SAIS: a graduate program with a global perspective

Rankings of academic institutions are almost always controversial. How can one measure the quality of teaching or learning with any degree of certainty? How do you set standards that work across the board? How can you ensure a diverse and comprehensive set of judges?

Still, individuals who are considering applying to graduate schools want benchmarks by which to compare programs. The most thoughtful candidates understand that rankings are by definition imperfect tools -- but tools nonetheless.

The U.S. magazine Foreign Policy periodically issues rankings of graduate programs in international relations. It is one of the most widely regarded benchmarks. It has its critics and yet draws attention every time it publishes rankings.

In its January/February issue, Foreign Policy ranks SAIS as the number two master's program in international relations in the world. You can read the results here.

Some of the comments that readers posted to the web version of the article focused on the fact that U.S. institutions dominated these rankings. Not a surprise given that the classifications were the work of faculty at U.S. universities.

We at SAIS are sensitive to these considerations. If SAIS has campuses on three continents -- in North America, Europe and Asia -- it is because it has long recognized that students want to be exposed to different ways of thinking in different parts of the world.


View SAIS locations in a larger map

This is one reason why we consider the SAIS experience so special. Students who spend their first year at SAIS Bologna and their second at SAIS DC reap the benefits of studying on two continents. As our director, Kenneth Keller, puts it, they participate in a debate displaced in time: students confront contrasting viewpoints as they tackle issues on either side of the Atlantic during their two years of study.

So in a way, SAIS should not be considered a purely U.S. institution in these rankings. It would be more accurate to say it is international -- in geography, outlook and philosophy.

Nelson Graves

Bologna's mayor welcomes SAIS students

Earlier this week, Mayor Virginio Merola welcomed SAIS Bologna students to Bologna. This traditional welcome was launched by Giuseppe Dozza, who served as mayor from 1945 to 1966, as a friendly means of telling SAIS students what makes Bologna special.

Giacomo Tagiuri
and
Harriet Di Francesco

Bologna is home to the oldest operating university in the world. Since medieval times it has been a temporary home to students from all over the world, including this year's SAIS students. Our more than 6,500 alumni remember their time in Bologna as a life-changing experience, and many of their memories connect to the friendliness of the bolognesi, their open-mindedness and the beauty of the city.

(For a record of some of our alumni's memories, have a look at photos, videos and text that they have posted on our website here.)

Mayor Merola discussed his experience as il primo cittadino di Bologna and the challenges he's faced since coming to office. At the end of the speech students asked questions. Graffiti are normally a popular issue our students address, but this year they engaged the mayor on his battle against corruption, recycling and parks in the centro storico.

Below is a short video that captures a brief bit of the speech and comments by two students, Giacomo Tagiuri and Harriet Di Francesco, after listening to Merola.



If you are reading this on email, you can view the video here.

Amina Abdiuahab

Is SAIS Bologna for you? Here are ways to find out

This post is for those who are wondering if SAIS Bologna might be for them.

There will be a number of opportunities in coming weeks for you to learn more about our program and to meet some of our students, faculty, alumni and staff. Below is a rundown on the events.

If you have any questions, be sure to write us at admissions@jhubc.it.

1. ALUMNI EVENTS

BERLIN
Saturday, October 15 (1030-1300)
SAIS alumni will gather in the morning at the Deutsche Gessellschaft für Aswärtige Politik for a program that will include an address by SAIS Bologna Director Kenneth Keller and a panel discussion. There is also a dinner that evening at 1930.

LONDON
Monday, October 17 (1800)
A group of current students on a career trip will join SAIS alumni for cocktails.

If you are interested in participating in either the Berlin or the London event, please send an email to admissions@jhubc.it and we will follow up.

2. GRADUATE SCHOOL FAIRS

Alumni will join Amina Abdiuahab and myself at four fairs organized by the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs (APSIA):

VIENNA
Wednesday, November 2 (1800-2000)
The Diplomatic Academy

GENEVA
Thursday, November 3 (1700-2000)
The Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies

MADRID
Saturday, November 5 (1200-1400)
IE School of Arts and Humanities

PARIS
Monday, November 7 (1800-2000)
Sciences Po

For more information on these fairs, click here. Please come if you are in the area and meet us.

