From Sunday, 23 September to Friday, 28 September 2018, the students of the Manuel Marín Promotion of the College of Europe in Natolin took part in a study trip to Kyiv and Lviv (Ukraine).
Study trips have always been both integral and unique elements of the academic curriculum at Natolin. They constitute an opportunity for an in-depth study of carefully selected and up-to-date socio-political themes in destination countries, provide insight into their history and cultures, and develop an esprit de corps among students. Last but not least, they are an exercise in professional conduct—relevant regardless of the path students will follow in the future.
Being the largest state of the European Union’s Eastern Partnership that pursues a transformative reform agenda while fighting to preserve its territorial integrity, Ukraine is truly a fascinating country to study. What is more, its historical and cultural heritage provides an intricate backdrop for more recent developments and offers a chance of developing a deeper, contextualized understanding of the present situation.
Thanks to the College of Europe's contacts in Ukraine and the region, and in particular thanks to the invaluable network of the European Neighbourhood Policy Chair, the European History and Civilization Chair, and the Natolin Development Service, our students had a chance of interacting with important opinion-makers, such as politicians, government officials, diplomats, scholars, journalists, and civil society activists.
Regular updates on the study trip were published on Natolin's Facebook, Twitter and Instagram channels.
