The University of Aberdeen, in collaboration with the Horizon 2020 Marie Sklodowska-Curie programme, is hosting 11 Early Stage Researchers for ground-breaking research on how political concepts are used in the world (POLITICO).

The Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) are completing a PhD with an inter-disciplinary supervisory team and benefit from a world-class training programme, including placements with one or more of our 23 international partners. They are drawn from across the social sciences and humanities, including anthropology, cultural and literary studies, education, history, legal theory and socio-legal studies, philosophy, politics, religious studies, sociology, and theology.

The ESRs have developed their own research projects around the theme of how political concepts have been fostered historically, debated philosophically and politically, fought over by social movements, codified in law, transmitted through education and the media, and lived out in everyday life. They are working under the supervision of an interdisciplinary team of supervisors, and are receiving extensive training, including in engagement with non-academic audiences, which includes one or more placements with one of our 23 partners. They also participate in the activities of the Centre for Citizenship, Civil Society and the Rule of Law.

Partners

The POLITICO project has parterned with 24 organisations and institutions.

These partnerships allow, where appropriate our Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) the opportunity to conduct field research while on placement.

During their placement the ESRs will have full access to the facilities of the partner institution where they are conducting this field research, along with an on-site expert to keep them on track in their PhD, while continuing to be being supervised by their University of Aberdeen supervisors.

The 24 partners are:

• Jawaharlal Nehru University 
• University of Malaga
• University of Elte 
• RUSI  
• University of Manitoba 
• University of Leipzig 
• Polish Academy of Sciences  
• University of Amsterdam 
• University of Toronto 
• Universitat Jaume 
• University of Trento 
• Tartu University
• Martin Luther Universitat Halle Wittenbuerg 
• University of Ottowa
• Queen Mary University of London
• CADIS
• ODI
• University of Glasgow
• Education Scotland
• ISPI
• Lund University
• Radboud University
• Utrikesplitiska Institutet 

Network

The POLITICO programme has an academic support network consisting of an extensive pool of experts from across several disciplines within the University of Aberdeen. There are also 6 international experts that have agreed to meet annually and support the project in reviewing the overall progress of the doctoral programme.

SUPERVISOR TEAM

The Politico supervisor pool consists of academic staff from across 6 schools within the University of Aberdeen.

PARTNER INSTITUTIONS

The POLITICO project is currently partnered with 24 organisations and institutions.

These partnerships allow, where appropriate our Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) the opportunity to conduct field research while on placement.

INTERNATIONAL EXPERT ADVISERS

The group will provide expert advice to the Selection Training and Supervisory Board to guide and inform the selection and training procedures implemented by the programme.

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research & Innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 754326.