The interdisciplinary summer school on “Rural Futures” is dedicated to current developments in European rural areas and wants to illuminate them from within. International scholars from various disciplines as well as practitioners and activists are invited to apply for participation. We want to discuss new perspectives and approaches to the question what ruralities are and what they should become in the future.

Presentation

The interdisciplinary summer school on “Rural Futures” will take place from 19^th till 23^rd of September 2022 at the Akademiezentrum Sankelmark in the German-Danish border region. It is dedicated to current developments in European rural areas and wants to illuminate them from within.

We want to discuss new perspectives and approaches to the question what ruralities are and what they should become in the future. Therefore, we depart from the idea that people used to live and work with local resources. However, as a result from globalization, local societies and economies have become detached from the land, increasingly segregated and marginalised. These developments have led to a drastic increase in the polarisation between urban and rural areas, clearly visible in political preferences in many countries.

The summer school seeks to involve transnational and interdisciplinary perspectives on addressing these topics. It aims to strengthen the network and cooperation between scholars, practitioners and local actors in Germany, Denmark and beyond. It will include project presentations, short lectures and guided tours as well as exchange with local actors.

International scholars - doctoral candidates, recent postdocs and master’s students from various disciplines as well as practitioners and entrepreneurs, architects, actors from urban and regional planning, administration, business development and NGOs can apply until 30th June 2022. Please find the call for application with further information attached to this announcement.

The summer school is being organized by the German ZEIT-Stiftung Ebelin und Gerd Bucerius, the Centre of Rural Research of the University of Southern Denmark in Esbjerg, the Danish embassy in Berlin, the Europäische Akademie Schleswig-Holstein and Europe Direct Südschleswig.

Target groups

International scholars - doctoral candidates, recent postdocs, master’s students in humanities and social sciences, architecture, urban and regional planning, economics. Scholars are invited to present papers on relevant aspects addressing rural futures. SDU can offer PhD students 3 ECTS for attending the summer school, given they have prepared and presented a paper and have been actively involved the whole time

Practitioners and activists - founders and entrepreneurs, architects, actors from urban and regional planning, administration, business development, NGOs, and local and regional politics. The working language at the summer school is English.

Application process

International scholars from various disciplines as well as practitioners and activists are invited to apply for participation

by July 10^th, 2022.

Please submit your application by e-mail at rieken@zeit-stiftung.de with an abstract for your intended presentation or a description of the personal, professional or academic interest in questions of the workshop and a CV.

Selection

The summer school is being organized by the German ZEIT-Stiftung Ebelin und Gerd Bucerius, the Centre of Rural Research of the University of Southern Denmark in Esbjerg, the Danish embassy in Berlin, the Europäische Akademie Schleswig-Holstein and Europe Direct Südschleswig.

A committee of members of these institutions will select participants collaboratively after the application process ended.

The committee consists of:

• Dr. Anna Hofmann, Head of Research and Scholarship, ZEIT-Stiftung Ebelin und Gerd Bucerius
• Dr. Christian Pletzing, Director “Akademiezentrum Sankelmark”
• Prof. Dr. Egon Noe, Director Danish Centre for Rural Research at the University of Southern Denmark

Fees

Attendance of the summer school is free.

The organisers will cover the accommodation and travel cost.

Contact person

Luis Rieken

Project manager Research and Scholarship

ZEIT-Stiftung Ebelin und Gerd Bucerius

Tel. : +49 40 41336 861

E-Mail : rieken@zeit-stiftung.de