Call for Applications – Summer School “Towards a Social Europe” (University of Bologna, 23–26 June 2026)

[Emanuela Carbonara]

Dear colleagues,

I am pleased to share the call for applications for the first edition of the Summer School organised within the Jean Monnet Module “TOPs – Towards Ten Years of the European Pillar of Social Rights”, hosted by the Department of Sociology and Business Law, University of Bologna (Forlì Campus).

Title: Towards a Social Europe: The Birth of the Pillar of Social Rights
Dates: 23–26 June 2026
Language: English

The Summer School is designed to foster a rigorous, international, and interdisciplinary discussion on the historical development of Social Europe and on the (in)direct role of the European Union — in particular the European Pillar of Social Rights — in shaping national social legislation and policy. It aims to provide participants with advanced analytical tools and comparative perspectives to critically engage with the evolving European social dimension and its implications for Member States.

The programme includes 30 hours of lectures, seminars, and interactive working labs with internationally recognised scholars, complemented by an 8-hour online crash course prior to the residential session to ensure a solid common foundation across disciplines.

The School is addressed to highly motivated early-career scholars (PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers, etc.) and practitioners with a background in social sciences (economics, law, political science, sociology, history) who are actively engaged in research on European social policy, integration processes, or welfare legislation.

Participation is free of charge (meals provided). Admission is competitive, and a maximum of 20 participants will be selected based on academic merit and research fit.

Application deadline: 31 March 2026
Applications (CV + cover letter up to 300 words) should be sent to: sde....@unibo.it

Further information is available here:
https://site.unibo.it/tops/en/summer-school/the-history-of-the-social-europe-june-2026

Please find the official call attached 

Call-for-Applications_TOPs_2026

Feel free to circulate this call to colleagues and early-career researchers whose work aligns with the School’s focus.

Best regards,

Emanuela Carbonara

Full Professor of Economic Policy

Department of Sociology and Business Law

University of Bologna
and

Adjunct Professor of International Economics

Johns Hopkins University – SAIS

 

Managing Editor, International Review of Law and Economics