3. ONLINE INFORMATION SESSIONS

We will be holding online information sessions. They have been tentatively set for October 25, November 22 and December 13. Prospective candidates will be able to participate via the Internet and/or by phone. More details later.

(By the way, we are conducting a poll on this blog to determine which time slot suits you best for an online information session. Feel free to participate in the poll, which is in the upper right-hand spot on the blog's main page. You'll be helping us set up a suitable schedule.)

4. OPEN DAY

SAIS Bologna will open its doors to prospective candidates on Friday, December 9. Open Day is a chance to meet current SAIS Bologna students, faculty and staff; to learn more about our programs; to sit in a class or a seminar. It is an excellent way to get to know us better. More details on Open Day later.

Nelson Graves

Meeting our faculty: Prof. Keller

Kenneth Keller is SAIS Bologna's director and also teaches "Science, Technology and International Affairs". Prof. Keller is proof that many roads can lead to SAIS. Who would have thought a chemical engineer could blaze a trail in international relations?

Your degrees?
AB, liberal arts, Columbia University
BS, chemical engineering, Columbia University
MSE, chemical engineering, Johns Hopkins
PhD, chemical engineering, Johns Hopkins

Where have you taught?
University of Minnesota (Chemical Engineering; Biomedical Engineering; Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs)
Princeton University (Woodrow Wilson School of Public Affairs)
Johns Hopkins University (SAIS) - I've taught at SAIS Bologna for six years, first on a sabbatical leave from the University of Minnesota (2003-2004) and then during my term as Director (which started in 2006).

Links to a recent article and a speech:
http://www.springerlink.com/content/f27701444u9771r1/
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160791X06000169

Anything special about SAIS Bologna?
What's special about SAIS is SAIS Bologna -- the fact that students, over two years, one in Bologna and one in Washington, see international affairs from two different perspectives, an extraordinary and unique learning experience.

Anything special about Bologna?
What's special about Bologna is its perfect blendings: a medieval city with a vibrant modern life; a small city with the culture and lifestyle of a large city; an Italian "non-touristy" city with the art, music, architecture and spectacular food of the best tourist destinations; a city at the cross-roads of northern Italy with its own well-developed sense of community.

Your favorite book?
My favorite book is Anthony Trollope's "Barchester Towers", but I would be hard pressed to turn my back on any other of Trollope's novels -- or George Eliot's -- or a long list of 19th century English writers.

A Welcome to SAIS Bologna

Students from the SAIS Bologna class of 2012 have started pre-term and were welcomed to the Center by Director Kenneth Keller at a ceremony on August 29.

For a peek at the students and the ceremony, check out this video:



If you are receiving this blog post through email, click here to see the video.

Tomorrow: Four incoming students give their first impressions of SAIS Bologna.

Amina Abdiuahab

Heat, angst and excitement -- a student's first impressions

Who said SAIS students are all the same?

Jamie Pleydell-Bouverie studied Theology as an undergraduate. SAIS's curriculum, heavy on economics and international relations, was not his bread and butter at Cambridge University. But he's taken the plunge at SAIS in hopes of one day working for an international organization promoting human rights. He has the United Nations, an NGO or the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office in mind -- the kinds of organizations where SAIS students find work.

Jamie Pleydell-Bouverie and
Ilektra Tsakalidou
 on the first day of pre-term

(Speaking of being out of the box, some of our readers will remember that the SAIS Bologna Director, Kenneth Keller, is a chemical engineer by education. He teaches a course in science, technology and international relations here. The SAIS curriculum has evolved in many ways since it was founded in the aftermath of World War Two.)


SAIS accepts students from many different backgrounds and nationalities. We feel the diversity strengthens the experience.

