Southeast European Studies Student Symposium 2024

What is the SEES Student Symposium about?

The Southeast European Studies (SEES) Student Symposium essentially constitutes an opportunity for students interested in Southeast Europe to connect. It serves as a platform for exchange and feedback on current research projects (seminar papers, bachelor’s and master’s theses, etc.) and more. We embrace a broad thematic spectrum (yet always regarding Southeast Europe!) and are curious to know what interests you. Therefore, we welcome presentations on papers and reports (also work in progress!) and explicitly encourage you to bring along the questions and doubts that emerge throughout the research process. We will try to collectively find answers to them during presentations, and later in dialogue with the audience.

As a meeting place, the Symposium provides a space for exchange about Southeast Europe. Last year’s Symposium witnessed plenty of open and insightful debates, and we hope the 2024 edition awaits the same. Along with presentations, this year’s program includes keynotes, workshops, as well as cultural and creative activities. The Symposium’s main working languages are English and German, but if you would like to participate in another language, make sure to mention it in your application. However, please bear in mind that we cannot guarantee discussions and moderation in every language.

Who do we address?

We invite bachelor’s and master’s students, as well as master’s graduates who are currently in the application process for predoc and doctorate programs, to discuss their current work and research projects.

We welcome contributions from disciplines such as cultural studies, literary studies, linguistics, history, political sciences, economics, law, and more, as long as the topic is related to Southeast Europe. By Southeast Europe, we understand all the countries listed below (1).

You are interested in participating without presenting your own project? The registration for the symposium will open up on 1 March 2024.

Call for Presentations

If you are interested in presenting your work in 15 minutes, please email us an abstract of your project (max. 300 words) as well as a short bio (max. 100 words). The choice of research topic is free, but always concerning Southeast Europe. 20-minute discussions will follow presentations. Abstracts must be submitted in English.

Call for Activities

We would love to hear about your ideas for possible creative and cultural activities. Some ideas could be:

• Film or book reviews from or about SEE
• Presentation of musicians or bands from SEE
• Moderating an open conversation about a specific topic for the participants of the Symposium (e.g. feminism, LGBTIQ+, environmental movements…)
• An interview with an inspiring person (i.e. activists, researchers, journalists, young professionals…)

Please email us your proposal in English containing a brief description of what you envision and who you want to address (max. 300 words); excluding a short paragraph about yourself (max. 100 words) in one PDF. You may indicate if you want the activity to take place in another language.

Please send your application to symposium.see@gmail.com by 29 January 2024.