MAX WEBER PROGRAMME
activities profited greatly from the collaboration and invaluable input from the EUI Language Centre, namely Nicola Hargreaves, Nicola Owtram and visiting linguist Laurie Anderson. In addition the MWP has a team of professional language correctors and editors who give full support and tutorial feedback to fellows on all articles and papers. In order to support the research and publication output of the Max Weber Fellows, a series of workshops took place throughout the year, dedicated to recent developments in the academic publishing market, best practices in publishing and refereeing, the use of citation indexes and so on. The Max Weber Programme actively supported fellows seeking academic positions. A number of workshops were organised in which the fellows discussed and developed their CVs, cover letters, biographical sketches and web pages. Fellows also shared information and discussed job market strategies in their fields. In addition they received professional feedback on their presentation and interviewing skills. All fellows who were actively on the job market in the programmes first year have secured academic and research positions following their MWP fellowship. The initial ‘September Presentations’ of the fellows’ research agendas not only served the purpose of introducing each fellow’s work to their colleagues, mentors and, more generally, to the EUI community, but also served as an exercise in public presentation. To this end, the seminars were videotaped and followed by feedback sessions in which presentation and public speaking performance were assessed by professional coaches, and the further training needs of the fellows were assessed. The Max Weber Programme also aims at improving and developing standards of excellence in the teaching skills of the fellows, while taking into account that fellows arrive with different teaching experience and that teaching methods differ across fields, cultures and university systems. Three types of activities were designed to fulfil this aim. First, specific
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Academic Practice Workshops on ‘best practices’ in higher education teaching addressed issues arising from university teaching in different contexts (class size, etc.) and methodologies (lecturing, leading groups, e-learning, etc.). Second, fellows designed new courses and/or critically assessed existing curricula within the Academic Practice Groups. This process was followed by appropriate feedback from mentors and Max Weber Programme colleagues. Third, most fellows, on a voluntary basis, were also involved in active teaching during their fellowship. This was arranged through collaboration with their mentors, or other EUI professors; in postgraduate courses, seminars or Summer schools; or by offering courses within a network of universities collaborating with the Max Weber Programme, including a number of American universities who have campuses in the Florence area. MWP Academic Careers Observatory The Academic Careers Observatory has been developed as part of the Max Weber Programme’s aim to assist young scholars in enhancing their academic career. The Observatory’s website offers information on the structure and accessibility of different national academic university systems. The work for the Observatory began in January 2007 and in April 2007 the website was a reality. The Max Weber Fellows of 2007 have assisted the Observatory by providing information on their country of reference. The Observatory is now a valuable resource not just for Max Weber Fellows but for the wider international academic community at all career stages. The Observatory operates on an interactive basis and is in constant development; everyone is strongly encouraged to access the website and send comments or correct and modify pages and information where needed. Visit the Observatory at: www.eui.eu/MaxWeberProgramme/AcademicCareers/ Multidisciplinary Research Workshops The Multidisciplinary Research Workshops (MRW) complemented the disciplinary research activities of the fellows. The workshops were aimed at enhancing mutual underTHE PRESIDENT ’S ANNUAL REPORT - SPRING 2008
Illustrating the MWP Academic Careers Observatory