Jamie describes himself as a keen sportsman -- he played rugby and cricket at Cambridge, and also skied -- and likes drama, both as an actor and a director. You think Jamie will have trouble finding a cricket pitch in Bologna? Think again. The Bologna Cricket Club has been going strong since 1983.

Here are some of Jamie's first impressions:



The last email I picked up before boarding my easyJet flight to Bologna -- whilst grumbling about my measly 20kg baggage allowance -- was from Nelson Graves, asking if I could write a short piece on my “first impressions” of Bologna. I therefore arrived with a heightened self-awareness of my immediate thoughts and hoping that I would instantly be struck by some profound reflections of this wonderful city.

Alas, not.

From the moment I stepped off the plane all I could think about was how hot it was. OK, I am English -- 15 degrees is usually pretty good for a barbecue -- but it is seriously hot in Bologna at the moment. Arriving in jeans wasn’t the brightest of ideas.

It does not take me long, however, to be struck by some slightly less prosaic impressions. Firstly, Bologna is a very friendly city. My taxi driver finds my completely inadequate mastery of even the most basic Italian phrases amusing rather than rude. This is definitely a good sign. In fact, all the Bolognesi I have come across so far seem to be warm, cheerful and very welcoming.

Secondly, there is the city itself. Bologna is extraordinarily beautiful, with stunning red-brick towers and buildings, fabulous piazzas and charming winding backstreets. The Bologna panorama, which some of the best student apartments have terrific view of, is a truly spectacular sight.

Apart from perpetual angst about being behind on my calculus DVDs, I have been nothing but excited and exhilarated about being in Bologna for the coming year. And having met a good number of my fellow SAIS students already, I get the sense that this sentiment is pretty universal.

SAIS Bologna's new offspring: Bologna Institute for Policy Research

Who needs another think tank? Or another acronym?

Well, SAIS Bologna.

In fact the Bologna Institute for Policy Research is not a think tank. According to its director, Erik Jones, it is an organic extension of SAIS Bologna's mission and will help spread an understanding of the work that is done at the Bologna Center.

Prof. Erik Jones,
BIPR director

The Institute -- BIPR for short -- is the brainchild of SAIS Bologna Director Kenneth Keller. "The idea behind the Institute is to take what we do at the Bologna Center and do it a little bit better," Prof. Jones explains in the video below.

That means leveraging research done by SAIS Bologna faculty, both resident and adjunct professors, and making it more widely known.

"We want people to know what is going on in the Bologna Center," said Jones, who is professor of European Studies.

You'll see on our visit of the Institute that it's still in its infancy. Kathryn Knowles, who is helping get BIPR on its feet, takes us on a brief tour. The hope is that the Institute, housed near SAIS Bologna's main building, will begin to hit its stride by the start of the academic year in early October.

What's in it for SAIS Bologna students? The Institute will offer opportunities to learn from some of the world's leading experts. It will promote the name of SAIS Bologna beyond the confines of the Bologna Center. That cannot hurt students when they start looking for a job.

And for those seeking to earn a few euros while at SAIS Bologna, the Institute will offer part-time work.

This year's students have the good luck to observe BIPR spread its wings and to benefit from the opportunities it will make available.



If you are receiving this blog post through email, click here to see the video.

Nelson Graves

Technology and Int'l Relations: Not Such Strange Bedfellows

SAIS Bologna's curriculum has changed over the years, evolving as it should. International relations are in constant flux. And while our program does not shift with every passing breeze, it keeps up with the times.

Who would have thought, when SAIS was founded more than six decades ago, that technology would soon play such an important role in shaping relations among nation states?

For that matter, how could an engineer become director of SAIS Bologna? Prof. Kenneth Keller, who has a Ph.D in chemical engineering, will be glad to answer that.

Martin Ross, who recently graduated from SAIS Bologna, took Prof. Keller's "Science, Technology & International Relations" class last year.

What is the course all about?

"This course examines how advances in science and technology as well as the dynamics of technological development affect relations among nations in matters such as autonomy, national security, relative economic strength, environmental protection, cultural identity and international cooperation. It illustrates these effects with examples from the current international scene, and it considers various approaches to negotiating international agreements in areas affected by these science and technology considerations."

