OUR HISTORY
The master’s degree in ‘ International Relations’ (IR) comes from the experience of high-level and strongly global-oriented studies offered by the University of Macerata since 2000.
photo credits: foreignpolicy.com
MASTEREST
In 2000, the specialisation course ‘Master in Relations with Eastern Countries’ (also known as Masterest) was established: entirely taught in English, the Masterest programme offered Italian and foreign students from China, India, Russia, Brasil, Eastern Europe countries high-quality education in the field of international trade and economics and fostered the creation of strong relations among Universities, local firms and institutions from Italy and Far East and Eastern Europe areas.
IETR
After nine editions, the new global scenario with increasing internationalisation of the markets and of higher education systems led to an evolution and a strenghtening of the Masterest programme: in a.y. 2011/2012, the entirely-taught in English curriculum ‘International Economic Trade Relations’ was included in the master’s degree in ‘Political and International Studies’ (LM-62), then labelled as ‘Master’s Degree in Political and International Studies: Focus on Economic and Trade Relations’ (IETR). The two-year course IETR intended to provide graduates with a wide theoretical, conceptual and methodological depth knowledge of the system international economic and trade relations within legal, economic and management fields and with a specific focus on the Eastern Europe and Far East countries. Since its creation, IETR hosted also numerous international students from three different countries.
IPER
Few years later, the course IETR gained its recognisation as a separate master’s degree. Offered by the Department of Political Science, Communication and International Relations of the University of Macerata starting from a.y. 2014/20215, the English-taught master’s degree in ‘International Politics and Economic Relations’ LM-52 (IPER) is grounded on a highly interdisciplinary approach and provides students with a two-fold course including legal, historical, political and sociological in-depth analysis and studies in economics, marketing, trade law and project management.
The traditional strong relations with Eastern Europe countries have been sealed by specific agreements for two double degree programmes with the most prestigious Universities in Russia and Ukraine: the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO University), sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, and the National University ‘Taras Shevchenko’ in Kiev.
GPR
From a.y. 2016/2017, the IPER master’s degree has changed its structure, by widening the educational offer, as well as has changed its denomination, but without modifying its interdisciplinary approach. The master’s degree in 'Global Politics and International Relations’ (IR) now proposes three specialized curricula (study plans): International Politics (IP), particularly focused on governance and public policy issues; International Economic Relations (IER), with special attention on economic and trade relations; International Politics and Economic Relations (IPER), as an advanced course on the international relations field.
IR
From a.y. 2020/2021,the Master's degree has changed its denomination to better represent its contents and highlight its three curricula, without changing its structure or modifying its interdisciplinary approach. The master’s degree in ‘International Relations’ (IR) still proposes three specialized curricula (study plans): International Politics (IP), particularly focused on governance and public policy issues; International Economic Relations (IER), with special attention on economic and trade relations; International Politics and Economic Relations (IPER), as an advanced course on the international relations field."
Still today, the IR master’s degree attracts students from all over the world, eager to gain a high-level international education and strong competences and skills to be employed on a wider a more complex international labour market, thanks to the various academic and extra-curricular opportunities offered: double degree programmes, international projects such as X-Culture, high-value academic seminars and lectures, courses of excellence, internships in national and international institutions and firms, etc.
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