OSCE Academy in Bishkek Summer School Programme 2019 (Fully-funded)
Deadline: June 15, 2019
Applications are open for the OSCE Academy in Bishkek Summer School Programme 2019. While meant as a preparatory course for the Master’s programmes offered at the OSCE Academy – in Politics & Security and in Economic Governance & Development – the School is open for applications from all interested young graduates in related disciplines.
Choosing between two broad fields of academic inquiry, participants are set to benefit from in-depth knowledge about social research skills or to learn about complex calculus and statistical models, gaining preparation for any future endeavour in the mentioned disciplines. In addition, all participants will undergo training in academic writing (in English) thus developing a necessary skill-set to enter into one of the Academy’s programmes or any other international graduate course.
Programme Details
In particular this Summer School is designed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills on the following courses (on one of the offered blocks):
Block I
- The Mathematics for Economists course discusses the basic matrix theory and differential calculus of multivariate functions. Specifically, the following topics are covered: matrices and their applications to linear equation systems, ordinary and partial derivatives, total differential, Taylor’s Theorem, indefinite and definite integrals, unconstrained and constrained optimization methods. All concepts are illustrated with economic applications.
- The Probability and Statistics course introduces the fundamental concepts and tools of probability theory and statistics indispensable for modern economic analysis. Specifically, the following topics are covered: discrete and continuous random variables and probability distributions, their properties and numerical characteristics, sample statistics, sampling distributions, hypotheses testing, fundamental estimation and inferential statistical methods, including the maximum likelihood, method of moments and least squares methods. All methods are illustrated with computer-based economic examples, using the Stata software.
- The Academic Writing course raises awareness of the style, form, and organizational structure of academic writing in English. Specifically, the course is aimed to help improve the quality of student essays by analyzing various stages of the writing process through analyzing model texts and identifying their elements.
Block II
- The Introduction to Research Methods in Social Sciences is designed to aid incoming graduate students and advanced undergraduate students to prepare for their independent research projects. The course introduces students to the diversity of research methods, the logic and relevance of each method, the conceptual building blocks and the philosophical foundations of social research. It will help students gain a critical understanding of why, how and what can be pursued in a project of social research; understand what basic elements, categories and issues need to be identified in any research design; become aware of what challenges and debates might attend any particular approach to research; understand the rationales, instruments and logic in a variety of most popular methods of social research.
- The Academic Writing course raises awareness of the style, form, and organizational structure of academic writing in English. Specifically, the course is aimed to help improve the quality of student essays by analyzing various stages of the writing process through analyzing model texts and identifying their elements.
Financial Support
- Full tuition fee waiver;
- Stipend of 300 Euros per four weeks;
- Round trip travel to Bishkek.
Eligibility
- Open to Final year students, BA, MSc Diploma in Economics, International Relations, Political Science or related fields;
- Advanced level of English;
- Citizenship of Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
Application