SAIS Europe Students Share their Personal Experiences Visiting Sarajevo

Every year the Center for Constitutional Studies and Democratic Development (CCSDD) hosts an annual study trip to Sarajevo in Bosnia & Herzegovina for students of SAIS and the University of Bologna. The CCSDD is a research partnership between the School of Law of the University of Bologna and the Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies in Bologna, Italy (SAIS Europe). This year, students visited governmental organizations and NGOs in Sarajevo, whose aims are to support Bosnian citizens in the development and reconstruction of BiH, following the War of 1992-1995. They also visited the Srebrenica-Potocari Memorial and Cemetery, for the victims of the 1995 genocide. Below two first year MA SAIS Europe students, Fabio Iannuzzelli and Fatima Hewaidi, share their personal stories as students on the trip.

SAIS Europe Students in Sarajevo

...

 “You know? Bal-Kan, honey and blood? That’s how they have called our land. We, the Balkans people, are known to be fighters, but we are also very kind. I am so happy you have decided to visit my country and I am sure you will love it.”  

These words were uttered by Imana, a 21 year old Bosnian girl. Her eyes were shining while she enthusiastically told me about her country, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The plane was about to land in a snowy Sarajevo. That is when I realized my SAIS study trip had officially started.

Imana was born in Sarajevo in 1995, a few kilometers away from Srebrenica, where, in that same year, one of the darkest pages in human history was written. More than 8,000 Bosnian Muslims were killed during the Srebrenica genocide. Yet, today, according to my seatmate on the flight, young people want to move beyond the past and are determined to coexist peacefully.

Photo from the History Museum of Bosnia & Herzegovina

A few hours after that fortunate encounter, while walking around the Jewish cemetery in Sarajevo, I met General Divjak, the former Bosnian Serb Deputy Commander of the Bosnian Army during the Bosnian War (1992 – 1995), considered today a national hero. General Divjak was leading my fellow study trip mates and me through an insightful tour of Sarajevo. I had just a question for him: “Mr. General, what’s your vision, your intuition, regarding the future of BiH?” He looked at me and said: “Oh, well. BiH ’s future will depend on BiH . Moreover, as I told you on the bus, it seems that young Bosnians, who were not even born during the War, are experiencing a new resurgence of hatred. This can’t happen anymore.”

These were two different perspectives: the hope and determination of the young Imana on one side, the wisdom and cautiousness of the General on the other. In between the two exists the absurdity of a tremendous hatred among ethnicities that needs to be overcome for good. The Mothers of Srebrenica, an association of women who lost family members during the Bosnian War, knows such hatred very well. Yet, these women have learned the arduous road to forgiveness but have not forgotten. While they were sharing with us their life stories and thoughts in a little recreational center in Srebrenica, I could not remain silent. They deserved a deep and sincere “Thank You”.

As we pursue our graduate studies at SAIS, it is easy to dream about becoming one day, accomplished diplomats, respected scholars, or brilliant politicians. What is more challenging is to fulfill such dreams honorably, with the daily responsibility that these roles bear, never falling short of the commitment to a global vision. History has much to teach us with this regard. The SAIS Europe Sarajevo Study Trip organized by the Center for Constitutional Studies and Democratic Development was a further occasion to learn and to consolidate such life lessons.

Heartbreaking. Intense. Inspiring.

Fabio Iannuzzelli, (Italian)
1^st Year MA Student, SAIS Europe
Concentration:  International Law

EUSR/EU Delegation in Sarajevo

...

Our study trip to Sarajevo with the Center for Constitutional Studies and Democratic Development (CCSDD) has invaluably widened my perspectives with regards to the post-conflict development process in Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH).  During our trip, we were fortunate to engage in meetings with a range of organizations – an experience which allowed me to soak in diverse outlooks on the deeply fragile social, political, and economic condition of the country (twenty years following the brutal war in which hundreds of thousands were killed and over half of the population was displaced).

