Over to Europe - A podcast of the CIVICA community

Over to Europe - A podcast of the CIVICA community

Over to Europe brings CIVICA’s students, researchers, faculty and staff into dialogue about the ideas and values that are central to Europe. By consolidating the collective experience and knowledge of CIVICA’s community, we work collaboratively to articulate an understanding of Europe today and a vision for its future.

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A new season of Over to Europe is out now! In this season, we talk to researchers from the eight CIVICA universities to bring you cutting-edge European research in the social sciences. Thanks to the recently-launched project CIVICA Research, the alliance will deepen its collaboration in research around key societal challenges.

Episodes:

2x06 - Preparing for the post-pandemic world

Almost two years into the pandemic, we know that the world post COVID-19 will be drastically different than the one before. The pandemic has exposed the faults in our global health and governance systems. In this episode, two experts help us understand how we could build on lessons from the present for more effective global cooperation in the future. 

With:

  • Inge Kaul, Senior Fellow at the Hertie School and non-resident fellow at the Center for Global Development, Washington, DC
  • Stephen L. Roberts, Lecturer in Global Health at the Institute for Global Health, University College London and Visiting Fellow in Global Health Policy, LSE  

Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | or below

2x05 - Unpacking migration in Europe

Migration is a phenomenon that has occurred since the beginning of human history, but the numerous recent debates around it often remain limited in perspective. In this episode, we go beyond mainstream discourses by talking to three experts about some less known aspects of migration in Europe.

With:

  • Natascha Zaun, Assistant Professor in Migration Studies, The London School of Economics and Political Science
  • Örjan Sjöberg, Chair in Economic Geography, Stockholm School of Economics
  • Alexandru Cârlan, Lecturer, National University of Political Studies and Public Administration

Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | or below

2x04 - Leveraging technologies for society

Social media and artificial intelligence are two of the most significant technologies of our time, used daily by millions of people. However, they also present challenges to humanity, on both political and personal levels. In this episode, we talk to experts about how our societies and governance systems are approaching these issues.

With:

  • Jakob Johannsen, PhD researcher in the Department of Political and Social Sciences, European University Institute
  • Joanna Bryson, Professor of Ethics and Technology, Hertie School

Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | or below

2x03 - Getting Europe through multiple crises

The past year has delivered some of the largest global challenges in recent times: the COVID-19 pandemic and the erosion of democracy. In this episode, we discuss how the EU is managing not only economic and public health responses, but also the upholding of rule of law within its member states.

With:

  • Carlo Altomonte, Associate Professor of Economics of European Integration, Bocconi University
  • Gábor Halmai, Professor of Comparative Constitutional Law, European University Institute

Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | or below

2x02 - Decarbonising Europe

The climate crisis is the biggest man-made threat to humanity, which requires immediate action with rapid policy implementation on a global scale. In this episode, we discuss which steps the EU is taking to tackle the crisis and what challenges the EU is facing in their implementation.

With:

  • Diana Ürge-Vorsatz, Professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy, Central European University
  • Sebastian Levi, Postdoctoral researcher in the Centre for Sustainability, Hertie School

Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | or below

2x01 - Innovating research

As a European alliance of leading universities, CIVICA promotes the values of collaboration and innovation in research. In this episode, we explore how CIVICA is concretely contributing to the transformation of European research through the recently-launched project CIVICA Research.

With:

  • Guillaume Plantin, Vice President for Research, Sciences Po
  • Xymena Kurowska, Associate Professor in the Department of International Relations, Central European University

Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | or below

Credits - Season 2

Over to Europe is produced by Aniket Narawad (master's student, Hertie School) and Riccardo Colella (Associate CIVICA Communications & Events, Hertie School), with the help of the CIVICA community. 

Aniket Narawad is the host and producer of Over to Europe. Aniket aims to make public policy accessible to people by communicating intricate policy issues through creative mediums such as podcasting. He is an MPP student at the Hertie School in Berlin. Before joining the Hertie School, he worked in the public policy sector in India. 

Riccardo Colella is the editor of Over to Europe. Riccardo seeks to strengthen the European identity by bringing together student communities all across Europe. He considers himself a CIVICA alumnus, having completed an undergraduate degree in International Politics at Bocconi University and a graduate degree in International Affairs at the Hertie School.

Over to Europe - Season 1

1x06 - The future of higher education

In this episode we explore the social and political functions of higher education in Europe, the impact of technology on education, and the ways in which universities - including the European University alliances - can continue to shape the world in the next decades.