I asked Martin, who comes from Canada, what the course meant to him.

"I have been interested for many years in the technical side of what to do when the existing IP address space runs out," he said.

Martin receiving his prize at graduation

"Luckily the course gave me the opportunity to explore the policy and political aspects relating to Internet governance in a much more detailed manner than I was able to previously.  The paper was especially timely as the first public large scale purchase of IP addresses by Microsoft from the defunct Nortel occurred a few months after I wrote the paper. The uptake towards the next generation of the Internet protocol continues to be slow and several auction internet sites have already sprung up."

Our readers have already seen award-winning papers by Christina Politi and Annabel Lee. Here is a paper that Martin submitted in Prof. Keller's class and which won him, too, a C. Grove Haines prize for academic excellence at graduation in May.

Nelson Graves

Team Algaebus - out of the box and out of the classroom

Tired of hearing us say that SAIS is an experience both inside and outside the classroom? Bear with us and consider this example of student activity.

Nicolò Lanciotti, Andrew Orihuela and Michael Volpe recently participated in a global competition sponsored by Airbus. Part of the airline's efforts to develop a greener future for aviation, the "Fly Your Ideas" challenge drew entries from 2,600 students from 75 countries.

Participants chasing the €30,000 first prize were encouraged to propose an idea related to one stage of the aircraft's life: design, supply chain, manufacturing, aircraft operations or aircraft disposal.

You'll have to watch the short video below to learn the details of the SAIS Bologna students' project. To whet your curiosity: think algae, biofuel, cosmetics, fishmeal and Omega-3.

Orihuela, Volpe and Lanciotti

Mentored by SAIS Bologna Director Ken Keller and assisted by engineer Luca Perletta, the three MA candidates focused on creating a cost-effective and marketable idea. They made it to the second round, where the number of participating teams was whittled down to 80 from more than 300.

"I was able to integrate the project to some of the courses I am taking. It was a great way to use the efforts put into the project in class," said Volpe, a U.S. citizen.

The fledgling engineers said one of the biggest challenges was finding time outside of class. They had to consider the project from the standpoint of an investor and then market their idea. "I highly recommend this experience, although it was time-consuming," said Orihuela, also from the United States.

Lanciotti, from Italy, edited the video. Volpe contributed the drawings. We'll let you guess who did the voice-over.

Amina Abdiuahab

Alumni & SAIS Bologna - "a real community"

Last weekend we enjoyed an annual celebration at SAIS Bologna -- Alumni Weekend.

Alumni play a special role at SAIS. Like alumni of many institutions, they help support SAIS financially. But they are also a critical resource for recruiting of new students and in helping current students forge career paths. Applicants become students who become alumni -- it is a virtuous circle, the lifeblood of the institution.

Below is a video of some of the weekend, which attracted alumni from all over the world. SAIS Bologna Director Kenneth Keller gives an update on the Center and discusses what sets it apart. Student Government representatives Elan Bar and Ezra Kidane outline a student initiative.

Then there are reminisces from John Harper, who received his M.A. and Ph.D from SAIS and has taught students at the Bologna Center for 30 years (including this correspondent), and Pierre Hassner, who also taught generations of SAIS students while heading research at CERI-Sciences-Po in Paris.

Finally, Prof. Harper and Dana Allin, who also received his Ph.D at SAIS and is now Senior Fellow for U.S. Foreign Policy at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, discuss what the Bologna Center has meant for them and whether it remains relevant 56 years after its founding.

Tomorrow: Two alumnae, from classes 50 years apart, discuss their experiences at SAIS Bologna.



Nelson Graves

Weekly quiz

Statistics, which of course never lie, show that our readership has tailed off in the past week. This could be because our posts have been bad. It could also be because candidates, many of whom have been wrestling with difficult decisions, are tired of thinking about graduate school -- at least for now. Finally, there are holidays in many countries this time of year, and there might be better things to do on vacation than read this blog.

