Guest Researchers
The Institute of Federalism has a substantial academic exchange programme. The range of research activities is broad. Guest researchers at the Institute of Federalism conduct research in many fields and seek to expand academic knowledge through analysis, innovation and insight.
The research carried out by visiting academics and scholars have greatly contributed to the reputation of our Institute as a centre of excellence. In the last 10 years the IFF has welcomed researchers from Africa, Asia, North America, South America and Europe, e.g. from Ethiopia, China, Canada, Brazil and Spain.
The Institute of Federalism provides a unique library specialised in the areas of state organisation, comparative federalism, democracy and good governance, human rights and minority protection, multiculturalism and conflict resolution, as well as mutual exchange with Swiss academics active in these fields and a variety of lectures and events.
Applications are accepted anytime.
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Current guest researchers
Mr. Marco Marazzini from Italy, on «On States of Emergency: The evolution and Sustainability of theoretical-legal Paradigms of Emergency Management in the Face of Contemporary Risk Factors»
Mr. Abdullah Al Noman from Bangladesh, on «How does a fiscally decentralized administrative system ensure good governance in Bangladesh’s Local Government? Insights from the Swiss Cantons System»
Dr. Musa Tanriseven from Turkey, on «research in the field of international human rights law»
Ms. May Thant Cynn is a researcher from Myanmar. Her research project looks into the question of equality and what it means for the future federal debate in Myanmar
Mr. Hocine Hamidouche is a researcher from Algeria working on «Federalism and Diversity: the Approach of Federalism towards ‘National Minorities’»
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Previous guest researchers
Prof. Sławomir Łukasiewicz from Poland on «Historical experiences and imaginations as a factor in the process of European integration. Lessons from previous enlargements for the future ones»
Mr. Giulio Casilli from Italy, on «Italian differentiated regionalism and intergovernmental relations and federalism from a comparative public law perspective»
Mr. Gosaye Ayele Birhanu from Ethiopia, on «Intervention in the local governments in South Africa»
Ms. Mariia Kostiv is researcher from Ukraine looking into «The Impact of Civil Society Institutions' Activities on the Functions of the State in the Military Sphere: A Case Study of Ukraine during the War»
Dr. Khim Lal Devkota is a Member of Parliament in Nepal. He is realizing a research project on «Federalism and Intergovernmental Relationships in Nepal»
Prof. Assefa Fiseha Yeibyio is a professor at Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia. He is carrying out a research project on «Nation (policy) Building in Societies with Deep Division in Africa»
Dr. Ketema Wakjira Debela is the Head of the Centre for Federal and Governance Studies at Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, researching on «Federalism & Management of Conflict-induced Displacement in Ethiopia»
Dr. Zemelak Ayitenew Ayele is a senior researcher at the Centre for Federal and Governance Studies at Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia. His research project is titled «Demarcating the jurisdictional boundaries between courts and constitutional courts in countries with centralised systems of constitutional review: The case of Ethiopia»
Ms. Dr. Sisay Kinfe Gebrewold from Ethiopia on “Trends of creation of local government in Oromia surrounding the Federal Capital and its implications: the case of Ethiopia”
Mr. Dr. Nicolò Paolo Alessi from Italy on «Constitutional instruments for the accommodation of diversity»
Mr. Dr. Christian-Aimé Chofor Che from Cameroon on «the decentralisation process in Cameroon, including diversity management, conflict resolution and service delivery»
Mr. Dr. Seuxis Hernandez from Colombia on «New Enlightened Heterotopian Collectivism: human rights from a Latin American identity»
Mr. Dr. Sisay Mengistie from Ethiopia on «Sub-national Constitutions and Local Government in Ethiopia: A Comparative Analysis»
Mr. Nick Coleman from Great Britain on «Authoritarian Peace in Syria»
Ms. Dr. Michelle Rufaro Maziwisa from South Africa on «Intergovernmental Relations, Finances and Service Delivery: Comparative Perspectives from Switzerland and South Africa»
Ms. Kumba Krubally from Great Britain on «The European Union’s (EU) efforts at externalising its borders to Libya and Niger in a bid to curb irregular migration»
Ms. Chloe Doherty from Great Britain on «Conflict Resolution and Power-Sharing in Northern Ireland»
Mr. Prof. Flavio Guella from University of Trento, Italy, on «Territorial Autonomies and Customs»
Mr. Oscar Moreno Corchete from Spain on «Regional Identity as a Basis for the Spanish Model of Territorial Organisation»
Mr. Dr. Yoav Shemer Kunz from France on «How Europarties organize? The cases of Volt and the European Greens»
Mr. Prof. Asim Ari from Turkey on «Democracy Education Frame Plan in Turkey»
Mr. Adriano Dirri from Italy on «Sharing Natural Resources as Peacebuilding Device for Fragile Federations and Federal States in the Making»
Ms. Jadwiga Kopec-Jakimiec from Poland on «Vereinheitlichung der Rechtsprechung im Verwaltungsverfahrensrecht»
Mr. Mohamed Aden Hassan from Somalia on «Federalism and Language»
Ms. Li Xixia from China on «The International Labour Organisation form a law perspective»
Mr. Rasoul Motazedian from Iran on «The Future Study of Public Participation in Public Policymaking»
Ms. Martina Augustin from Austria on «How to Reconcile European Economic Governance with the Budgetary Autonomy of Parliaments?»
