26 September 2007

Academics II - Initial Classes

Classes at CEU officially started this week, though the undergraduate students in the Bard/CEU program were treated to the inaugural session of a mandatory course on Central European History last Friday. The second session of that class was held yesterday evening (it's currently scheduled to run Mondays and Thursdays, 19.30-21.10), and the initial sessions of the Policy Process, Policy Analysis, and Public Sector Management and Public International Law were held this afternoon (Policy Process is generally held Tuesdays and Thursdays, 13.30-15.10; Public International Law is scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays, 15.30-17.10).


Policy Process was straightforward enough, with a presentation of the basic outline of the course, including topics to be covered and expectations of the cohort; personal introductions from the professor, the teaching assistant, and all of the students; an examination of some basic definitions of public policy, polity, politics, and the interaction of the three; and a review of the syllabus.

The expectations of the course are quite simple: (1) one in-class presentation on one of the required readings for the class; (2) acting as discussant during another student's presentation, analyzing the quality of the presentation with respect to both structure and content; (3) a short written exam covering major principles examined throughout the course; (4) a short, six-to-eight-page policy brief; and, naturally (5) class participation. Readings for presentations will be selected on Tuesday (I hope to present either a reading on the structure of decision-making in the policy process and the importance of veto players in that process as they pertain to health policy in three European countries, or a reading on direct democracy). A topic for the policy brief must be selected by October 14.

The presentation of all the above did unfortunately suffer from the Professor Alex Fischer's lecturing style, which consisted of him reading from detailed PowerPoint slides he had prepared. There was an consequent lack of discussion and a feeling, for me at least, that I wasn't engaging with the material as fully as I could.

In Public International Law, however, Professor Boldiszar Nagy engaged students from the start, interjecting into introductions information about Budapest and Hungary that each student might find relevant: given my interest in public health, he directed me to several Hungarian journals that have recently examined national health care reform; for students who mentioned an extracurricular interest in music, he suggested a few concert halls with especially good programs; to the cinéastes in the group he provided the names of a number of small art houses throughout the city. After introductions, he moved directly into the assigned reading for the day, leading a discussion that covered definitions of law and international law and the distinctions between municipal and international law. The course requirements, a short mid-term exam, a short presentation on an issue of international law relevant to current affairs, and a take-home final exam, were covered in the class introduction last week.

On Friday, the first session of my class on Freedom of Information will be held. Next Friday, the first session of International Policy Practice will be held. Also, my course in basic Hungarian begins next Tuesday.


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18 September 2007

Dispatch from Budapest: First Impressions - Public Transportation; Academics I

Hopefully I'll be able to average more than one of these postings per week, especially now that I have a small but indubitably faithful readership to serve.

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Public Transportation

I've made considerable use of public transportation systems in only two major U.S. cities: Boston and New York. Boston's system, operated by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), is comfortable, reliable and fairly expansive, though not nearly as expansive as New York's system, maintained by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). Of course, with its greater scope, the MTA is plagued with delays and lacks the comfort the MBTA's smaller system.

The Budapesti Metro (Budapest Metro), operated by BKV, offers both expansive coverage of the city and comfort for passengers, comprising a system of three rapid transit lines, a large array of light rail lines (both quite reliable), bus service (not quite so reliable), and heavy rail service to surrounding suburbs.

Comfort in the system is engendered by padded seats throughout the system as well as the considerate habit of rail engineers of gradual acceleration and deceleration, which is far nicer than the jarring starts and halts of both the MBTA and the MTA.

As for cost, a single ticket, which grants access to a single route of a single mode of transportation for a single use (i.e. without the ability to transfer to another line or mode of transportation), costs HUF 230 (Hungarian Forints) or USD 1.25. Books of ten tickets cost HUF 2,050, approximately USD 11.13. Monthly passes, which provide unlimited access to all modes of transportation with the exception of the heavy rail lines, cost HUF 7,350 or USD 39.90.

When using tickets, they are marked upon entry to a particular line with the line number as well as the date and time of entry. However, there is no physical barrier to prevent riders from getting on a particular line without validating their ticket. Thus, the Budapest Metro relies on conductors to check tickets on all lines, as opposed to the token- or card-based systems in Boston and New York, which prevent physical access to the mode of transportation if one hasn't purchased a card or token granting such access. However, the Budapest Metro does enforce a strict fine for those riding without validating a ticket: HUF 5000 or USD 27.21!

