Charter

The Charter of the “Baltic Practice” Project

 “Baltic Practice”

The following Charter defines the principles and regulations which constitute the basis of the preparation and work of the Russian-European Centre of Multidisciplinary Research “Baltic Practice”.

“Baltic Practice" is an open student project organized by students and professors of the SU-HSE and other universities. Any willing individual can join the project as is envisaged by the following Charter. Application dates are specified by the Student Organizing Committee. 

Project Goals:

-                           to develop client-oriented analytical skills of young researchers in strong connection with the current social and political issues;

-                           to preserve and develop the corporate culture of the SU-HSE through professional cooperation of different departments, research units and territorial branches of the university in conducting a interdisciplinary expertise of large-scale social projects;

-                           to encourage active civic position in scholars;

-                           to provide an encouraging research environment for young researchers through combination of work and recreational activities;

-                           to sustain a public space for professional interaction of students and professors from all Russian regions and foreign states.

 

Governing bodies of the Centre

                The major governing body of the Centre is the Organizing Committee. The Organizing Committee is a standing body, and is responsible for the preparation and the work of the seminar. The Organizing Committee of the “Baltic Practice” Centre consists of two bodies, i.e. Student Council and Academic Council 

Student Council

The Student Council is the supreme student-governed body responsible for the Centre’s work. The Student Council is a standing body and convenes at least twice a month. The Student Council consists of the group tutors and the most active students (so-called “Core” of the “Baltic Practice”). 

Group tutors are elected by the Student Council among the students who were most active during the previous seminars, at least 5 months before the Summer Seminar is due. The tutors are to make sure that members of the group prepare all the final papers for the Summer Seminar.  Tutors are assigned the status of student leaders of the working groups.

The “Core” of the project is elected by the Student Council among the students who were most active during the previous seminars, at least 5 months before the Summer Seminar is due. The “Core” of the Centre is responsible for the seminar logistics.

 Academic Council

The Academic Council of the Centre is the supreme professor-governed body responsible for the Centre’s work.  The Academic Council is a standing body and convenes at least twice a month. The Academic Council consists of groups’ academic supervisors and the professors who are a part of the “Core” of the “Baltic Practice” Centre.

Academic supervisors of the groups are elected by the Academic Council among the professors of the SU-HSE at least 5 months before the Summer Seminar is due. Academic supervisors are to make sure that members of the group prepare all the final papers for  the Summer Seminar.

The “Core” of the Centre is elected by the Academic Council among the professors who were most active during the previous seminars, at least 5 months before the Summer Seminar is due. The “Core” of the Centre is responsible for the seminar logistics.

Members of the Organizing Committee of the “Baltic Practice” Centre are approved by the resolution of the Rector of the SU-HSE.

Student Application for the “Baltic Practice” project.

In order to participate in the work of the Russian-European Centre of Multidisciplinary Research “Baltic Practice” a student should submit a Student Application. It should include:

Motivation to join the project;

Qualification and relevant experience;

Personal contribution to the project (what he or she is ready to do for the project personally);

Contacts.

 

Submitting the Application does not guarantee that the student will be a participant at the Summer Seminar.

After submitting the application the student is assigned the status of a potential participant. This status gives the right to take part in the preparation for the Summer Seminar.

Preparation for the Summer Seminar of the “Baltic Practice” Project.

Preparation for the Summer Seminar is conducted within the groups, with tutors and academic supervisors being the group leaders. Each group addresses several research issues while preparing for the Seminar.

Academic supervisor and tutor constitute the “headquarters” (HQ) of the group. The HQ of the group has the right to make any decisions regarding the preparation of the final papers for the Seminar.

The HQ of the group has the right to define the final list of participants. The HQ of the group has the right to request that the Organizing Committee excludes the students who are not taking part in the preparation of the final papers from the group.

Shortlisting of the participants for the Summer Seminar of the “Baltic Practice”

                Taking part in preparation for the Summer Seminar does not guarantee that the student will participate in the Seminar. Final list of participants is drawn up on the following basis:

·         active and effective participation in the preparation for the Summer Seminar;

·         previous contribution to the project (participation in previous Summer Seminars).

