Projects 
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 Beyond Frontiers Supported by the US Embassy in Belgrade and NATO Public Diplomacy Division. The Beyond Frontiers project is the strategic-level effort that actively seeks broad-based participation in discussing security issues among students and academics coming from various communities of Western Balkan region. A particular focus in this instance is placed on exploring ideas about how citizens of the Western Balkan, especially youth, could participate and cope with complex array of challenges of the coming decade, and how regional security framework can be strengthen, enhanced and embedded in the international institutional framework. As a process oriented effort, the Beyond Frontiers project envisions a series of activities that will offer to students, professionals and experts an opportunity to come together and explore security challenges and opportunities, to discuss their implications for the future of Western Balkan region, and to survey beyond frontiers of current solutions, ideas and visions. Activities: Beyond Frontiers 2020 Conference in Belgrade As a first step and a corner stone of a process, the conference Beyond Frontiers 2020: Anticipating Security and Defence Challenges, Opportunities and Dilemmas in Western Balkan was organized in Belgrade, 22-26 November 2009. This conference brought together more than 50 participants representing different universities and colleges in the region for a three-day event, including engaging keynotes, breakout sessions and intensive group-led discussions. The conference topics included: Regional and international Security and Defence cooperation (NATO and Atlantic integration, RACVIAC); Identity, Culture and Security (role of culture and identity); Security Sector Reform; IT Industry and Security; Energy Security and Regional Cooperation, White Collar Crime and National Security, etc. Another area of discussion was a level of communication and cooperation between universities within and between countries of the region, as well as between universities and NGOs. Following from conclusions and ideas generated during the conference, the main discussion areas have been narrowed down into several distinct themes that shall be tackled with joint projects in the future. The conference program and more information is available on www.Beyond-Frontiers.net The realization of this conference owes to the keen support from the US Embassy in Belgrade and NATO Public Diplomacy Division. Follow-Up As a result of the conference in November 2009, a group of students at the Faculty of Political Science and the Faculty of Security Studies in Belgrade jointly discussed ideas for follow-up activities, including a series of students’ discussions. The purpose of these discussions has been to engage students in a debate about contemporary and future security ambient, to encourage them to express their views and generate future-oriented perpectives about Western Balkan’s security. At the same time, the ideas has been to strengthen inter-diciplinary and meaningfull communication across fields and disciplines, by mobilizing students from different faculties. Together with the NGO Fractal and DIPLO Foundation, students organized a panel discussion on the topic of Information Society and New Security Challenges, Opportunites and Dilemmas, at the Faculty of Political Science, University of Belgrade, on 28th of April 2010. The aim of this panel was to initiate a discussion about some of the main topics, currently debated in international forums and summits, regarding the challenges that information society presents to the international relations, law and security. Some of the issues that have been tackled are network neutrality, internet governance and internet youth safety. For more information about the panel Information Society and New Security Challenges, Opportunites and Dilemmas, click here to download report The Beyond Frontiers Network The Beyond Frontiers Network is alliance of NGOs, public and private entities, networks of NGOs and think tanks working on security issues, who share an interest and are committed to promote broad-based participation in discussing different security issues among individuals and groups coming from various communities of Western Balkan region. As a process oriented effort the Beyond Frontiers Network aims: To act as a regional platform for dialogue, learning and experience sharing on different security issues and their implications for the future of Western Balkan region, EU and wider global arena, amongst its members and with other relevant networks; To organize rotating regional meetings/conferences that will offer to individuals and groups an opportunity to come together and explore security challenges and opportunities, and to survey beyond frontiers of current solutions, ideas and visions; To communicate and give inputs to local, national, international organizations and stakeholders. Share your Ideas If you are interested in interdisciplinary and cross-border cooperation, if you wish to share your thoughts about anticipated security challenges and to take part in a process of design of future Beyond Frontiers activities, please share your views and ideas by filling in the following form For more information about the Beyond Frontier project, previous and upcoming activities please visit www.Beyond-Frontiers.net |