Ten young researchers of six different nationalities have been selected by the jury for the European research and mobility grants in European studies linked to the European Carlos V Award to Sofía Corradi-Mamma Erasmus, aimed at students preparing their doctoral theses in various fields of study. https://www.fundacionyuste.org/premio-europeo-carlos-v/becas-premio-europeo-carlos-v/

109 research projects were submitted in response to the call, from different countries in the European Union, Latin America, and other countries in the Mediterranean basin. It was the highest number of submissions ever received for the grants, demonstrating both the international scope of the call and its consolidation in promoting research on the process of European integration, as well as showing young people’s interest in the European project. The grants are aimed at  researchers enrolled on a PhD programme and currently working on a doctoral thesis in History, Political Science, Economics, Law, or other disciplines within Human and Social Sciences, as well as other branches of science, on any theme related to the theme and orientation of the grants call.

The jury highlighted the high quality of the proposals received, finally choosing work from 10 researchers (7 female, 3 male) of Spanish, Italian, Serbian, Hungarian, French, and Peruvian nationality, one of whom was from the University of Extremadura. The selected researchers are carrying out doctoral studies at the universities of Leuven (Belgium), Maastricht (Netherlands), Sapienza (Italy), UNED (Spain), National Autonomous University of Mexico, Szeged (Hungarya), Freie Universität Berlin (Germany), Autónoma de Barcelona (Spain), Extremadura (Spain), West Hungary (Hungary), Sant’Anna Pisa (Italy), and Córdoba (Spain).

The theme of the grants, now in their 8th edition, is adapted to the profile of the person granted the award, with the theme for this year being (from a multidisciplinary perspective) ‘Peace and European Values as a potential model for integration and progress in a global world’. The projects submitted  analyse a diverse range of themes related to law in the European Union, equality, European values, religion, Eurocentrism from the periphery, human rights, cooperation, democracy, youth participation, the future of European citizenship, the internationalisation of higher education, European immigration policies, solidarity, fundamental rights, and the role of the EU in political transformations of Mediterranean countries. In her speech at the Carlos V European Award presentation ceremony, Sofia Corradi talked about her commitment to peace through the introduction of the initiative that would go on to become the Erasmus Programme: “The Erasmus programme develops valuable qualities in students such as knowledge, personal development, maturity, creativity in problem solving, and autonomy in decision making: both for everyday life and for important decisions. These small but incredibly positive steps undoubtedly contribute to the promotion of an integrated and improved Europe, as well as peace between the members of our global human family […]”.

The value of the grant for each beneficiary is 2500 euros. The 10 researchers will present their work at the Doctoral Seminar for Pluridisciplinary Studies on Contemporary Europe to be held in Yuste from 24-26 July in the framework of the Campus Yuste programme organised by the European Academy of Yuste Foundation every year, funded this year by the Extremaduran Agency for International Development Cooperation as part of the project entitled ‘Europe facing global challenges from cooperation to development’. The projects will subsequently be published by academic and scientific publisher Peter Lang.

It should be noted that this grants call has had financial and institutional support from the Italian Government, which would like to pay homage to Professor Sofia Corradi, and also to the thirteen Erasmus students killed in the tragic road traffic accident in Tarragona in March 2016, seven of whom were Italians.

EUROPEAN GRANTS

The European Research and Mobility grants for European Studies, Carlos V European Award – Sofia Corradi, Mamma Erasmus, aim to promote study and research in the European field, and have been organised in collaboration with the SEGEI (Socio-Economic Governance and European Identity) Research Network, and the University of Extremadura, with additional support from the Regional Government of Extremadura and the Italian Government.

The selected researchers will go on to form part of the European ‘Alumni de Yuste’ Network, set up to facilitate the exchange of projects and information between researchers specialising in European matters who have received one of the grants. There are now more than 80 researchers from different European, Latin American, and other Mediterranean countries’ universities in the Network.

The chosen 10 researchers are:

Surname Name Nationality
Milosevic Ana Serbia
Di Nonno Maria Pia Italian
Marcos Pérez Jairo Spain
Sebok Gina Hungary
Dongo Sueiro Mayte Anais Perú
Steible Bettina France
Hernández Díez Enrique Spain
Rohonczi Edit Hungary
Cino Luigi Italian
Acosta Penco Mª Teresa Spain