CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS: 2026 Annual Summer School on National Minorities

The primary goal of the summer school is to critically examine the challenges faced to implement the linguistic, socio-economic, and political rights of what academia defines as Non-Kin-State Minorities (NKSM);

It aims to bring together young academics, scholars, and minority practitioners, offering a safe, intellectually nurturing space for networking and discussing the realities and profiles of NKSM in Europe.

While kin-state politics have garnered significant scholarly and political attention (including the 2025 Summer School organised by the ECMI and the Coppieters Foundation), numerous minority communities in Europe do not benefit from the backing that kin-states provide and vary in size, territorial concentration, and legal standing.

This Summer School will examine five types of NKSM; territorially organised (e.g. Catalans, Basques, and Corsicans), territorially concentrated but minoritised groups (West Frisians), small and endangered minorities (Sorbs and North Frisians), dispersed communities (Roma and Sinti), and Indigenous peoples (Saami and Greenlanders). This will allow a comparative assessment of how linguistic vitality, social cohesion, access to education, and relations with the state are shaped in the absence of a kin-state.

Among other topics, Summer School participants will learn about the role of Europeanisation and international organisations in advancing the rights of NKSM.

TOPICS COVERED

• Conceptual foundations of the categorisation of Non-Kin-State Minorities
• Linguistic, cultural, political, and socio-economic rights
• The role of international organisations in protecting the rights
• Lived experiences of NKSM and their shared and specific challenge

PLANNED ACTIVITIES

The programme will combine traditional and non-formal educational methods, interactive sessions, and networking activities, and will encourage participants to engage critically with the course topics from different perspectives and disciplinary approaches.

Our schedule will include:

Lectures and seminars by experts in the field of minority rights and minority issues

Interactive workshops, panel discussions, and group work for immersive learning experiences

Exclusive networking opportunities with local stakeholders, enhancing practical understanding through real-world examples

A field visit to the island of Föhr, home to a significant North Frisian community

An array of social events to enhance the learning experience and foster connections.

ELIGIBILITY AND APPLICATION PROCEDURES

The Summer School team aims to select a total number of 25 junior scholars, researchers or practitioners, having the following professional background:

• Students from relevant fields of study (MA and PhD students), and/or
• Practitioners from the public sector, NGOs, and mass media.

Applicants are required to submit a completed online application form, which includes questions on general information (contact details, affiliation, practical and logistical information) and motivation. To finalise the submission of an application, applicants must also submit their detailed CV via email to summerschool@ecmi.de no later than 25 May 2026.

Please state “SuS26 Application_Your surname” in the subject line.

The selection will be based on academic and professional achievements, as well as expressed interest in the topic. Diversity within the group, in terms of professional background, gender, and country of origin, will be an important factor in the selection process.

FEES

• Early Bird: €350 (if applied by 10 April 2026)
• Standard: €400 (if applied from 11 April 2026).

The fee covers:

• The programme of lectures and workshops
• All reading materials before and during the Summer School
• Accommodation (including breakfast) in either twin rooms with a private bathroom or triple rooms with a shared bathroom from 23 August (Sunday) to 29 August (Saturday). Room allocation will be made on a first-come, first-served basis
• Lunches and light refreshments between 24 and 28 August, plus a closing dinner
• A field trip to the island of Föhr
• Participation in all additional Summer School activities (city tour, social activities, and visits to museums and exhibitions).

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This Summer School is a joint initiative of ECMI and Coppieters Foundation in cooperation with the Tallinn University School of Governance, Law and Society. 

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This event is financially supported by the European Parliament. The European Parliament is not liable for the content of the event nor the opinions of the speakers.

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