From our meetings with ambassadors and representatives at the OSCE, World Bank, UNHCR, Al Jazeera, EU Special Representative in BiH, the Constitutional Court of BiH, and the Italian Embassy, I began to grasp the delicate approach with which each organization served its purpose, given the unique and sensitive adherence that must be given to the ethnic and demographic make-up of the country. Whether we were listening to an expert speak on BiH’s highly-coveted accession to the EU, or the creation of guidelines on how to write history books in national education curricula following the war, or defense and labour market reforms, or transitional justice and the fight against corruption, it became clear to me that the ramifications of the war of 1992-1995 were a fundamental source of influence in decision making, amidst the country’s policy makers and strategic actors. Most importantly, it became even clearer how the traumatic events of the war are still fresh in the memories and daily lives of the country’s population, if not evident by the bullet holes and memorials that still mark many of Sarajevo’s buildings and neighborhoods).

Remnants of the War are still visible

We began our trip with a tour of the city by the gracious and passionate General Jovan Divjak, an ethnic Serb (and self-identified Bosnian) former army officer who believes vigorously today that youth empowerment and education are the country’s best bet to move forward.  We concluded our study trip by spending a day in Srebrenica (a small mountain town which was the site of the genocidal killing of the Muslim population in 1995). We met with the impressive women of "Snaga žene", an organization which offers psychological, social, medical and legal support to women and children who had suffered traumatic experiences during and after the war. We listened to survival stories, asked difficult questions and – at times – shed tears, and grew deeply inspired by the resilience of the human spirit and the power of perseverance of the healing process in the aftermath of a life-altering conflict.

As a Libyan native, whose home and family in Benghazi are experiencing the hardships and violence of a deteriorating state on a daily basis, this trip especially allowed me to appreciate the pertinence – and fragility – of the notion of identity in shaping national consciousness in a time of conflict or post-conflict transition. All in all, our study trip to Sarajevo has been an exceptional way for me to bid farewell to my first semester at SAIS Europe, and commence my next semester with an enriched perspective. I embrace my second semester with a  longing to learn more, and a determination to continue applying what I am taught in the classroom at SAIS to field experiences around the world.

Fatima Hewaidi (Libyan/Canadian)
 1^st Year MA student, SAIS Europe
Concentration: Energy, Resources and Environment

The next steps in the admissions process

Prospective students submitted their applications last week.

Today, we want to highlight the next steps of the process for those whose applications will be managed by the SAIS Europe Admissions Office.

Who are the candidates managed by SAIS Europe Admissions?

- All non-U.S. candidates who selected Bologna for their first year of graduate studies.
- U.S. candidates with a second nationality who selected Bologna for their first year of graduate studies.
- Some non-U.S. candidates who indicated they would be open to spend their first year at either the Bologna or Washington campuses.

As part of the process, applicants will do an interview. In coming days, those whose dossiers are complete, will receive an email notification on their interview. Interviews are conducted in person, over the phone or  via Skype.

Over the course of the next few weeks, members of the Admissions Committee will travel to several locations in Europe and the U.S.. However, given the geographic spread of our applicant pool, most interviews will be conducted over the phone or via Skype.

In-person interviews will take place in the following cities:

- Bologna, Italy
- Brussels, Belgium
- Lille, France
- Paris, France
- London, UK
- Vienna, Austria
- Frankfurt, Germany
- Istanbul, Turkey
- Athens, Greece
- Washington, DC, USA
- New York City, USA

Stay tuned for more information on the dates as well as on the interview itself.

In addition to the interview, those interested in applying for financial support will need to keep an eye on the deadline for financial aid applications, due on February 15, 2016. By that date, applicants managed by SAIS Europe Admissions will need to provide the complete financial aid form and the supporting documents. For questions, please send an email sais.eu.admissions@jhu.edu

Amina Abdiuahab,
SAIS Europe Admissions

Questions we heard at the Open Day

On December 7, SAIS Europe welcomed dozens of prospective students.

Visitors traveled from different parts of the world and spent a full day with SAIS students, faculty and staff and learnt about academics, career services, student services, student life and admissions and financial aid procedures.

We know many of our prospective students were not able to attend. Below are some of the questions and answers that came up throughout the day.

ACADEMICS
Director Plummer and SAIS Europe's resident faculty presented the academic difference of SAIS. SAIS offers a unique and multi-disciplinary curriculum, which allows students to study international affairs from a variety of angles.

