Social science and Law: Territorial Autonomy, Diversity & Conflict Management - Experiences from the Åland Islands and worldwide, 5 ECTS

28 Sep 2026 - 29 Dec 2026
5 credits

Spots remaining: 19

Online course, 5 ECTS Participants: Max 20 | Course fee: 100 € | Application deadline: 08.09.2026 Duration: 28.9.2026–28.12.2026

Course Leader: Hasan Akintug, Doctoral Researcher at the Centre for Nordic Studies at Helsinki University

Examiner: Kjell-Åke Nordquist, Professor, University College Stockholm

Teachers: Hasan Akintug (main teacher), together with scholars specialised in various themes of the course.

Offered in cooperation between the Åland Islands Peace Institute www.peace.ax and the Open University/Åland University of Applied Sciences www.open.ax

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

A bachelor's degree in the humanities (political science, peace and conflict studies, international law, public administration, or other relevant disciplines), or equivalent experience, as well as a proficient command of English.

COURSE AIM

The course provides participants with a broad academic framework of territorial autonomy from multiple perspectives, including self-determination, multilevel governance, territorial governance, regional integration, and minority rights. It approaches territorial autonomy from an interdisciplinary and comparative perspective, with law and political science as introductory lenses.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After completing the course, students will:

Have a solid knowledge of territorial autonomy based on a broad academic framework of different perspectives
Have a solid knowledge of the Åland Islands solution and the concept of the "Åland Example"
Be able to relate the concept of autonomy to adjacent concepts such as territorial governance, power-sharing, self-determination, federalism, and minority rights
Be acquainted with the characteristics of the Åland Islands' special status of demilitarisation, neutralisation, and cultural and linguistic safeguards
Have knowledge about the comparative relational processes between autonomous regions and the state
Be able to critically analyse and use mechanisms of territorial autonomy in different international and regional situations
Be able to formulate, analyse, and discuss central theoretical concepts of territorial conflict management

COURSE CONTENTS

The course encompasses 5 two-week modules, introductory reading materials, and a final essay. Module themes:

Political and institutional solutions for autonomy
Linguistic safeguards, diversity issues, and local citizenship elements such as the 'right of domicile.'
Security perspectives, local and interstate security tools, including policing, demilitarisation, and neutralisation
The challenges of multi-level governance and regional integration processes
Tools for conflict resolution and case studies

FORMAT AND SCHEDULE

The language of instruction is English. The course is taught online via a digital e-learning platform featuring course literature, audio and video material, and a discussion forum. Digital lectures and seminars (max two sessions per module) are held with the course teacher and local and international experts. Seminars are scheduled to maximise participation across time zones. Participants will receive further instructions on the format, platform, and schedule upon admission.

WORKLOAD AND REQUIREMENTS

Total workload: approx. 132 hours (average 10 hrs/week), including digital seminars, mandatory tasks, and readings. Prior to Module I, participants must read introductory texts (approx. 40 pages).

Final essay: max 4,000 words, due 29.12.2025, submitted via Canvas.

Regular and substantive participation—oral and written, within deadlines across all modules—is a prerequisite for submitting the final essay.

CREDITS AND EXAMINATION

Successful participants are awarded 5 ECTS credits. A grade on an A–E scale (A being highest) is awarded for the final essay and upon completion of all compulsory tasks. A certificate is issued by the Open University/Åland University of Applied Sciences upon successful completion and payment of the course fee.

CONTACT

For questions about the course, its schedule, or content, please contact course coordinator Zander Willoughby, intern@peace.ax

For questions regarding the course fee and invoicing: open@ha.ax

Full course description