Alumni 

Carolin Roeder, Germany, PhD Candidate at the University of Harvard

I decided to apply for MIREES since it was the only postgraduate program in Europe, which allowed me to focus on South-Eastern Europe. While there are some MA programs on Russia or Central Europe, MIREES is unique in its coverage of the entire post-socialist sphere. The variety in topics, teachers and disciplinary approaches is quite impressive, and so is the list of renowned professors I had the opportunity to be taught by.

Forli might be a provincial town, but MIREES was a truly international experience. I very much enjoyed the intimate learning environment. Through MIREES, I did not only broaden my academic horizon but established a network of dear friends and valuable colleagues around the world. From this network, both my PhD and further research projects have evolved

Victoria Donovan, United Kingdom, PhD Candidate at Oxford University

Perhaps the most attractive element of the MIREES programme was the world-class scholars who participated in it. The combination of intense courses and the intimate location of Forli allowed a level of contact with these senior academics, which I have not experienced, in any other educational institution. The lengthy overseas period was also an asset in as much as it allowed for the development of the language skills necessary to write an in-depth and original MA thesis (something which is not always the case with MA programmes focusing on Eastern Europe). It also provided an opportunity to intern at an organisation in that country (I did mine at the St Petersburg Times), thus allowing for the development of marketable skills, which is useful if you are not seeking a career in academia. With the help of the opportunities provided by MIREES (in particular my language knowledge), I was able to find a position on a PhD programme in Russian at Oxford University, which has proven to be extremely stimulating.

Heather Johnston, United States of America, US Department of State Foreign Service Political Officer

MIREES provided me with an understanding of international relations that no other program could match in geographic/cultural breadth and quality. In my profession, this unique understanding of the "other side" is invaluable, allowing me to be more effective when dealing with peers in my host country and advising my own country. I am actually in a place to actively improve world relations with the United States, largely thanks to the education I received from MIREES.

Evdokija Atanasovska, Macedonia, Ministry of Defence,

What makes MIREES unique is the variety of subjects it offers, something that you can rarely find with other Masters. Having a freedom of choice has given me the opportunity to get a deeper insight into the subjects in which I have had a genuine interest. Not to mention the fact that thanks to MIREES I have studied in Italy and learnt a lot about the European Union, and eventually ended up in Russia, where I could further my knowledge and do my research. Finally, I would like to stress that through MIREES I have acquired invaluable experience, which I successfully apply at work and everyday life.

Alina Stanculescu, Romania, Ministry of Foreign Affairs,

I am working at the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as a Junior diplomat. It's been already around one year and a half in this position for me, after graduating the master. The activity is really rewarding, the knowledge accumulated at MIREES proved its utility and relevance, which makes me feel at ease in most situations.

Despite my professional obligations, I tried to keep track of the developments of MIREES, which is for all of us (graduates), I presume, a matter of pride. Thanks to the IECOB bulletins I receive from Aurora, I'm updated of the evolutions at MIREES, which bring me joy and satisfaction knowing I am one of the this master's graduate students.

Alina Stanculescu, MIREES class of 2008

Mirjana Kosić, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia (dual citizenship), Co-founder and Executive Director of TransConflict Serbia (www.transconflict.com)

MIREES programme was a determining point in terms of my professional development and the choice of future career, since it not only enabled me to change my environment and study abroad, but actually helped me to - through education and thorough research - better understand the conflict in the former Yugoslavia and reconcile those understandings with my personal experience of war in BiH. Another significant value of MIREES is that it has already become the brand in itself, increasingly recognised and acknowledged by and within broad academic community in the EU and the US. The understanding, knowledge and analytical skills acquired and honed during two years of MIREES programme have been highly appreciated in the past four years, i.e. since I completed my MA (generation 2004-2006). Since then, I worked with EU CAFAO in Bosnia and Herzegovina (EU Office for Customs and Fiscal Assistance), Belgrade NGO Center in Serbia, and in 2009, I co-founded an organisation TransConflict Serbia, an organization undertaking conflict and post-conflict transformation projects and research throughout the Western Balkans.

Tanja Kovačič, Slovenia

Studying at the MIREES program provided me with a wide array of knowledge and skills, which have enabled me for life and work in the international sphere. Interdisciplinary master gave me a deeper insight into understanding of historical and contemporary development of Eastern and Southeastern Europe, which is a necessary background for everyone who wants to deal with the region or with a broader European context. Personally, I found especially remarkable a mobility period in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. This experience gave me a unique possibility for being involved in studying, working and living on the ground and gave me a more complex picture about the country, which I could never completely understand only through remote observations. I recommend the program to everyone who wants to learn more about the region and who wants to build his/her professional career on the international level, private and public sphere…Or to everyone who just wants to find answers not only about regional but also about world politics …

Lucy Sommo, United States of America, Editor at Balkan Insight

MIREES was a great experience on an academic level, especially the opportunity to study with students and professors from many different backgrounds and from many different countries. The language component was crucial and unique, and I certainly believe that the experience enriched and strengthened my academic and professional profile.  