Academics I

Central European University has the interesting and, frankly, quite useful policy of conducting what is called "zero week" at the beginning of the semester. After last week's plethora of orientations to everything from the Student Records Office to fire are safety procedures to departmental organization and regulations, this week, "zero week," comprises lectures on courses scheduled for the coming semester by the responsible professors.

Even only having attended two sessions, one held during the orientation week and one held today, I have a fairly good sense of the courses for which I would like to register:


Public International Law


This course addresses treaty law, law regarding territorial claims, including those made on continental shelves as well as in outer space, law regarding refugees, law regarding statehood and international recognition of statehood, law regarding international conflict, and diplomatic and consular law.


The Policy Process and Policy Analysis

A requirement for students in the Department of Public Policy, this course, taught by Alex Fischer, examines policy processes in detail, addressing the place of policy in political processes, the principle actors in policymaking, and the challenges that result not only in policymaking, but in policy implementation.


Freedom of Information from a Comparative Perspective

Taught by Péter Molnár, a former Hungarian Parliamentarian, this class examines the differing policies that various nations have on freedom of information. Such exploration is achieved by having students request sensitive information from their home governments and, in the event of a refusal, having them find an NGO with which they can coordinate legal action in order to obtain the requested information


International Policy Process (Audit)

Also conducted by Alex Fischer, this course is run as a colloquium series, with representatives of eight major international organizations speaking about their work and fielding questions from students. In addition, students are required to research a particular institution and present a the relevant history and facts as well as an analysis of the work of the organization in the context of theoretical questions about international policymaking raised during the course.


Additionally, I intend on taking a basic, two-credit course in Hungarian along with the course in Central European history required of all undergraduate students in the Bard/CEU program.

***
Next:
  • life outside the Residence Hall;
  • a trip to Szentendre; and
  • photographs.


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11 September 2007

Dispatch from Budapest: First Impressions - Arrival; the CEU Residence Hall

Alas, I wasn't able to muster the will to write a detailed account of my first days in Budapest as soon as promised, but, being reasonably well settled at this point, I can report to the few who read this the first tales of my foray into Central Europe.

***
Arrival

Upon arrival at Budapest's Ferihegy International Airport, I walked off the jetway, turning to see a fairly clear, sunny day over the tarmac. Having cleared passport control, I collected my checked baggage and, not having anything to declare, cleared customs, meeting Karl Hall, director of the Bard/CEU undergraduate program, in the terminal's arrival area. After introducing himself and providing me with some basic documents from the program, Karl arranged for a taxi to take us to the CEU Residence Hall, which serves both as a dormitory for University students and as a conference center. Arriving at the Residence Hall, I met the undergraduate program coordinator, Monica Jitareanu who provided some additional documents and helped me settle myself in my assigned room.

The Residence Hall

There are a few irritating things worth noting about the Residence Hall. First, and perhaps most frustrating, is its distance from downtown Budapest: getting to the heart of the city requires a 30-minute ride on Budapest's public transportation system. Second, there are few amenities nearby, save two large shopping complexes about a mile from the Hall, as well as a grocery store and a McDonald's which are a short, 10-minute walk away. Third, the rooms in the Hall are of variable quality, some sporting a television and a small kitchen, while others, like mine, only contain a bed, a desk, a few shelves, and a full bathroom. Finally, the food at the Hall's cafeteria, while inexpensive, consisted mostly of heavy, fried dishes along with a salad bar that comprised vegetables which were, almost without exception, pickled. Such a menu seems hardly typical, as most restaurants sampled so far have offered a much wider variety of dishes.

***
Next:
  • the public transportation system; and
  • life outside of the Residence Hall.

04 September 2007

Dispatch from Budapest: Abbreviated First Impressions

I arrived in Budapest on Saturday at noon, some 11 hours earlier than my anticipated time of arrival thanks to some fast and greatly-appreciated footwork on the part of my parents, who were able to change my BA flight from 20.00 to 07.50. Kudos to them!

Tomorrow, details on my first 84 hours in the Pearl of the Danube and the Heart of Europe, including:

  • general impression of the city;
  • the Central European University Dormitories;
  • the public transportation system;
  • the University campus;
  • academic plans;
  • seeking and viewing flats;
  • weather; and
  • a gustatory diary.