completed program: the best m.a. thesis competition

In the academic year of 2004/2005, the Pontis Foundation initiated the Best M.A. Thesis Competition on the Western Balkans for students of Slovak universities. In 2007/2008, the final year of the competition, the evaluation committee selected 4^th winner.

The aim of this competition was to inspire university students to develop their interest and expertise in the areas defined by the competition. Only works with an expressed global dimension reflecting modern academic research trends and contributing to the policy discussion on future Slovak official development assistance were accepted. The evaluation committee also considered innovative ideas for activities in the target regions as important entry criteria.

There are several reasons for having Slovak expertise in the Western Balkans. Firstly, this region is a priority of Slovak foreign policy and our Official Development Aid. Secondly, the Western Balkans is close geographically, culturally and historically and the presence of nationals in Slovakia and Slovaks in the Western Balkans further connects families and communities. Finally, any development in the Western Balkans has influence on our own security and the further development of our economy.

In the academic year of 2008/2009 the student’s competition will take on a new look. A modified format with fresh topics will soon be announced via our website.

The Pontis Foundation would like to sincerely thank the members of each evaluation committee in the competition´s history for their excellent work. We would like to also thank all students who entered their M.A. thesis in the competition. For help in organizing the competition we offer our thanks to: the Ministry of Foreign Affaires of the Slovak Republic, SlovakAid, Zahraničná politika magazine and Mr. Miroslav Lajcak, the High Representative and EU Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina who took over auspice in the final two years of the competition.

• 4^th year of the competition (academic year 2007/2008 – information in Slovak)
• 3^rd year of the competition (academic year 2006/2007 – information in Slovak)
• 2^nd year of the competition (academic year 2005/2006 – information in Slovak)
• 1^st year of the competition (academic year 2004/2005 – information in Slovak)