Call for Applications - International Summer school

The Prague office of the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung is cordially inviting students, young researchers and practitioners from Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary and Poland to participate in this year's International Summer School “Feminist Futures for Foreign Policy”.

The summer school aims to strengthen the community of scholars and practitioners in Central Europe who engage with the fields of international relations and security through a feminist lens. It seeks to deepen participants’ expertise and skills while fostering professional connections and collaboration across the region. The program will also support dialogue between foreign policy experts and local civil society movements, encouraging complex thinking about security with an emphasis on the intersection of internal and external gendered risks, as well as the localization of the discussed topics. In the longer term, the summer school aims to amplify Central European experts’ feminist perspectives, ensuring their voices are more audible and influential in both international debates and domestic policy discussions.

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DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: 31 May 2026

LOCATION: Prague

DATE: 8-12 September 2026

The official program will begin on 9 September in the morning and end on 12 September at lunchtime.

WORKING LANGUAGE: English

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What to expect?

The course will include lectures and workshops by leading Czech and international scholars, including Toni Haastrup, Jacqui True, Maryna Shevtsova, Míla O’Sullivan, and Ondřej Horký-Hlucháň; discussions with local policy makers, practitioners, and representatives of feminist civil society; as well as other formats for interaction.

Preliminary topics and activities that will be included:

• Feminist Foreign Policy Analysis
• Decolonial feminist approaches to international studies
• Intersectionality in research and practice
• The Women, Peace and Security Agenda
• Transnational gender challenges (e.g. reproductive justice, gender and migration)
• Policy-writing workshop
• Feminist city tour
• Open Space method

Participants undertake to draft a policy paper by 31 October 2026 in groups which will be formed during the course.They will have the opportunity to receive professional feedback and the selected papers will be published on the organizers' website.

Who are we looking for?

• MA/PhD students, early career researchers and practitioners from think-tanks,  civil society organizations and public institutions
• Relevant disciplines: international relations, security studies, international law, political science, gender studies, European studies and development studies
• Demonstrable basic knowledge of gender in international studies (please specify in your motivation letter)
• Applicants active in the following countries: Czechia, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia
• We encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds and underrepresented groups. We also welcome men interested in feminist approaches.

Costs and Logistics

• Accommodation (4 nights, 8-12.9), meals and travel will be covered by organizers
• Please note that travel reimbursement will be provided to participants submitting original travel documents and a reimbursement form upon the conclusion of the summer school.

Please read further details regarding our policies and regulations (reimbursement, Preventing Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, & Harassment policy): see the attachment. 

How to apply?

• Send a letter of motivation and your CV in English to marie.simkova@cz.boell.org
• Deadline for applications: 31 May 2026
• Selected participants will be notified of their acceptance by 25 June 2026.