Q: Does the curriculum change year to year?
A: Each year, the curriculum is revised and, based on feedback, some courses offered may change.

Q: What are the concentration requirements?
A: Students in the MA program pursue two concentrations, in international economics and in a second concentration of their choice. The international economics concentration requires students to take Intermediate Microeconomics, Intermediate Macroeconomics, International Trade Theory and International Monetary Theory.

The requirements of the second concentration depend on the concentration selected. Some programs have several requirements, while others have fewer and leave more room for electives.

Q: SAIS offers a new Master in Global Risk, is there demand for these kind of skills in the job market?
A: The field of Risk is growing and there is an increase in demand for specialists who are able to understand and analyze global risk in its many forms.

Q: I have already taken exams in intermediate economics. Will I have to take these courses while at SAIS?
A: No. Students who have already completed courses in economics can apply to take the waiver exams. These exams are offered a few times a year and they give students the opportunity to show they know all the required contents.

Q: You have spoken about student advisers. Are they professors or professional advisers?
A: They are academic advisers, who are mostly your professors.

Q: Is coursework assessment the same for all courses?
A: There are many forms of coursework and types of assessment, such as the participation grade, essays, other written assignments, exams, problem sets, etc. Also, in case you are unfamiliar with the American educational system, each semester has two examination sessions: the mid-term exams and the final exams.

Q: Are language credits transferable? 
A: No, students do not get credit for languages.

Q: I am an MAIA applicant from a partner school. How is the. program structured? 
A: For those coming from partner schools, the MAIA program consists of 6 subjects. Students take 4 courses during their first semester and 2 courses together with a 20,000-word research thesis during the second semester. They have to take four Economics classes (Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, International Trade Theory and International Monetary Theory) and choose two additional classes. They also have to pass a language proficiency examination.

Q: Is there a way for students to combine their policy area concentration with a specific regional interest?
A: We have introduced the possibility of pursuing a minor this year. This means that the students can choose to use their remaining elective classes (those not used to fulfill their concentration requirement) to pursue a minor in one of the regional concentrations, or vice versa.

Q: Can you combine the European and Eurasian Studies with Middle East Studies?  
A: Yes, students can utilize the new minors system to study both.

STUDENT LIFE
The members of the Student Government Association (SGA) talked about their paths to SAIS and took time to answer questions on their experiences as SAIS students.

Q: How do you balance your active involvement in the SGA with academic life?
A: There will be many times when you will find yourself stressed at SAIS. Thus, organizational skills are key if you want to be successful. We take an active part in the SGA because we find it meaningful and very rewarding. It can be challenging to manage to do everything, but it is possible and we do help each other a lot.

Q:Are there opportunities to interact with students at the University of Bologna? 
A: There are many opportunities to meet students from the University of Bologna and, as SGA, we're working on strengthening the connection with the University of Bologna.

Q: What are your plans after SAIS? 
A: It is a hard question. Some of us know, but many are still in the process of discovering our next steps. One of the greatest things about SAIS is that we have a lot of choices.

Meera Shankar, director’s of Career Services, says that "SAIS students’ careers are not linear" and we are discovering this is true. Many options are available to us and it is very likely that we may want to change sectors and career paths during our lifetime.

Studying at SAIS enables us to acquire a set of transferable and flexible skills that prepare us for different types of careers. The curriculum of SAIS MA degree reflects this diversity and flexibility.

CAREER SERVICES
Meera Shankar, director of Career Services, talked about the role of her Office and the services available to students.

Q: You seem to have a very strong alumni network. How common is it for the alumni to come to talk to students?
A: Students use the alumni network very actively. For example, our careers trips always include an event with SAIS alumni in one of the destinations we go to, be it London, Geneva or Brussels.

We also host a big event at the end of each year, an Alumni Weekend, which draws nearly 300 alumni from around the world and we encourage the students to meet the alumni during the weekend.

It is great to see how excited the alumni are about coming back to Bologna and how willingly they engage with our present students.

Q: The brochure says that 29% of the students go to Consulting Services. Does this mean that most students pursue careers in Management Consulting? 
A: No, the umbrella term “Consulting Services” encompasses diverse consulting spheres, such as development consulting, energy consulting or political risk consulting.

