Economic Transition - The Balkans - CEPA - Customized Educational Programs Abroad

Economic Transition - The Balkans
Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, and Hungary

Academic Field(s)
Business and Economics
Destinations
Belgrade, Sarajevo, Zagreb, and Budapest

Duration
14 days
Accommodation
3- and 4-star hotels in Belgrade, Sarajevo, Zagreb, and Budapest

In the last decades, Balkan economies underwent drastic changes shifting from communism, war, and dictatorship towards open market economies and EU integration.

During visits to various Balkan states as well as to Hungary, students will not only understand the transition that started back in the 1990‘s, but also how these countries are dealing with current challenges and opportunities. Topics relating to peace, conflict, and reconciliation will be an integral part of the program. This is an opportunity for students to visit places where history still feels so “present”.

DAY 1
- Overnight flight to Belgrade, Serbia (group flight can be booked separately)
DAY 2-4: BELGRADE
Stay 3 nights at a 3-star hotel in Belgrade
- Arrival at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport (BEG)
- Check-in at the hotel and orientation session by your CEPA On-Site Coordinator
- Guided walking tour of Belgrade to learn about the city’s history and culture while exploring some of Belgrade’s most important sites
- Welcome dinner at a Serbian restaurant
- Guest lectures on “Milošević, Authoritarianism and Democratization in Serbia” and “Kosovo and Contemporary Serb-Albanian Nationalist Conflict” by local experts
- Audio-guided tour of the Belgrade Fortress
- Guest lecture on “The Political Economy of Serbia” by a local expert
- Free afternoon to further explore the city
DAY 5-7: SARAJEVO
Stay 3 nights at a 4-star hotel in Sarajevo
- Check-in at the hotel and orientation session by your CEPA On-Site Coordinator
- Guided walking tour of Sarajevo, including a stop at the site of the Sarajevo Assassination
- Group dinner at a Bosnian restaurant
- Guided tour of the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is a cultural and scientific institution
- Guided tour of the Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque, the largest historical mosque in Bosnia and Herzegovina and one of the most representative Ottoman structures in the Balkans
- Guest lectures on “The Bosnian Census and the Future of the Dayton Peace Agreement” and “The Divided State? Bosnia and Herzegovina: Politics, Identities, Demography and Cultures of Remembrance” by local experts
- Free afternoon to further explore the city

DAY 8-10: ZAGREB
Stay 3 nights at a 3-star hotel in Zagreb
- Check-in at the hotel and orientation session by your CEPA On-Site Coordinator
- Guided walking tour of Zagreb, focusing on the medieval and baroque districts
- Group dinner at a Croatian restaurant
- Guest lectures on “The Independence from Yugoslavia” and “Cultural Diversity, Multiple Identities & Historical Memory as Dynamic Factors in the Development of Croatian Historical Identity” by local experts
- Admission to the Croatian History Museum
- Guest lecture on “The 2013 EU Membership – From the Application Process until Today” by a local expert
- Free afternoon to further explore the city
DAY 11-14: LAKE BALATON - BUDAPEST
Stay 3 nights at a 3-star hotel in Budapest
- Free time at Lake Balaton for lunch on your own
- Check-in at the hotel and orientation session by your CEPA On-Site Coordinator
- Guest lectures on “Post-Communist Hungary” and “EU-Membership – Current Issues” by local experts
- Guided walking tour of Budapest
- Guided tour of the Hungarian Parliament
- Admission to the House of Terror, which contains exhibits related to the fascist and communist dictatorial regimes
- Free afternoon to further explore the city
- Farewell dinner at a Hungarian restaurant
- Departure from Budapest Ferenc Liszt Airport (BUD)

What’s included in this sample itinerary:
Academic and professional excursions with special presentations • cultural excursions and field trips with local, bilingual guides • entrance fees and reservations • accommodation in 3- and 4-star hotels (twin rooms for students; single room for the faculty) • daily breakfast • welcome and farewell dinner • 2 additional group dinners • local transportation by private bus as needed • public transportation passes in Belgrade, Sarajevo, Zagreb, and Budapest • on-site coordinator during excursions • orientation sessions • time to study, instruct, and explore

Program fee starting at € 1,820 per participant based on a group size of 20

Program fee starting at € 2,080 per participant based on a group size of 15
All program fees are calculated to include participation of one accompanying faculty or group leader.
Prices are based on a minimum number of 15 or 20 paying participants.
The actual quote for a tailored program will vary depending on different factors, for example: the actual program dates, the final participant number, the duration of the program, the visits and excursions included, as well as varying exchange rates