Activities of DESCnet network are divided into three areas: teaching, research enhancement, and outreach.

Teaching activities include seasonal school for advanced BA and MA students, and research colloquia for PhD students. These bilateral extracurricular activities proved to be a unique opportunity not only for students’ mobility and exchange, but also for young teachers who engage in their subjects and provide tutoring on research related to European Studies. Read more: Seasonal schools.

“Young Researchers’ Seminars”, hosted by the Universities of Graz and Tartu, are called to train a new generation of advanced academics in cutting-edge teaching and research methodologies by hosting a research colloquia for young researchers. These research colloquia contribute both to teaching activities and research enhancement. Read more: PhD seminars.

To further enhance the research capacities in the target countries, the Association of European Studies for the Caucasus” (AESC) has been established as one of the main deliverables and activities of the project. The establishment of AESC and its working papers series will create opportunities for young researchers to publish in international double-blind peer review journal. The affiliation of the working papers to the network is also seen as a tool for outreach and dissemination of research findings. Read more: Association of European Studies for the Caucasus (AESC). 

For additional outreach two annual scholarly conventions are organized where an annual prize for the best monograph in the field of European Studies from one of the 5 target countries (Russia, Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan) will be offered. Finally, regular meetings among full and associate members of the Network will be held annually to identify best practices in teaching and researching European Studies.