Q: Do you have classes that develop employment related skills? 
A: Yes, we call them professional skills courses and we offer many diverse opportunities for developing a variety of skills. For example, we hire students to teach Excel classes. At the moment, we have beginner and intermediate Excel tutorials to be followed by advanced courses next semester. Also, we cooperate with Economics professors to offer Stata and Advanced Econometrics courses.

Moreover, we offer an opportunity to take professional skills online courses. For example, we have Harvard Business School online courses in Spreadsheet Modeling, Advanced Financial Accounting and Introductory Finance. You can take up to three courses per semester and they do appear on your transcript.

Q: Are there alumni events outside Bologna?
A: Yes, there are many active SAIS alumni groups outside Bologna, such as Amici di Bologna in Washington, SAIS Brussels Alumni and Bolognesi a Londra. These groups are very active and they are always happy to meet our students. We often put our travelling students in touch with our alumni.

ADMISSIONS AND FINANCIAL AID
During the last panel, the Admissions, Financial Aid and Development Offices addressed questions on the application procedures.

Q: What are the admissions deadlines?
A: The application deadline is on January 7, 2016.  The financial support application deadline is on February 15, 2016.

By the deadline, we need to receive your application and the supporting documents. If you think there will be delays with your application, please send us a note to sais.eu.admissionsjhu.edu

Q: I have two passports. Which one should I indicate in the application form?
A: You should indicate both.

Q: Are there jobs available on campus? Can they help us to meet our financial needs?
A: There are many jobs available on campus. Students work 10-12 hours per week and are employed by the administration and the faculty for various roles, such as library assistants, research assistants, teaching assistants, front desk receptionists, etc. A few students have also managed to find work off-campus as English language teachers. These jobs can help you to cover some of your living expenses, but you should not count on them to cover all your maintenance costs.

Q: Can you provide the admissions proof if we need this information for funding?
A: Yes, we can provide letters that certify your admission.

Q: Are there any specific criteria for financial aid and scholarships?
A: We have two general criteria: merit and demonstrated financial need. The key thing is a very strong application because we rank the students based on merit, which is the primary criterion for receiving financial aid. We then look at the applicants’ financial needs, especially when two candidates are of equal merit.

There are also specific fellowships with unique criteria, such as the ones specifying the nationalities or concentrations eligible.

Q: As part of the financial aid application process, we are required to provide parents’ income. Do we have to translate the form to English?
A: We won't need an official translation. However, any amount in the forms should be indicated in Euro currency.

Q: Do you help students with housing?
A: Yes, we have a housing consultant who helps students find accommodation. At the beginning of each year, he organizes housing tours, during which the students visit and choose their apartments.

Amina Abdiuahab

Meet the Student Government Association

As SAIS  prospective students prepare to arrive in Bologna for our Open Day, this Monday, December 7, we asked the members of the Student Government Association (SGA) to share some of their experiences and elaborate why they chose SAIS Europe. The SGA is elected by the student body each year. The members play a crucial role at SAIS as they act as the link between the student body and the administration. Below are their stories.

MIGUEL - President
I am this year’s SGA President and was born in a city known for its world famous Oporto Wine – Porto, Portugal. Before joining SAIS I was working as economic adviser to the Portuguese Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation in Lisbon.

The SGA has two main goals: to enrich the academic experience of the students by supporting their initiatives and to build a community among the student body. In 2015, the Association has organized a club fair with 26 participating clubs followed by karaoke night, a Halloween Party in a new location, and more recently, a Thanksgiving dinner with more than 200 participants.

Moving forward, the SGA has various goals including creating a football tournament, organizing cultural events around Bologna, designing new SAIS merchandise, and working closely with the administration to provide students with academic and career services.

The SGA members

The possibility of studying one year in Europe and another in DC was a decisive factor when choosing SAIS as my next home. Moreover, my passion for economics and international affairs made the Master of Arts (MA) program at SAIS the perfect fit for my long-term career goals.

In the SGA, I am responsible for coordinating all the areas of the association, and I am directly involved in the organization of social events and the management of internal relations.

After approximately three months with the SGA, the experience of serving the SAIS students has surpassed my initial expectations. More than a group of students, this year’s class is already a big family. The sense of community grows day by day, and the SGA works hard to promote events that strengthen friendship between students.