Effectiveness of the participation in the preparation is assessed by the HQ of the groups.   

Work of the “Baltic Practice” Summer Seminar.

                Summer Seminar functions as several interdisciplinary groups which address specific issues.

                Interdisciplinary group consists of the students and the professors who researched the issue while preparing for the Seminar.

                Interdisciplinary research group is headed by the group leader and his or her assistant.

                Group leader is chosen among the Academic Council members or is invited by the Academic Council from the range of affiliated experts or partners of the SU-HSE, at least 2 months before the Summer Seminar is due. Group leader makes sure that the research group prepares the final papers at the end of the Seminar.

 

Recreation at the Summer Seminar

                Outside of the research activity  timetable provided by the Organizing Committee and  the group leaders (or assistant group leaders), both students and professors have their spare time and can use all the available facilities for recreational activities.

Schedule of the preparation for the Summer Seminar of the Russian-European Centre of Multidisciplinary Research “Baltic Practice”.

Summer Seminars of the “Baltic Practice” are an ongoing project of individual research of the SU-HSE students and students of other universities in or outside Russia.

The schedule of the project mostly corresponds to the one of the academic year.

The schedule provides for the following events and activities:

            September-October

A one-day conference to finalize the work of the conducted Seminar is held, with approximately 50 participants. Requirements: a digital presentation of the Seminar work, preparation of participant's folder, presentation of the analytical work of the groups. The professors, the experts and the clients that worked at the Seminar participate in the conference.

October-November

The financial report is submitted.

The concept of the next “Baltic Practice” project is worked out.

The Academic Council is formed.

The preparation for the preliminary two-day conference in January ("the Winter Seminar”) begins.

The Academic Council defines the topics of the client-oriented research projects for the next Seminar.

The Student Committee is formed.

December

                Logistical and organizational preparation of the two-day preliminary conference in January (“the Winter Seminar”)

                The place and the host of the conference are chosen as well as the participants (students, professors, experts, clients).

Students who will participate in the conference are chosen from the SU-HSE and other universities.

Financial and logistical issues are addressed (travel, accommodation, equipment etc.)

January

The preliminary two-day conference (“the Winter Seminar") is held.

The conference defines:

·         research topics for the groups for the upcoming Seminar;

·         the participating experts and clients;

·         academic supervisors of the groups;

·         forms of presenting the final results of the Centre's work;

·         where the presentation will be held;

·         working schedule of the research groups in February- June;

·         when and where the spring short-listing conference will be held;

·         PR strategy of the Centre.

February-June

Clients and academic supervisors of the groups define the task to the research groups.

Working groups meet weekly to prepare the preliminary analytical paper.

February-March

The Centre signs contracts with the organizations that provide accommodation, transport, and other logistical support for the upcoming seminar. Advance payment is made for the accommodation and meals of participants.

March

Preparation for the two-day spring short-listing conference begins.

Contest for the participation in the Centre’s work is announced. Essay topics and requirements are made public.  

April-May

A two-day spring short-listing conference is held. Topics for the research groups receive final approve. The list of group academic supervisors, experts and clients is approved. Logotype and emblem of the upcoming Seminar are approved. According to the results of the essay contest the final list of participants is announced.  

            May-June

Working documents of the Seminar are formed out of the preliminary papers submitted by the group supervisors. The “participant’s folder” is copied for distribution among all the participants.

Travel reservations are made. Fund-raising from the SU-HSE departments and other universities that subsidize their students’ trip and from the students that pay for the Seminar trip themselves.  Payments for the accommodation, meals and transport are made to the corresponding partners.

July

The Summer Seminar is held.

 

Responsibilities of the faculty staff during the preparation of the Summer Seminar and its work.

 

Academic Director:

 During the preparation for the Summer Seminar (October-June)

·         Works out a concept of the Centre Project as a corporate event of the SU-HSE that unites the research capacity of different departments in several creative scholarly client-oriented projects which encourage student involvement. 

·         Encourages the heads of the SU-HSE departments to participate in the Summer Seminar.

·         Encourages the leading professors of the SU-HSE to become academic supervisors of the research groups.

