Up-to-date info here

The Summer School on Interest Groups brings together leading scholars in the fields of interest group politics and civil society to deliver a one-week intensive course on the core aspects of interest group research. 

Held online for the very first time, this year’s Summer School turns focus to interest mobilisation throughout the different stages of policymaking: agenda-setting, policy formulation, decision-making and implementation. 

You don’t want to miss this chance to learn about political advocacy and lobbying research and to network with peers and leading scholars from all over the world.

Only 25 students will be accepted on a first-come-first-serve basis, so submit your application early! 

What to expect

  • Eight teaching days
  • Comprehensive courses
  • Method sessions 
  • Interactive research discussions 

Learning outcomes

  • Get all the tools necessary to embark on academic research in interest groups politics
  • Learn about cutting-edge approaches and acquire analytical skills for studying interest group activities 
  • Present your research and obtain feedback from internationally renowned scholars in the field 
  • Gain 6 ECTS credits if you participate in all sessions, complete class assignments and present a research paper

Schedule

  • Sessions will take place 30 June – 3 July and 5 – 8 July
  • Two sessions each day (preliminary times): 14:00–17:00 CEST and 17:30–20:30 CEST

Requirements

The Summer School is open to all students already enrolled in a PhD programme and advanced MA students with a keen interest in interest groups research.

You’ll be required to write and submit a research paper by 1 June to Meta Novak which you’ll present at the Summer School as part of the discussion sessions.

English is the working language of the Summer School; you are expected to have a good command of written and spoken English.

How to apply

Submit your CV, a brief motivational letter (max one page), and a 300-word abstract of a research paper to be presented at the Summer School (as one single PDF) here by Thursday 29 April.

A maximum of 25 students will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Once the course is fully booked, a waiting list will be made available for late applicants.

Registration and fees

Registration fee: €50

Your registration will be confirmed once your application is accepted by the Summer School coordinator and the payment is received. You’ll be informed about the outcome of your application by email. 

Registration will open Wednesday 5 May and the deadline is Wednesday 19 May.

Participating scholars

  • Anne Rasmussen University of Copenhagen
  • Joost Berkhout University of Amsterdam
  • Iskander de Bruycker Maastricht University
  • Timothy M. LaPira James Madison University, Virginia
  • Michael T. Heaney University of Glasgow
  • Andrea Pritoni University of Torino
  • Michael Dobbins University of Konstanz
  • Rafael Pablo Labanino University of Konstanz
  • Patrycja Rozbicka Aston University, Birmingham
  • Wiebke Marie Junk University of Copenhagen
  • Meta Novak University of Ljubljana
  • Alberto Alemanno The Good Lobby and HEC Paris
  • Ellis Aizenberg, University of Amsterdam
  • Jan Beyers, University of Antwerp
  • Francesca Colli, Maastricht University
  • Jesse M. Crosson, Trinity University, Texas
  • Alexander C. Furnas, University of Michigan, Michigan
  • Danica Fink Hafner, University of Ljubljana
  • Šárka Laboutková– Technical University of Liberec, Czech Republic
  • Bastiaan Redert, University of Antwerp