Summer schools

Kant’s critical philosophy argues that the central principles that govern our minds have a special status. They are neither analytical nor a posteriori but synthetic a priori. However, is it possible to distinguish between valid and invalid principles with such a status? According to Kant, on the one hand, some of these synthetic a priori principles are the normative basis for the validity of judgments about the world and of volitions, on the other. How does Kant justify his controversial claims about synthetic principles a priori, from the principles of reason to the categorical imperative and to civil rights within the state? The task of the Fourth Summer School is to examine and evaluate Kant’s position on the normativity of these laws and principles

The keynote of the lectures and seminars reveals the answers to the following questions:

1. How does Kant prove (deduce) the bindingness, or validity, of these laws and principles?

2. Is there the middle ground between realism and constructivism with respect to Kant's idea of the self-legitimacy of our reason?

The Summer School focuses on the analysis of major passages from Kant's works (and several other authors’), including the Critique of Pure Reason, the Metaphysical Foundations of Natural Science, the Critique of Practical Reason, and his treatise on “the perpetual peace”

The Summer School includes lectures, seminars, and tutorials. The school also includes a scientific conference where participants present their own research projects on a topic related to the school's theme

After the School, learners will be able to:

• master an ability to analyze the key ideas and the most complex concepts of Kantianism
• improve primary sources work skills
• expand the scientific horizon of young scientists by immersing in the European tradition of research and teaching
• reach professional connections between young scientists

A participant's certificate is issued

Requirements: senior undergraduate students, graduate students, postgraduate students and PhD students who defended not earlier than 2018; upper-Intermediate level of English; selection on a competitive basis (based on the evaluation of a letter of motivation, 350-400 words in English, and an abstract, 1200-1400 words in English, including the list of references)

Bioengineering and Medicine Summer School is an opportunity to immerse yourself in an environment where the symbiosis of advanced molecular biology and modern medicine takes place. This is not only theoretical lectures from top scientists, it also provides a wide range of practical classes in the modern laboratory facilities of the university

Classes take place in modern classrooms, as well as in the university research laboratories with the latest equipment. The university buildings are located within a 20-minute walk from the city center that allows you to be at the center of the activity

Bioengineering and Medicine Summer School involves cultural attractions. You will be immersed in the history and culture of the region with the ocean studies, Königsberg legends, fragments of the past contained in amber, and an unforgettable vacation on the golden beaches of the Curonian Spit National Park, visits to coastal resort towns, trips, quests and, of course, new friends. The target audience of the project is students of the Republic of Belarus

A 2-week course that helps participants quickly and effectively learn or improve their communication skills in Russian, expand their vocabulary, sharpen their grammar skills, and immerse themselves in Russian culture

Due to the unstable epidemiological situation, the Intensive Summer School in the Russian language and culture is held in a hybrid format in 2021:

• Participants from countries which air travel is fully open with are invited for full-time training

• Participants from countries which air travel is not fully open with are invited for online training

After the School, learners will be able to:

• master the communication skills in a variety of situations: from simple everyday situations (beginner group) to detailed statements on topics relevant to society (advanced level)
• expand vocabulary and master grammatical constructions
• get to know the features of Russian culture: folklore, Russian history, cinematography, and art
• get acquainted with the history and major attractions of the Kaliningrad region
• gain experience communicating with native Russian speakers

At the end of the Intensive Summer School in the Russian language and culture, participants will receive a certificate of the university confirming the completion of the course indicating the number of credits obtained (the volume of learning is: 3.5 ECTS in a full-time format and 2.5 ECTS in an online format) as well as the achieved level of the language competence according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)

International Youth Journalism School “Studia Baltica” takes place every year at the end of August. The event brings together young journalists and humanities students from post-Soviet countries and EU states to discuss relevant issues of modern journalism. As part of the school, there are lectures, workshops organized for students with reputable journalists, politicians, and scientists. Under the guidance of invited experts, participants prepare journalistic projects on one of the topics of the school

After the School, learners will be able to: get skills for working a journalist

A participant's certificate is issued

Requirements: undergraduate students (3-5 years of studying), postgraduate students, young researchers in the humanities, journalists interested in cooperation between Russia, the EU and post-Soviet countries, under the age of 30, are eligible to participate in the school

This program offers a unique set of courses designed and focused on developing the professional and communication skills of future lawyers and economists

The classes are held by professors from leading universities of England, Greece, USA, Germany, Armenia and Russia, as well as by practitioners with extensive experience in legal practice in various fields of law enforcement. Professors from Georgetown, Cambridge, Berkeley and Stanford Universities, the Institute of Diplomacy in Athens, Lomonosov Moscow State University, and others teach at our school. Many courses are taught by highly qualified specialists of international law firms as “White & Case”, “DLA Piper”, Russian law firms “Stroikapital”, “Zapadnaia yuridicheskaia kompania”, experienced diplomats who have served in the Ministries of Justice, Foreign Affairs, Industry and Trade of Greece, and Armenia

The School provides simultaneous program in Russian and English

All classes at the Summer School are practice-centered, held in the form of interactive lectures and seminars, games, simulation of the other legal activities

A certificate is issued upon successful completion of the school program

After the School, learners will be able to:

• prepare bills

• work with evidence

• speak publicly (including in the court of law)

• prepare the procedural documents

• form the basis of compliance policy of a company

• negotiate

• apply the principles of ethics in the legal field

• improve your business communication skills in English

Requirements: students of law and economics universities/faculties after the 2nd year of a bachelor's degree and older

The school includes 4-5 courses on various aspects of international and integration law. Leading professors from leading Russian (MGIMO, HSE, MSAL) and foreign universities (University of Marburg, University of Göttingen, European University Viadrina) are invited as lecturers

Outcomes: advance study of International and European law, improving knowledge of a foreign language as the courses are read without translation in English and German. In addition, Russian students will have an excellent opportunity to learn about the teaching methods of foreign colleagues. Participants of the Summer School of course will make new friends and get acquainted with the Kaliningrad region

Held as part of the Integrated Approach to STEM Teacher Education project of the Erasmus+ program

Outcomes: formation of competencies in STEM-technologies application, as well as the introduction of interdisciplinarity and practice-oriented principles in education; the certificate is provided

Requirements: university applicants, Bachelors, Masters of pedagogical and natural science fields

The main goal of this School is to cover the basics of physics of X-ray and neutron radiation of new generation sources and free-electron lasers. The school is devoted to one of the key areas of Russian science today — X-ray optics. A federal program for the development of synchrotron and neutron research is adopted this year. Under this program, several Megasciences-class facilities (charged particle gas accelerators, reactors, synchrotron radiation sources) are being built. The cutting-edge objects are studied in collaboration with these facilities. These are studies of the activity of pharmaceuticals, materials science, etc.

Outcomes: the main goal of this school is to cover basics of the physics of X-ray and neutron radiation from new generation sources and free-electron lasers. The young scientists participating in the school will be shown the new capabilities of the Megasciences installations, their potential, and the prospects for future development

Contact for application: xopticslab@gmail.com

This Summer School is an exciting journey for Russian and international youth from neighboring countries that teaches how to collaborate and develop projective thinking. Throughout the course, participants will get training in generating creative ideas and their further implementation in real life within various areas: education, entrepreneurship, social sphere, environment, etc. Young people will raise awareness of their own culture