Stenia Paparella Italy, International marketing at Macro Editore (Cesena)

Value of MIREES:

1. Interdisciplinary character of the Master, which gives the possibility to open our mind to other disciplines;
2. International environment, which allows the best young students in the world to get together and discuss about political, cultural and economic issues of fundamental value for the human development;
3. Cultural and professional variety of professors, who come from various international academic environments;
4. Thorough academic student's preparation;
5. Anglosaxon style of teaching;
6. MIREES meets current job offers (I have already got two job offers related to my studies at MIREES, after one month of job searching).

Aleksandar Kostadinov, Macedonia

I studied at the MIREES in academic year 2006-2008 majoring economics in transition countries. This means that I have obtained in-depth knowledge of the Balkan and Central European economies and possibility to spend one semester at the University of Ljubljana. The most rewarding part is that the program is internationally recognized. After graduation, I have successfully completed internship at the International Labour Organization as well as short-term job position at the Delegation of the EU in Macedonia.

Oleksandr Nadtoka, Ukraine, Teaching assistant, National University of “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy” (Kyiv,)

Thanks to the MIREES program I have decided to continue my scientific career. Now I teach young students with whom I try to share my international experience and some of them I see as prospective students of the program. I would like the program continue its educational mission and become a very serious MA school on the international level and even open its own PhD program.

Milan Aleksić, Serbia

Thanks to MIREES, I published several different papers (book reviews and essays), made contacts with different professors all over the world, learned THREE new languages, lived and studied in two different academic environments (Italy and Russia), so I could compare these different systems and finally I COULD and I DID learn something about myself. Without MIREES I would probably lose these two years in dealing with different stupid jobs as I previously did and could forget about any academic career. For me, MIREES was really something like a resurrection. About meeting new people and making new friends, and I met several LIFE FRIENDS, I don’t have to talk at all since this is something all of us have experienced.

Lana Zevković, Croatia, PhD Applicant

MIREES is a unique programme by the amount of academic and life experience it offers - in only four semesters. With all the extra curriculum it offers, one gets the opportunity to study in three (in some cases even four) countries, summer schools included, learn up to three languages, and to work and study with academics from all around the world. It also motivates students to pursue their careers beyond national borders by offering different mobility options, language courses, international public lectures, and by demanding from students to publish their works in order to achieve the maximum grade. Academic Programmes which guarantee such dense enriching of students curriculum vitae within two years of time are hard to find. The value of MIREES for the international rating of the whole Faculty can be seen from the national diversity of the students it has attracted over the years, and I have personally witnessed the interest grow among the Italian students during my time in Forli.

Josipa Rizankoska, Macedonia, Project Manager, Institute for Democracy "Societas Civilis" – Skopje,

Even before I got enrolled in MIREES I was engaged at one NGO in Macedonia, and I am currently working as a Project Manager in the same Institute. The Institute for Democracy "Societas Civilis" - Skopje (ID) is a think thank that deals with projects concerning democracy in the post socialist countries. Without MIREES I could probably still work there and be occupied with something, however, my inclusion at the ID now has much more value and essence, exactly because of my MIREES education. What I want to say is that before MIREES I was technically involved at this NGO (without having idea of the real meaning on the post-socialist democracy building). Now, after my MIREES "enlightment" I am far more creatively productive. Each project I work on is closely related with the curriculum of MIREES but I have no obstacles any more because I was thought to think widely and openly.

MIREES was not only a place where you could study or improve your language skills, MIREES was a big international family where all the brothers and sisters could have an opportunity to understand each other thanks to the opportunity to live and study together, to share experiences from the past and ideas for the future. These MIREES students were able to communicate on 10 languages at the same table, they were able to celebrate so many different holidays and practice many different traditions. MIREES was not just a study programme, MIREES was a way of living, it was a human experiment with incredibly successful results.

Alessandra Verrucci, Italy, Applying for Phd at University of Amsterdam (UVA)

MIREES represents an added value for the Italian students giving the chance of specializing in a dynamic and economically growing macro-region in Europe, an area in which European institutions and international organizations heavily invest, both in terms of financial and human resources. I am convinced that the knowledge and the skills acquired in the first year of MIREES, as the field research during the mobility period constitute crucial factors for the construction of an international carrier.

I will spare you the meaning that MIREES had for me on a personal level, even though it is of paramount importance. I will just conclude saying that enrolling in this course represented a unique opportunity for my growth, academically and professionally speaking. My collegues, with their insight and vision, were constantly contributing to it, as much as the challenging and inspiring lectures of MIREES professors. To them, if anything, goes all my gratitude.