Graduate Institute of International Studies

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Graduate Institute of International Studies (HEI)
HEI Logo
Established: 1927
Type: Public
Director: Philippe Burrin
Students: 600
Location: Geneva, Switzerland
Nickname: HEI
Website: hei.unige.ch

The Graduate Institute of International Studies, best known as HEI, was founded in 1927, at the time of the League of Nations, as one of the first institutions in the world dedicated to the study of international relations. A small and selective institution with about 1000 students from over 90 countries, the prestigious institution owes its reputation to: the quality of its cosmopolitan faculty, the strength of its core disciplines (Economics, History, Law and Political Science), its policy-relevant approach to international affairs, and its bilingual English-French education programmes.

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[edit] History

The Graduate Institute of International Studies (HEI) was founded in 1927 at the time of the League of Nations by William Rappard and Paul Mantoux. It is, in accordance with its statutes, "an institution intended to provide to students of all nations the means of undertaking and pursuing international studies, most notably of an historic, judicial, economic, political and social nature."

The Institute was created in Geneva in light of the development of different international and intergovernmental institutions that were established there. It was for a long time one of the few academic institutions in the world to deal exclusively with international relations, thus contributing to the renown of international Geneva. It represents a unique interface between the theory and practice of international relations and responds to the growing importance of international relations in today's world.

HEI is located in a beautiful park on the shores of Lake Geneva, very close to numerous international organisations, NGOs, as well as many multinational firms. This location is ideally suited for conducting fundamental and applied research on contemporary issues and fostering policy debates among academics, diplomats and decision-makers.

[edit] The Institution

An autonomous institution of graduate studies and research, HEI is constituted as a Swiss private law foundation. It shares a convention with the University of Geneva and is administered by the Foundation Board that assembles academics, politicians, people of public live and practicioners.

[edit] Academic Profile

The institute offers an interdisciplinary Master in International Affairs as well as a Master and Ph.D. in International Studies, with specialization in International Economics, International History and Politics, International Law or Political Science.

Courses are bilingual English-French.

[edit] Study Programmes

HEI was one of the first higher-education institutions in the world to specialize in the study of international relations. Today it is one of the centres of excellence in this field due to the quality of its faculty, the selection of its students and the relevance of the subjects taught.

The following degrees are offered:

  • Master in International Affairs (MIA) [1]
  • Master in International Studies (MIS) [2]
  • Ph. D. in International Studies [3]
  • Certificate in International Studies [4]

[edit] Summer Programmes

During the summer 2007, HEI is offering its first Summer programmes:

  • Summer Programme on International Affairs and Multilateral Governance [5]
  • Summer Programme on WTO Studies [6]
  • Global Health Diplomacy[7]

[edit] Exchange Programmes

Exchange agreements have been signed with the following institutions:

Further exchange agreements within the International Law Department have been signed with:

These agreements allow a small number of Master or Ph.D. students to spend one semester abroad in order to obtain credits or do research. Selection for these exchange programmes is based on academic merit. [8]

[edit] Special Programmes and Research Centers

The Graduate Institute houses and is associated with a diverse array of specialized programmes and centres. Although the work of these programmes is separate from the teaching programme of the Institute, they enrich Institute life by providing research opportunities, public events, guest speakers, specialized resources, or other opportunities to Institute faculty and students. [9]

In addition, the Institute has its own publications. HEI books are published by Presses Universitaires de France, while the journal "Relations internationales" [10] is published four times a year and deals with historical issues of the 19th and 20th century.

[edit] Merger

HEI and the Graduate Institute of Development Studies (IUED) merged in 2008 to create a new institution, the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID).

This new Institute will combine in a unique manner the fields of Development and International Relations and will offer a much wider choice of teaching and research activities.

The existing degree programmes (Master’s and Ph.D. in Development Studies, Master’s in International Affairs, Master’s and Ph.D. in International Studies) will continue to be offered in the following years.

For several years now there are plans to bring together different centers in the area of international peace and security in one building, the Maison de la Paix. This would allow to bring together the offices of the different sections under one roof, so far they are distributed to different buildings. The plans for a new building have been rediscussed with the creation of the new institute HEID.

[edit] Prominent Graduates

[edit] Prominent past and present faculty

[edit] References

  1. ^ Oloyede, Dokun. "Bolaji Akinyemi, the Seagull, at 60", Thisday online, Leaders & Company, 2002-01-06. Retrieved on 2007-10-27. 
  2. ^ (German) Das Magazin, 2007/41 Die ganze Geschichte

[edit] External links

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