Credits
8
Prerequisites
None
Courses taught in
English
Dates
May 29 – Jul 23
Program Countries
Serbia
Program Base
Belgrade
Critical Global Issue of Study
Peace & Justice
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Serbia
Transitional Justice, Human Rights & Memory Activism Internship
(Deadline Passed)
Explore justice, human rights, and memory in post-conflict societies and contribute to the work of an important organization with a meaningful internship.
At a Glance
Overview
This internship and seminar program invites you to explore transitional justice, human rights, and memory politics in post-conflict societies. You will first attend a series of lectures introducing the sociopolitical and historical context of the Balkans in recent decades, including the break-up of Yugoslavia, the wars of the 1990s, and post-war processes of transition as related to peacebuilding and social change. You will be introduced to the work of local civil society actors including those focused on memory activism, human rights, and other forms of engaged citizenship. Following this introduction, you will be matched with a local organization and mentor to complete your internship.
Highlights
- Work with leading civil society organizations in Serbia.
- Gain professional, intercultural experience through an internship.
- Learn about issues of justice and memory politics in southeast Europe, the western Balkans, and Serbia.
- Contribute to the work of local groups and their quest for social justice, human rights, and the right to memory.
Prerequisites
None
Excursions
Novi Sad
This excursion will travel to Vojvodina, the northern part of Serbia. In Novi Sad, Serbia’s second largest city, learn about the history of the region, and get a broader perspective of local activism. Visit cultural centers and enjoy the beautiful Danube river. North of Novi Sad, in Subotica, on the border with Hungary, learn about the demographic diversity of this region and its visions of the past and the future.
Please note that SIT will make every effort to maintain its programs as described. To respond to emergent situations, however, SIT may have to change or cancel programs.
Academics
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the program, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate awareness of the ethics involved in doing an internship in the context of Serbia and the western Balkans.
- Apply cultural awareness in the workspace.
- Synthesize the internship learning experience in the form of an internship paper and oral presentation.
- Reflect on the themes related to transitional justice/human rights/memory processes in post-conflict societies and particularly in Serbia.
- Assess the challenges of student’s own positionality.
- Gain access to a large network of civil society organizations in the Balkans.
- Improve conversational and communicative skills in Serbian.
Coursework
The following syllabi are representative of this program. Because courses develop and change over time to take advantage of dynamic learning opportunities, actual course content will vary from term to term.
The syllabi can be useful for students, faculty, and study abroad offices in assessing credit transfer. Read more about credit transfer.
Key Topics
- Examine justice, memory politics, and human rights in Serbia and the Western Balkans
- Explore civil society in southeast Europe and the successor states of the former Yugoslavia
- Consider the ethical implications and consequences of interning in another culture
- Describe and analyze your internship experience through a final paper and oral presentation
Internship & Seminar
Internship & Seminar
Internship & Seminar – syllabus
(ITRN 3005 / 5 Credits)
This seminar is an eight-week course that offers students the opportunity to complete an internship with a Belgrade civil society organization, local community organization, or research organization. The aim of this internship is to enable students to gain valuable experience and enhance their skills in a career field and professional environment related to the topics studied at the program, including peace and conflict studies, transitional justice, human rights, and refugee studies.
SIT will use its extensive network in Serbia to facilitate internship placements for students. The organization and the student’s internship activities, including the Internship Learning Agreement, is set by the program, and must be approved by SIT’s academic director. SIT will maintain oversight over internship placements in line with SIT academic policies and student health and security guidelines. Ultimately, each student will need to take responsibility for making optimal use of their time, the resources available at the organization and to be proactive in engaging with local experts to achieve internship objectives. More so, each student will be responsible to maintain ongoing communication with their mentor placed by the organization and the SIT internship coordinator. Students will attend weekly reflection sessions to review the progress of the internship, learning associated with the internship experience, and to draw out broader issues related to program themes, positionality, culture and ethics in the context of the internship.
Each student will be required to submit a final paper in which they process their learning experience on the internship, analyze an issue important to the organization, and apply what they are learning at the internship organization to the core themes of the program.
Serbian
Serbian
Serbian I – syllabus
(SERB 1003 / 3 credits)
Serbian II – syllabus
(SERB 2003 / 3 credits)
Serbian III – syllabus
(SERB 3003 /3 credits)
This course emphasizes speaking and comprehension skills through classroom and field instruction. Students are also introduced to the Cyrillic script. Students are placed in beginning or intermediate, or advanced classes based on an in-country evaluation, including oral proficiency testing.
Homestays
Belgrade
During your program, you will live with a host family in Belgrade for eight weeks. Staying with a local family is a unique opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of the people, realities, and challenges facing the Balkans today. In addition to offering an excellent opportunity to improve your language skills, the homestay experience provides a warm welcome into Serbian life and culture and often creates bonds that last far after the program.
Some homestay families have always lived in Belgrade, while others may have relocated to the city from other parts of the former Yugoslavia. Family is very important in this country and there’s a good chance you’ll meet your hosts’ extended families in other parts of Serbia. In Belgrade, your family will also be a great source of information about local points of interest, such as the best kafanas, informal neighborhood bistros where you can meet new friends, sample traditional Serbian dishes, and enjoy folk music.
Other Accommodations
When not in their homestay, students will stay in bed and breakfasts or small hotels
Career Paths
Recent positions held by alumni of this program include:
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Fulbright research scholar in Serbia, Bosnia, or Kosovo
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Fulbright scholar teaching English in Serbia, Bosnia, North Macedonia, or Kosovo
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Global networks program manager at the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience, New York, NY
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Senior program assistant at the National Democratic Institute (NDI), Washington, DC
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Leading team member with International NGOs assisting migrants on the Balkan route
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Graduate studies in Peace and Conflict Studies, European studies, political science, anthropology with focus on southeast Europe
Faculty & Staff
Serbia: Transitional Justice, Human Rights & Memory Activism Internship
Orli Fridman, PhD
Academic Director
Aleksandar Skundric
Program Assistant
Ana Begovic, MA
Language Instructor
Discover the Possibilities
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Cost & Scholarships
SIT Study Abroad is committed to making international education accessible to all students. Scholarship awards generally range from $500 to $5,000 for semester programs and $500 to $3,000 for summer programs. This year, SIT will award nearly 1 million in scholarships and grants to SIT Study Abroad students.
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