journalism or other related subjects.
Tuition language: English
Course fee: There is a charge of CHF 220.00 for UniFR students to participate in this course. This fee needs to be paid by 31.7. 
Application deadline: your application is to be submitted in accordance with the UNIFR rules on applying to block courses (between 09. – 18.7.). However, if you are interested, please fill out already the application form
ECTS: Successful participants will be credited 5 ECTS. Additional 5 ECTS can be acquired by writing a paper on a relevant topic, which will be communicated after the Summer University. Papers are due three months after the topic has been assigned. Please inform Ms. Yvonne Heiter-Steiner (yvonne.heiter-steiner@unifr.ch) by 5 August 2024 if you would like to write a paper.
Information: for more information please visit www.federalism.ch or contact Yvonne Heiter (yvonne.heiter-steiner@unifr.ch). You can also find the block course in timetable.