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The ACADEMIC SWISS CAUCASUS NET (ASCN) is a programme aimed at promoting the social sciences and humanities in the South Caucasus. Those involved in the programme believe that their participation encourages constructive debate on society, which in turn contributes to the region’s transformation process. The programme’s different activities foster the emergence of a new generation of talented scholars in the South Caucasus. Promising junior researchers receive support through research projects, capacity-building trainings and scholarships. The programme emphasises the advancement of individuals. Emphasis is also placed on international networking, thus promoting sustained cooperation among scholars based in the South Caucasus and those based in Switzerland.

The ASCN Programme is coordinated and operated by the Interfaculty Institute for Central and Eastern Europe (IICEE) at the University of Fribourg. It is supported by GEBERT RÜF STIFTUNG.

Initially, the programme focused primarily on Georgia. It was then extended to include Armenia in 2011.

2nd ASCN Annual Conference, 29-30 June 2012, Yerevan

 
The Academic Swiss Caucasus Net (ASCN) is pleased to announce its 2nd Annual ASCN Conference entitled "Political Transformation and Social Change in the South Caucasus: Georgia and Armenia in Perspective" that will take place this year in Yerevan, Armenia on the 29th & 30th of June 2012.

Proposals to be submitted until 12 March 2012
 
For more information, please click here.

Exchange Semester at the University of Fribourg


For the third time, ASCN will offer four MA students in the humanities or social sciences the opportunity to receive a full scholarship to study for one semester (September 2012–January 2013) in the Department of Humanities at the University of Fribourg.

Students from the following universities are welcome to apply for the scholarship: Ilia State University (Georgia), Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (Georgia), Yerevan State University and Yerevan State Linguistic University after V. Brusov (Department of Linguistics and Intercultural Communication).

The call for applications is now open. Students who wish to spend the fall semester at the University of Fribourg beginning in September 2012 must apply before Tuesday, 31 January 2012.

Financial Support for 12 New Research Projects


In July 2011, the ASCN Scientific Board selected 12 new social sciences research projects from Armenia and Georgia. The selected projects address transition-related issues falling under the following umbrella topic: "Political Transformation and Social Change" (Armenia), "Institutions, Networks and Power" (Georgia) or "Religion, Nation and Identities" (Georgia).

The total budget for each project is 40,000 Swiss Francs (CHF) distributed over two years, with a maximum of 20,000 CHF allotted per year. Altogether, 84 researchers are involved, including 25 PhD candidates.

The abstracts of the selected research projects can be found here:

projects from Armenia
projects from Georgia