MAX - Treasurer
I am from Germany and I am in charge of student clubs as well as the distribution of SGA funds. In my role, I allocate funds to the Student Clubs to help them organize events that will benefit the SAIS community. This includes  inviting external experts and guest speakers for lectures, panel discussions and even sporting events.

Like many of my classmates I was attracted by the opportunity to study across the two sides of the Atlantic. I wanted a program that would provide a great variety of perspectives on international issues and that would prepare students for a future workplace with an intersection of politics, society and business.

What's more, I was interested in the opportunity to attend the numerous seminars with policy-makers and influential people in politics, multilateral organizations and government.

Since arriving in Bologna, I have realized that the student body is extremely talented and diverse. Sitting in a classroom with the influential decision makers of tomorrow is enriching, challenging and valuable at the same time.

ELISA - Cultural and Social Events 
I was born in Italy, but grew up in different parts of the world, from Alabama, U.S.A. to Beirut, Lebanon.

I’m in charge of Cultural and Social events and External Relations. This mainly involves planning and coordinating events throughout the academic year, and managing the student body relations outside of SAIS. I feel my role impacts the SAIS community very positively and helps to further build that strong sense of belonging that makes SAIS special --for example, we hosted a Thanksgiving dinner in late November that brought students, staff and faculty together-- and, at the same time, facilitates the integration in the bolognese life.

I am an M.A.I.A. student at SAIS Europe, and was previously enrolled at the University of Bologna. My interest to apply to SAIS dates back to when I decided to study International Relations and found out about this remarkable double degree opportunity.

Due to my international background and life-experiences, I directly felt that SAIS Europe was the perfect environment in which to complete my studies.

HIMMAT - Academic Affairs
I was born and raised in India, but moved around the country a lot since my father was an officer in the Indian Army. I studied telecommunications engineering, followed by an MBA. I worked for six years before coming to SAIS.

As a management consultant for five years, I had the opportunity to work with clients across five countries in South Asia and Africa.  I have always had a deep interest in politics and governance, which prompted my decision to leave what I was doing and start charting a new course for myself.

Studying at SAIS has provided me with the relevant academic foundation and the ideal platform to build a career in a field that is completely new for me. I was concerned that lack of an international relations or economics background would  pose a challenge for me. However,  soon after arriving to SAIS, I realized that the diversity of our student body is one of our greatest strengths. We all learn from each other as much as we do from our classes.

As a member of the SGA, I am responsible for academic affairs, fundraising (through selling SAIS apparel) and  external communications. As part of our initiatives, we recently launched our first SAIS apparel collection and will  be delivering orders to the students within the next two weeks.

The initiative was a success and we received a far greater response than expected. I hope to see some of you at our Open Day and get a chance to talk in person. Look out for a ridiculously tall man in a cast with crutches that look like toothpicks!

RICCARDO - Career Services
I am from Italy and like most of my classmates I have lived in different countries. After graduation, I worked as a Policy Advisor to the Chair of the Constitutional Affairs Committee of the European Parliament. Moreover, I served in November 2013 as an EU Short Term Observer to the Presidential elections in Tajikistan, and as an OSCE Short Term Observer to the Presidential election in Belarus in October 2015.

I am the liaison between the student body and our Career Services team, working with fellow SGA member Himmat on academic affairs. As a number of students showed interest in my experience as an EU election observer, I am in the process of setting up a training module for aspiring election observers at SAIS. Through my role in the SGA, I aim to achieve synergies between the student body and the Career Services team during our time as students at SAIS Europe.


SAIS Europe SGA 2016

Open Day at SAIS Europe: Get to know us up close

Every year, SAIS Europe opens its doors to prospective applicants.

This year, Open Day will be on December 7. Prospective applicants are invited to come visit us to explore our campus in Bologna.

The entire day will be dedicated to visitors who will be able to speak to students, professors and staff,

and attend classes.

We encourage those within reach of our campus in Bologna to attend. The link to register is here. The event if free of charge-- we request a registration to ensure we have materials and food for everyone.

(For those in European countries, you should know there are budget airlines that fly into Bologna. Moreover, some current students have offered to host visitors for a night or two.)

