CBU / International Relations

1. CBU / International Relations Heino Nyyssönen 24.4.2013 Adjunct Professor University Lecturer, CBU-coordinator heino.nyyssonen@uta.fi

2. The CBU is a university consortium of seven highly recognized universities in Russia and Finland. • The universities have been chosen on the basis of their strengths and experience in international educational cooperation. • University of Eastern Finland (UEF)   • University of Tampere (UTA)   • St. Petersburg State University (SPSU) • St. Petersburg State Polytechnical University (SPSPU) • St. Petersburg State Forest Technical University (SPSFU) • Petrozavodsk State University (PetrSU) • Moscow State Forest University

3. Values of the CBU: *Inter-disciplinarity *Partnership *Cultural, national and gender equality *Quality awareness CBU Master´s Degree Programmes The two-year study programmes have been established in  accordance with the European Higher Education System. The programmes benefit from the long academic experience and the strengths and expertise of the seven participating universities. The studies are strongly oriented towards the future needs of the international labour market. The CBU Mastr`s Degree programmes offer graduates special skills for  succeeding in the international working environment, especially  problem-solving and decision-making abilities in a multicultural context, and appreciation for diversity and concern for  quality. You can choose one of the following programmes at the CBU: Forestry and Environmental Engineering Information and Communications Technology International Relations Public Health

4. Our Mission • To develop joint Finnish-Russian Master’s and Doctoral programmes for the international markets through increasing and deepening the educational co-operation between Finnish and Russian universities associated with the CBU consortium. • To develop Master`s and Doctoral programmes in co-operation with the employer sector to guarantee the relevance of the education in view of the needs of the working and business life. • To implement the Bologna process and to promote the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) –process in Finland and in Russia. • To promote European-Russian research co-operation.

5. Our Vision • The CBU education has a quality label and is internationally relevant and competitive with focus on global and local applications. • The CBU education produces graduates with special proficiency and skills for acting across national boundaries in international and intercultural environment, specifically in European-Russian relationships in the working and business life. • The Master`s and Doctoral degree programmes of the CBU are designed to meet to the needs of the international employment market and they are supported by European-Russian research co-operation. • The international programmes of the CBU are highly recognised in Europe and all over the world

6. Organization • CBU Council • The CBU Council is the highest academic decision making body. The members are rectors or vice-rectors of the CBU universities. • CBU Working Group • The CBU Working Group is the operational academic body of the CBU. The members represent all CBU universities and deal with academic and/or international administrative affairs at their own universities. Any experts considered necessary and beneficial for the topics at hand can be invited to the CBU Working Group as temporary members. • CBU Development Unit • The CBU Development Unit serves as an administrative unit of the CBU. It also constitutes an independent institute of the UEF.

7. What is the CBU? Here you can find general information about what the CBU is and what it does. The CBU is a university consortium of highly CBU Master´s Degree Programmes The two-year study programmes have been established in  accordance with the European Higher Education System. The programmes benefit from the long academic experience and the strengths and expertise of the seven participating universities. The studies are strongly oriented towards the future needs of the international labour market. The CBU Master`s Degree programmes offer graduates special skills for  succeeding in the international working environment, especially  problem-solving and decision-making abilities in a multicultural context, and appreciation for diversity and concern for  quality. It is possible to choose one of the following programmes at the CBU: *Forestry and Environmental Engineering *Information and Communications Technology *International Relations *Public Health

9. Present state of IR programme • current students in their 2nd year, should graduate 2013 • double degree arrangement now in both sides • 1st students from the UTA applied and received the double degree status at SPSU in 2012 • studying at SPSU for the autumn term • 9 students from SPSU and 5 from PetrSU received the double degree status at the UTA in 2012 • some UTA students also in exchange in MGIMO for the autumn 2012 • seasonal schools: visa issues with UTA students from the UK and Canada

10. Programme in the future • new intake in 2013, number of students UTA 15, SPSU ??, PetrSU ?? • in UTA changes to programme curriculum: IR part largely the same, but will be organised in cooperation with Sociology and Russian Language and Culture as one programme, Master’s Programme in Russian and European Studies • general and joint studies 30 ECTS: together with all three majors • IR specific courses 65-90 ECTS, including thesis 40 ECTS • possibility to include up to 25 ECTS of courses from the other two majors in the degree • double degree and seasonal school arrangements continue in the IR major

12. Practicalities & experiences • MA in two years, quite an effort • Methods in general and in particular • Two thesis seminars • Lectures • Three seasonal schools • Tampere autumn, first year • Petrozavodsk spring, first year • Saint Petersburg autumn, second year

15. Practicalities, continue: • Different academic cultures • Adjusting MA thesis & double degree • “Asialliset hommat hoidetaan, muuten ollaan kuin Ellun kanat” –second Lieutenant Koskela in Väinö Linna’s novel Unknown Soldier

16. Programme in the future, continued • Financial situation • UTA Jean Monnet funding used for the seasonal schools ending in 2012 • only universities’ own funding from 2013 onwards  problem for the seasonal schools and funding of language studies • possibility for CBU to funds as a network?