Centre International de Formation Européenne

History

Alexandre Marc, recognised by some scholars as one of the most renowned founding fathers of Personalist Federalism established CIFE partly as an educational institution where personalist federalism would be taught as opposed to the oppression of individual liberty by both centralist collectivism and exaggerated individualism, which appeared during the early 1930s in Nazi Germany and in the Soviet Union. In 1964, CIFE founded its own post-graduate institute, the European Institute of High International Studies (IEHEI)(Chinese: 欧洲学院), with the support of the City of Nice and the European Commission. Since its foundation, the Institute has formed multiple ties of cooperation with universities notably in Germany, Italy, Turkey and Central and Eastern Europe to deliver academic education of international impact. The Institute is actively constituted by an international faculty, consisting of university professors and experts from all over the world. CIFE is proud to increasingly endorse diversity year after year with an international student body made up by people of various distinguished backgrounds. In 2013, Matthias Waechter succeeded to Hartmut Marhold as Director General, who has led the institution since 2002 and who continues to work at CIFE as Director of research and development.

Master in Advanced European and International Studies

The Master in Advanced European and International Studies is a one-year advanced master's study programme designed for students who have at least completed their undergraduate studies with obtained academic degrees equivalent to or higher than a full-time Bachelor's. The programmes focus on European and International studies. Aimed at giving students an encompassing vision of the political, social, economic, and cultural issues of modern world, the programme has the unique feature of promoting European mobility of its students. There are three branches available, each of them designed to allowing the students to live in different countries and experience different aspects of European integration and foreign politics, also allowing them to develop, inter alia, languages' knowledge and other soft skills. This master's study programme is divided into the following branches by the unique characteristics of the faculty, the curriculum, the locations of lectures and the students. At the end of the programme, the participants are required to independently complete and successfully defend a qualified master's thesis which strictly conforms to contemporary international academic standards and requirements at the directorship of a member of the faculty.

The Trilingual branch

Established over 40 years ago, the Trilingual branch of the Master in Advanced European and International Studies is the longest-standing educational programme of CIFE. Over the years, more than 2000 students, from over 100 countries, have followed this course. It is known to be one of the few masters in European and International Studies taught in three languages: French, English, and German. The programme of the Trilingual branch includes two terms in Nice, and one term in Berlin. A study trip to the European and international institutions completes the programme. It is believed that this approach could bring to the students enriching perspectives: in Nice, the French vision of Europe prevails; in Berlin the perspective on Central and Eastern Europe is approached, from a stand point which allows to analyse the Enlargement of the European Union process. Overall, the Trilingual branch seeks to offer the students an insight into a fundamental element of European integration: French-German relations.

The Anglophone branch

The Anglophone branch started in October 2005, at the very moment the negotiations for the Accession of Turkey to the European Union began. To help the students analysing this process, the programme includes terms in Istanbul, Nice and Berlin, and it is complemented by a study trip to European and international organisations in Europe. In Istanbul, the process of the Europeanization of Turkey is a central topic, together with the neighbourhood policies and external relations of the European Union with the Caucasus countries and Central Asia. In Nice, the students continue to be cultivated with topics of both historical and contemporary significance with the help of distinguished professors, experts and current and former employees of EU bodies, governments and international organisations EU-wide; they undergo mid-term examinations and are taken to selected EU institutions international organisations and governments for formal visits. And in Berlin, the students prepare themselves for final examinations and thesis drafting. Meanwhile, they are encouraged to participate in academic activities held across Berlin by various universities and organisations. Successful candidates graduate with Master in Advanced European and International Studies, 60 ECTS credits.

The Mediterranean branch

To follow the evolution of international context triggered by the events of the Arab Spring, in March 2015 a Memorandum of understanding was signed by CIFE and the Université Internationale de Tunis, which lead to the creation of a Mediterranean branch of the master, with study-locations Nice, Tunis and Istanbul.

Executive Master in EU Studies

CIFE operates an Executive Master in EU Studies: this programme is intended for young professionals who want to update their knowledge of European problems, especially political, economical and juridical questions within the European Union. The Executive Master in EU Studies Programme allows them to continue their studies and to get a complementary diploma while pursuing their careers. An e-learning platform stores the course materials and enables interaction among participants as well as between experts and participants. During the face-to-face workshops, which complement the virtual activities and which take place in different European capitals like Berlin, Rome, Budapest or Brussels, the participants meet each other and national decision makers, and constitute a dynamic, international network.

The European Union and Central Asia in the International System (EUCAIS) - Online Master

The Institut für Europäische Politik (IEP) and the Centre international de formation européenne (CIFE) offer an Online Master Study Programme in „Studies on the EU and Central Asia in the International System"(EUCAIS). The programme is open to post-graduates and young professionals from Central Asia (Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan and the Chinese Province of Xinjiang). It offers a combination of e-learning and on-campus study-phases in Berlin and Brussels. The Online Master Programme receives significant funding from the VolkswagenFoundation (Germany).

The programme aims at intesifying the knowledge of the EU integration process, to better understand recent developments in the relations between the EU and Central Asia, as well as the situation of these regions in the international economic and political system. The study mode provides access to a recognised European network and to EU-Central Asia academic exchange programmes. Its alumni are considered well qualified for future careers in Central Asian universities or to work in international organisations, foundations and development agencies in Central Asia. In general, they build networks among academic participants of the Online Academy in Central Asia and strengthen their abilities in scientific work and writing.

European Online Academy for Senior Citizens (ESOA)

The European Online Academy for Senior citizens offers elderly people the chance of superior further education. It implies extensive online information as well as face-to-face seminars. It represents an innovative learning method for all those senior citizens who would like to take part in the process of European integration actively and who want to allow Europe to benefit from their experiences and qualifications. By this means, the ESOA makes this generation contribute to developing the EU further and, at the same time, it saves their valuable experience from oblivion.

Summer University

Each summer, CIFE organises the "Université d'été-Summer University" in various European countries. These programmes offer time for reflection on topics and debates of international interest. Some of the past editions included: "Relations between North America and Europe" (Austria), "National Minorities -Today and Tomorrow" (Opole, Berlin and Strasbourg), "The Black Sea region in the enlargement EU" (Moldova, Chişinău), "The relations between the European Union and Turkey" (Turkey, Istanbul), "Actions of the EU against the climatic and environmental changes -problems and perspectives" (Croatia) and "The Europe and rights -effective application of the communitaire right among the EU members" (Sofia, Bulgaria).

Publications

CIFE is also a research centre; its scientific production includes regularly books, brochures, and reviews focused on EU affairs, International Relations and federalism.

L'Europe en formation

L'Europe en formation is a quarterly journal published by CIFE since March 1960, which includes articles both in English and French. It focuses on the development of the European Union, International Relations, European societal models and federalism.

EU-27 Watch

The EU-27 Watch has been monitoring debates on EU policy for 12 years and provides a rich set of material from national debates on European policy and thus a unique source for diachronic analyses. Currently, this internet based publication reviews the discourses on European policies in 31 countries in a comparative perspective.

Books and brochures

Regularly, CIFE publishes books and brochures on selected subjects, presenting the major problems that challenge European integration. Each edition contains scientific analysis upon a central theme, scientific contributions on various topics, opinions as well as detailed briefing papers on developments in European and World politics.