We do intend to throttle back on the posts after the May 16 deadline for admissions decisions for SAIS Bologna. Until then, we have many questions to answer. Carlos asked earlier this week for more information on housing; we will provide a post next week on that. We are getting quite a few questions about visas and also, of course, about finances. These are issues we need to address. Finally, my inbox is full of queries about pre-term and the economics requirements. We will write about those matters, too.

As you've heard me say many times before, we like feedback on this blog and especially suggestions on topics to cover. We aim to answer any and all questions. If there is something you think we should be discussing, please tell us.

Looking ahead, the Bologna Center's Alumni Weekend is April 29-May 1. We will take advantage of that to talk to alumni about their experiences at SAIS and afterwards. The SAIS Bologna Open House is May 5&6, and we'll give our readers a glimpse of that.

Speaking of Open House, click here if you want to see the program and the registration form. Do think of coming if you can. It's a great way to get to know the Center.

Now, the quiz. This week, a simple question:

An honorific academic title recently cited by Bologna Center Director Kenneth Keller in comments captured on film in this blog. What is the title?


The winner gets, yes, a free lunch at Giulio's -- as soon as Open House, if you come then.

Nelson Graves

Faculty: Embodying SAIS values

Like a human heart and its chambers, SAIS is powered by four main constituencies: students, faculty, alumni and staff. Without any of these, SAIS would not survive.

If the SAIS experience is special, it is in no small part because the faculty embody the values that underpin the institution: a global outlook, a desire to understand complex issues, tolerance of different points of view, appreciation of both academic and professional excellence.

Our relatively small size and the faculty's commitment to teaching allow students to develop strong relationships with their professors both in and outside of the classroom. The U.S.-style, discussion-driven classes put a premium on participation and interaction, and promote a cohesive intellectual community. Prof. Mahrukh Doctor touched on this in her post last week.

If you like being challenged intellectually, have an open mind but defend your beliefs, SAIS could well be for you.

Who are our faculty?

Kenneth Keller

First, SAIS Bologna. We have core resident faculty who ensure continuity and coordinate the integrated curriculum with SAIS DC. This year we have eight resident faculty including our director, Kenneth Keller. A chemical engineer by training, Prof. Keller is proof that many roads can lead to SAIS Bologna.

At SAIS Bologna there are five visiting professors and some three dozen adjunct faculty. The mix of resident, visiting and adjunct faculty promotes both coherence and diversity.

For more information on the SAIS Bologna faculty, you can click here. You can read biographies of Professors Harper, Cesa, Pye and Jones among other experts in their fields -- economics, international relations, development, finance, law, regional studies.

Expertise at your fingertips

Second, SAIS Washington. The dean is Jessica Einhorn, who has logged experience at the World Bank, the IMF, Time Warner and the German Marshall Fund. Let me not forget to note that she is also a professor of International Political Economy -- and a SAIS graduate.

If I dared to list the many internationally renowned faculty at SAIS, I would surely commit more than one error of omission. I don't contribute to this blog to make enemies.

But who would argue if I mentioned Professors Fouad Ajami, David Calleo, Eliot Cohen, Michael Mandelbaum and Riordan Roett?

There are others as you will see if you peruse the SAIS Guide to Experts in International Affairs. The specializations are too numerous to list here. Suffice it to say they cover all geographic areas and the hot-button issues of today -- and tomorrow.

Many candidates for admission ask us if they can speak to faculty. They may want to ask about a particular course or academic concentration, or to learn about what goes on in the classroom. They may be seeking advice.

Our faculty enjoy interacting with candidates, and we would be happy to put you in touch with the appropriate professor if you so wish. Just drop us a note.

Tomorrow: A video peek at SAIS Bologna

Nelson Graves

Weekly quiz!

Readers were quick to solve the first two quizzes.

Ilectra won the initial test, identifying C. Grove Haines as the founder of Bologna Center in 1955. Eva W. won the second, identifying Kenneth Keller, who has a Ph.D in Chemical Engineering from Johns Hopkins, as the director of the Center.