Mr. Rohit Karki from Nepal on «Nepal’s Transition to Federalism: Accommodation or Exacerbation of Conflict»
Ms. Dr. Polly Datta from India on «Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Potential Revenue Loss of Local Bodies in India - Suggestive Remedial Measures»
Mr. Bojan Vlaški from Bosnia & Herzegovina on «Organization of public administration in federalism - specifically in Bosnia and Herzegovina»
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The Institute offers
- A carrel, equipped with a computer and internet access
- Academic support and exchange with IFF staff, other guest researchers and our network in Switzerland
- Access to our library with over 20’000 books and 50 periodicals, specialized in the areas of Federalism, State governance, Rule of Law, Democracy and Human Rights
- Access to all Swiss libraries (electronic database)
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Programme elements
- General introduction to the Institute and to its library
- Exchange with researchers and experts at the Institute
- Independent work on research project
- Towards the end of the research stay: presentation of the research project and publication of a working paper in the IFF Working Paper Online series
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Accomodation
The guest researchers are responsible for finding their own accommodation during their stay. The Institute rents a room for our guests in the Cité St. Justin student residence (https://www.justinus.ch/en/fribourg/welcome/index.html), which is within a short walking distance of the Institute. The rent is CHF 635 per months for the furnished room with shower, toilet, fridge and WiFi Internet access.
The accommodation costs are to be paid by the guest researcher. Please note that it is generally difficult to find affordable rooms for a short research stay.
Some useful links that help you organise your stay in Fribourg:
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Costs
The following costs have to be covered by the guest researcher:
- Travel costs
- Insurance costs (the compulsory insurance covers health and accident and is organized by the guest researcher) – an insurance is requested as it is mandatory for every person living in Switzerland. Without insurance you will not get a visa at the embassy.
- Visa costs
- Living costs (be aware of the high living costs in Switzerland)
Possible monthly budget:
Accomodation CHF 550 - 800
Telephone, Internet CHF 100
Meals CHF 900
Hygiene CHF 50
Pocket money, leisure and cultural activities CHF 150 - 200
Transport: tpf pass for Fribourg (1 month, adults) CHF 65
Other CHF 100
Total monthly costs CHF 1,815 – 2,215Information about other financing possibilities can be found here.
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Papers
IFF Working Paper Online: the Institute provides a forum disseminating research relevant to our main research topics. This publication series is aimed at conveying preliminary results of the ongoing research of our faculty members, our visiting researchers as well as participants of our Summer University and our advanced training programs.
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Application procedure
Applications are accepted via the online application form. Before starting, please have the necessary documents in electronic format ready (pdf, jpg, jpeg). Be aware that it is not possible to save and continue later.
Interested researchers are asked to submit the following documents:
- Letter of motivation
- Curriculum vitae
- 700 words outline of the proposed research project (including bibliography based on the volumes present in our library or elsewhere in Fribourg, please refer to the catalogue accessible on explore.rero.ch; limit the search to FR UNI BFD IFF to see which books could be useful for you).
- Sample of academic writing (journal article or similar)
- One letter of reference (does not apply to Professors)
- Proof of knowledge of English (or German/French)
Please be aware that the official documents and edicts as laws, by-laws etc. in Switzerland are only available in German, French and Italian (with only a few exceptions)!
The selection will be made by the Institute of Federalism and communicated to the prospective researcher within two months after receipt of the application.
Details on the application process can be found here.