A full schedule for the day is available here. There will be academic panels as well as career and student panels.

In the afternoon, visitors will have the opportunity to get a full experience of the academics at SAIS Europe by attending a class.

The day concludes with a Happy Hour with current students and an evening debate where Prof. Harper and Prof. Unger will discuss the U.S. Presidential Elections of 2016.

We understand that many prospective candidates may not be able to attend. Some are too far away and others will have conflicting commitments. If you can't make it and you want to learn more about SAIS, do get in touch. We'll do our best to answer your questions. We are available for chats on the phone (+39 051 29 17 811) or Skype (jhubc.admissions). You can also contact us by email.

We stand ready to answer your questions. You are about to embark on a long journey, and you need to know which ship you might get on.

Amina Abdiuahab

The Early Admission Deadline is just around the Corner

As a friendly reminder, for those of you applying to early admission, our deadline is fast approaching: November 1 is just around the corner. Remember that for those of you planning to apply early, please be sure to submit your application, and all supporting documents, before this deadline.  Please note that many of your application questions can be answered by consulting our website here.

If applying early to SAIS Europe, for those of you who meet the minimum requirements, you will be invited to interview with us either via Skype or in person. We wish you the best of luck in the process. (Applicants who apply early are notified on December 30 of the status of their application.)

In addition, as a friendly reminder, the regular decision deadline is January 7, 2016. If you are still looking for additional information about our program, be sure to either attend an in person session or join a virtual session  by consulting our recruiting calendar  here.

Moreover, we are also inviting all prospects to spend a full day at SAIS Europe in Bologna on Monday, December 7 as part of our Open Day. SAIS Europe opens its doors to prospective students who are considering their post-graduate school options to offer them an opportunity to get to know the faculty, staff and students of the Center. Open Day is the best way to learn about SAIS Europe Master's programs and get a first-hand look at the campus before applying. Some current students have offered to host visitors who are traveling from out of town for the night. To learn more about Open Day and to register, please visit us here. 

SAIS Europe Students Share their Experiences

Over the course of this year, SAIS Europe Admissions has asked students to share their experiences before they came to SAIS. In our first of this series, we profile Chantal Akinyemi  -- a first year dual national student (Nigerian/US) studying in the Master of Arts program, with a concentration in International Development.

Before coming to Bologna, I was a Peace Corps volunteer in Indonesia. For the past two years, I taught English at a rural high school in the East Java province of Bojonegoro. I had graduated New York University with the plan of eventually going to medical school, but my experience during the Peace Corps made me realize that my goal of improving the lives of populations in the developing world would be more effective if I worked in International Development.

The broadening of my focus from health to include many global factors lent itself to a more complete picture of the situation on the ground and the causes and effects working in developing countries. I came to SAIS looking to better understand these relationships and hopefully learn how to affect change from within local communities.

After finishing my Peace Corps service this past June, I traveled South East Asian for a few weeks, spent another few week back in New York and finally arrived in Bologna at the beginning of August. It had been a lot of moving around along with big life changes, especially that of going from a very loosely structured life in Indonesia to a more structured and time sensitive lifestyle of being a student. For this reason, I was glad to have the month during pre-term to readjust and settle in. Having the pre-term community was especially helpful. It also gave me time to remind myself of normal social behavior (in Indonesia it is very normal to start off conversations by asking about someone’s relationship status and if they have any children yet) and get to know Bologna before it was bustling full of students.

 I really enjoyed pre-term. Yes, the microeconomics class was fast paced and intensive but working in groups to complete problem sets and group study sessions created a great learning environment through collaboration. There is such a wide range of experience and knowledge within the SAIS Europe community, so everyone has something to contribute and everyone has something to learn.

I was going through a period of readjustment not only to western society, but also transitioning from playing the role of teacher for the past two years, back to student life. What better of a place to make this transition than in a city nicknamed la dotta, or the learned one. Bologna is a great place to make this transition from whatever project, job, life experience or schooling you were doing before to a new level and standard of academia.

I know the two years ahead of me will be challenging, but I have a feeling the hard work and dedication I plan to put into them will be worth it in the end. After all, it has only been a month and a half and I already feel the difference SAIS has made in my life.