With:

  • Vanessa Scherrer, Vice President for International Affairs, Sciences Po
  • Liviu Matei, Provost and Professor of Higher Education Policy, Central European University

Listen on: Spotify | Apple podcasts | or below

1x05 - Social sciences vs societal challenges

In this episode we explore the role and impact of the social sciences, by looking at their development, their place in European academia and research, and the broader societal issues they can help address. 

With:

  • Simon Hix, Pro-Director for Research and Harold Laski Professor of Political Science at the London School of Economics
  • Carsten Schneider, Professor in the Political Science Department at Central European University 

Listen on: Spotify | Apple podcasts | or below

1x04 - Europe and the world

Europe has played an instrumental role in shaping the world we live in today. In this episode, we look at Europe's past and present to understand its (future) role in a rapidly changing world.

With:

  • Alexandru Mihai Ghigiu, Vice-Rector for Strategy and Development and Professor of EU policies at the National School of Political and Administrative Studies, Romania
  • Students:
    Francesca Ractliffe – master's student, Hertie School
    Lucia Mrocková – master's student, Central European University
    Stefan Pfalzer – dual master's student, Sciences Po and the London School of Economics

Listen on: Spotify | Apple podcasts | or below

1x03 - The labour market in a time of crisis

In this episode we explore how the economy behaves in difficult times, particularly during the COVID-19 crisis. We also discuss how the current crisis affects the labour market entry of young people.

With: 

  • Thomas Le Barbanchon, Associate Professor in the Department of Economics at Bocconi University 
  • Cristina Lafuente, Max Weber Fellow in Economics at the European University Institute
  • Anna von Behr, Manager Career Development at the Hertie School

Listen on: Spotify | Apple podcasts | or below

1x02 - Diversity and inclusion in Europe

In this episode we explore the concepts of diversity and inclusion in a European context.

With: 

  • Grace Lordan, Associate Professor in Behavioural Science at the London School of Economics, and the Founding Director of The Inclusion Initiative
  • Maxime Forest, Associate researcher and Senior Lecturer in the Gender in Research and Teaching Program at Sciences Po, and Principal evaluator, SUPERA project
  • Students:
    Chloé Bertrand - master's student, Sciences Po
    Erick Mokaya - PhD researcher, Stockholm School of Economics
    Giorgio Musto - master's student, Bocconi University

Listen on: Spotify | Apple podcasts | or below

1x01 - Being European

In this episode we explore the concept of 'European identity'. We try to understand what makes someone a European.

With: 

  • Frank Schimmelfennig, visiting professor at the Hertie School, Professor and Chair of European Politics at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich
  • Students:
    Luca Mariaux - master's student, Hertie School
    Marta Vukovic - master's student, Central European University
    Pietro Valleto - undergraduate student, Bocconi University

Listen on: Spotify | Apple podcasts | or below

Credits - Season 1

Over to Europe is produced by Aniket Narawad (master's student, Hertie School) and Nicholas Fellows (undergraduate student, Bard College Berlin), with the help of the CIVICA community. 

Aniket Narawad is the host and co-producer of Over to Europe. Aniket aims to make public policy accessible to people by communicating intricate policy issues through creative mediums such as podcasting. He is an MPP student at the Hertie School in Berlin. Before joining the Hertie School, he worked in the public policy sector in India. 

Nicholas Fellows is the editor and co-producer of Over to Europe. He currently lives in Berlin and is pursuing an undergraduate degree in Ethics and Politics at Bard College Berlin, where he is also a Residential Housing Assistant. Nicholas produces music and has been involved with audio production and music performance in multiple countries. 


Over to Europe is financed by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) with funding from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). 

About CIVICA: CIVICA brings together eight leading European higher education institutions in the social sciences, humanities, business management and public policy, with a total of 50,000 students & PhDs and 10,000 faculty members. Together, they build on an ever-stronger combination of teaching, research and innovation to mobilise and share knowledge as a public good and to facilitate civic responsibility in Europe and beyond. 

CIVICA’s members are: Bocconi University (Italy), Central European University (Austria and Hungary), European University Institute (Intergovernmental), Hertie School (Germany), National University of Political Studies and Public Administration (Romania), Sciences Po (France), Stockholm School of Economics (Sweden) and The London School of Economics and Political Sciences (United Kingdom).