·         Encourages Russian and foreign experts to participate in plenary meetings of the Summer Seminar.

·         Chooses (at the suggestion of the group academic supervisors) the clients that would find Summer Seminar’s research applicable and incorporation of their strategic interests into the research programme.

·         Works out the final daily and hourly schedule for the Summer Seminar jointly with the group academic supervisors and group student tutors.

 

  At the Summer Seminar (July)

·         Holds plenary meeting – jointly with the chair of the meeting

·         Approves all the changes in the working schedule

·         Chairs the Academic Council

·         Facilitates the organization and conduct of debates between the groups

·         Holds a meeting of the Academic Council every evening to monitor the work progress

·         Worksout the scenario of the final results presentation by the research groups

·         Chairs during the final presentation and its evaluation by the experts

·         Organizes the preliminary “Winter Seminar” in January for students and professor, and the conference for Summer Seminar participants and administrators.

·         Organizes the short-listing conference for the Summer Seminar participants in May

·         Works out the programme of the Summer Seminar

 

 Administrative Director:

 During the preparation for the Summer Seminar:

·         Chooses when and where the Summer Seminar will be held (jointly with the Student Committee, and after a proper analysis of all the options and their price/quality ratio)

·         Sets the budget of the Summer Seminar

·         Holds negotiations with the organizations that host the Seminar. Preparing and signing the agreements on participants' accommodation and meals.

·         Prepares and signing the agreements on transportation of the participants

·         Takes the necessary security measures for the Seminar

·         Fund-raising (the SU-HSE, sponsors, participants)

·         Prepares and signs the agreements with participants on covering their Summer Seminar expenses

·         Organizes the work of the logistics group of the Summer Seminar that is funded by the SU-HSE and its departments and that produces the financial report for the SU-HSE and the sponsors.

·         Addresses organizational issues of the work of the Academic Council

·         Organizes the work of the Student Committee

·          Keeps reports on financial spending

 

At the Summer Seminar:

·         Organizesthe transportation of participants from other cities to the meeting point from where all the participants go to the Summer Seminar

·         Ensures the participants’ safety during the transportation

·         Ensures that the participants are provided with comfortable accommodation before their arrival

·         On the arrival day organizes the check-in of the experts and participants at the lodgings  according to the previously agreed preferences

·         Ensures that the research groups are provided with necessary equipment

·         Ensuresthat the Academic Council and the Student Committee have all the necessary equipment in the "headquarters".

·         Provides the logistics for the plenary meetings and debates, including sound reinforcement and recording

·         Organizes the transportation from the lodgings to the place of the final presentation

·         Facilitates the choice of when and where the final presentation will be held

·         Organizes  the transportation of the experts and guests of the Seminar

 

 

 Academic Supervisor of the Working Group  

 During the preparation for the Summer Seminar:

·         Suggests a client-oriented project of the working group that could produce a significant result after six months of intensive research work

·         Participates in the preliminary "Winter Seminar” , discussing with the “Core” of the Centre options of the research group topics and the general concept of the project

·         Consolidates and motivates the most active students of the working group

·         Defines the research task, so that it presupposes involvement of students from different HSE departments in the project

·         Organizes the work of the group in such a way that the students and professors of different academic backgrounds interact and complement each other

·         Ensures feedback with the client, specifies the client's interests and incorporates them into the analytical work of the group

·         Distributes the tasks among the participants of the group, advises on the reading material for the research

·         Holds regular meetings of the student group from January till June in order to prepare the draft analytical paper on the project

·         Participates in defining the criteria for the short-listing contest (jointly with the Student Committee)

·         Suggests the experts both for working with the group and for the plenary meetings of the Summer Seminar and the group

 

   At the Summer Seminar:

·         Travels with the participants and holds meetings with the working group during the whole Seminar

·         Organizes daily work of the group (till 19.00)

·         Participates in the work of the Academic Council

·         Estimates individual contribution of each student at the end of each working day

·          Prepares the final presentation of the results of the group work, including choosing and training the students who are to make reports

·          Prepares the final edition of the group’s analytical paper.

·           Participates in editing the final papers on the results of the Centre’s work 

 

 

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