So we are going to have to pick up our game if we have any hope of avoiding a lightning end to this quiz. Here we go:


What is the name of the penthouse terrace in the Bologna Center which overlooks the city skyline?

Students on the terrace in the 1950s

Please send in your answer by posting a comment. We look forward to reading them. Reminder: Winners get a free lunch at Giulio's in the Bologna Center.

The terrace today

Next week’s posts:

- Monday, January 10: Language requirements
- Tuesday, January 11: Financial aid
- Wednesday, January 12: GREs and GMATs
- Thursday, January 13: Speakers
- Friday, January 14: Weekly quiz

Nelson Graves

Weekly quiz!

It's that time of the week. Time to take a short break from thinking of statements of purpose, letters of recommendation, transcripts and economics prerequisites. Here is our second weekly quiz. The winner gets his or her name in lights on this very blog. Here we go:

Who is the Director of the SAIS Bologna Center and in which field did he receive his Ph.D?


Here is a hint -- this is a picture of our Director some years ago:

Who is this man and what did he study?
(photo courtesy of U. of Minnesota)

You can send in your answer by commenting on this blog entry or by sending an email to admissions@jhubc.it.

Reminder: the winner of our first weekly quiz was Ilektra of Athens. And Anonymous won the extra credit. (Anonymous -- please come forward.)

Tomorrow: a photo gallery by SAIS Bologna students showing Bologna and the Bologna Center

Nelson Graves

A Debate Displaced in Time

It has been a captivating first few months for me at SAIS Bologna after more than two decades as a foreign correspondent. This week we opened our doors to several dozen prospective candidates, and the day-long event was a reminder of what makes this job and the Bologna Center special.


A total of 39 students from 13 countries came to our annual Open Day this Monday. I had my share of secret worries before the day started. We had flagged the event on our website and even in an advertisement with a major global publication. But would those who registered show up? Wouldn’t many choose to stay home rather than travel to Bologna, which is unique all year round but more difficult, shall we say, to appreciate in the December cold?


My fears eased as candidates filed into the lobby of via Belmeloro 11. Some had travelled from London, others from Sofia or Athens. Introducing themselves to Amina and me, our guests showed the poise that is typical of SAIS Bologna students who tackle graduate school with the confidence and gusto that set them apart.


The purpose of Open Day is to give potential applicants a chance to get to know SAIS Bologna better. Compared to when I attended SAIS in 1981-83 – before Internet and email – so much more information is at a candidate’s fingertips. But we understand that the human element is an important part of our program, and Open Day is a chance to connect with the people who make up SAIS Bologna and embody its values.


Ken Keller, our director, greeted the students gathered around a large table in the 4th floor penthouse overlooking Bologna's centro storico. A chemical engineer by training, Ken is an example of the different paths that can lead to SAIS Bologna. “The Bologna Center opened 56 years ago with the aim of promoting the trans-Atlantic dialogue in its classrooms and its student life,” he said. “With the U.S. and Europe each facing a host of global challenges that can only be met by working together, that dialogue is more important than ever.”

Over the course of the day, our guests met faculty, staff and students, and asked questions about the curriculum, student life, tuition, the nuances of applying and career opportunities. Our visitors stayed with students in their apartments, ate lunch and shared an aperitivo in Giulio’s caffé, then ventured into the covered streets of this medieval city.

A word on the values I mentioned: the candidates’ diverse backgrounds reflect SAIS’s commitment to a  global outlook. The interchanges gave candidates an apt foretaste of the cohesiveness that characterizes the SAIS Bologna community. The contrasting points of view expressed at the end of Prof. John Harper’s lecture on the first Gulf crisis 20 years ago captured a crucially unique aspect of SAIS: the opportunity to study for a year in Europe and a second in Washington, and in so doing to participate in what Ken Keller calls “a debate displaced in time.”

In coming posts we’ll try to communicate what makes SAIS Bologna special while engaging with prospective candidates over the application process. I welcome your comments. Tomorrow: What is in a name?

Nelson Graves