What is the Summer School about?
The Summer School on Human Rights, Minorities and Diversity Governance is a stimulating postgraduate programme organized by the Institute for Minority Rights of Eurac Research in South Tyrol, Italy. The one-week interdisciplinary summer school provides a unique opportunity to postgraduate students, civil servants, journalists, NGO workers and others interested in expanding their knowledge on human and minority rights, diversity and territorial governance. The Summer School follows an active learning approach and participants are encouraged to engage with the course material presented by international and local experts from academia and beyond through workshops, role plays, case studies, and study visits. The Summer School is held entirely in English. The programme has a different thematic focus each year. In 2026, the topic is “Minority Rights Reloaded: New Perspectives on Minority Protection in the 21st Century”.
Who can participate?
The Summer School is designed for those who wish to upgrade their knowledge of minority protection and diversity governance through an interdisciplinary and comparative approach, including:
MA and PhD students
post-docs and young researchers and academics
civil servants from local, regional or national governments
employees of international organisations or NGOs.
What can you expect in Bolzano/Bozen?
During the two-week programme, participants will be immersed in a stimulating international learning environment in Bolzano/Bozen (South Tyrol, Italy). The programme includes:
lectures by international and local experts
interactive workshops and role-plays
study visits
cultural activities
2026 Edition
This year’s summer school “Minority Rights Reloaded: Rethinking Minority Protection for the 21st Century,” aims to critically re-examine the evolving landscape of minority rights and traditional models of minority protection amidst emerging global challenges and opportunities. The program will address these issues both theoretically and practically, from multiple perspectives, through lectures, workshops, and field trips in and around Bozen/Bolzano and South Tyrol.