Economics of Globalisation and European Integration – (M.A.)

As a result of fundamental changes in the international trading environment associated with European integration and economic renewal in Central and Eastern Europe, the universities participating in this programme acknowledge the need for their economic and management faculties to develop European joint educational initiatives.

They recognise that there is an increasing need for specialised university training in the field of the economics of European integration in which, besides a further study in economic theory, applied economic, social and legal topics on European integration are dealt with. They also believe that this type of study prospers in an environment where students and teachers from different countries participate.

The programme is aimed at students with career aspirations in research, in government and international organisations, and in research departments of large banks and industrial and commercial corporations.

Master graduates are expected to be capable of conducting scientific research at the university in the field of discipline of the Master programme, as well as being able to use/apply their scientific know how in a argued, professional and self-reliant manner in the preparation, making and follow-up of economic and business-economic policy decisions. In particular, Master graduates are economists who can be deployed in the study and research departments of major banks, multinational corporations and international organisations.

The objective is to prepare students for a range of highly qualified and quantitative-oriented research and policy positions. Master students are expected to develop a problem-solving attitude required for the due identification of and methodologically appropriate approach to issues, for the exploration of solution alternatives, and for selecting, designing, implementing and assessing an argued solution.

Master graduates are to have the competence to numerically analyse macroeconomic issues in the field of international trade and commerce and European economic integration and to convert their findings into policy recommendations. This implies the simultaneous development/acquisition of other skills such as: interpersonal skills (holding presentations, interviewing, taking part in or chairing meetings) and skills in the area of expressing and formulating one's views.

Master graduates are expected to have an active focus of attention on due insights as far as general social developments are concerned (globalisation, 'new economy', ...), on new insights resulting from corporate scientific and economic research, and on the impact of such developments and research on everyday practise.

Master graduates are expected to have an independent and critical attitude, acknowledging circumstances in which independent, rational and disciplined thinking is key, as well as the strength of courage and the fortitude to bring their abilities and capabilities to bear in such circumstances.

In December 2000 the programme was recognised as an innovative and high quality course by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education in the UK when they reviewed Staffordshire University's postgraduate and undergraduate Economics programmes and ranked them as "excellent" with a maximum score of 24 out of 24.

In July 2002 the M.A. Economics of International Trade and European Integration was selected by the EUA (European University Association) to participate in the EUA Pilot Project 'Joint Masters in Europe'. This project is supported by the Directorate General for Education and Culture of the European Commission.

In September 2005 the M.A. was selected by the European Commission as an Erasmus MUNDUS Consortium Master Course. The Programme has started operating as such from the academic year 2006-2007 onwards.

The M.A. received formal accreditation by the Czech Ministry of Education on August 3, 2006.

In April 2006 the programme has been visited by external evaluators under the authority of the VLIR (the Flemish Interuniversity Council). The visitation report was published in December 2006 and contained a very positive evaluation of the M.A. As a result the formal accreditation by the NVAO (The Dutch-Flemish Accreditation Organisation) as a 'specialised master' was obtained on April 15th 2008. The accreditation is from the academic year 2008-2009 onwards until and including the academic year 2015-2016.

The European Joint Studies Programme was established in the academic year 1994/1995. At present, there are 7 partner universities :

* Universiteit Antwerpen (UA), Belgium
* Universit´r degli Studi di Bari (UB), Italy
* Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Belgium
* Universidad de Cantabria (UC), Spain
* Université des Sciences et Technologies de Lille (Lille 1) (USTL) , France
* Vysoká skola ekonomická v Praze (VSE) (Prague University of Economics), Czech Republic
* Staffordshire University (SU), U.K.