Law - Ht25 Territorial autonomy, diversity and conflict resolution

Yrkeshögskolekurs

Law - Ht25 Territorial autonomy, diversity and conflict resolution

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Course Leader: Susann Simolin, Director of the Åland Islands Peace Institute

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

Teachers: Susann Simolin, Director of the Peace Institute, is the main teacher together with scholars specialized in various themes of the course.

Online course, 5 ECTS

Duration: 29.9.2025 – 29.12.2025

Application by: 08.09.2025

Charge: Tuition fee 100 €

11.06.2025 kl. 09:00

08.09.2025

100

The course is offered in a cooperation between the Åland Islands Peace Institute and the Open University/Åland University of Applied Sciences.

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 are prerequisites for successful participation.

Course aim: The aim of the course is to provide participants with a broad academic framework of territorial autonomy from different perspectives, among others against the background of concepts such as self-determination, multilevel governance, territorial governance, regional integration and

minority rights. The course approaches territorial autonomy from an interdisciplinary and comparative perspective, with law and political science as introductory perspectives.

Learning objectives: After completion of the course the student should:

• have a solid knowledge about territorial autonomy based on a broad

academic framework of different perspectives

• have a solid knowledge about 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 Island’s 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

to different international and regional situations, and

• be able to formulate, analyse and discuss central theoretical concepts of

territorial conflict management.

Contents: The course encompasses 5 modules, as well as introductory reading materials and a final

essay. The modules focus on the following main 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, incl. policing and demilitarisation, 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 will be taught online on a digital e-learning platform through a rich selection of resources including course literature, audio and video material and a discussion forum. The course requires an interactive use of the course platform

by the students. Digital lectures and seminars (max two sessions / module) are held with the course teacher and local and international experts from academia and other relevant institutions. As students are often spread across various time zones, and may have othercommitments, we aim, to the extent possible, to schedule seminars in a way that maximizes opportunities for participation.

Participants will receive further instructions of the format and platform, as well as on the course schedule, upon admission to the course.

Course requirements and workload: The workload corresponds to approximately 132 hours of work, i.e. an average of 10 hrs/week (incl. digital seminars). Each of the five modules includes mandatory

tasks that need to be fulfilled before proceeding to the next module. Student work includes compulsory reading, audio and video material, regular participation in seminars and forum discussions and short assignments to be completed within every module. The final essay (maximum

4000 words) is due at the end of the course (to be submitted by 29.12.2025). All compulsory course material will be provided on the digital platform. Prior to the start of Module I, participants will be

required to read introductory texts (ca 40 pages).

Credits and examination: Successful participants will be awarded 5 credit points based on the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS). A grade on grading scale A-E (where A is the highest possible grade) will be awarded for the final essay and upon completion of the course

and its compulsory tasks. Regular and substantive participation, oral and written, within deadlines across all modules is a prerequisite for being allowed to submit the final essay.

A certificate is issued by the Open University/Åland University of Applied Sciences for those that have successfully completed all parts of the course and who have paid the coursefee.

Contact and registration:

Please contact coordinator Martha Hannus (martha[@]peace.ax), or course teacher Director, Doctoral Researcher Susann Simolin (susann[@]peace.ax), if you have questions related to the course, the schedule and its contents. For questions regarding the course fee and invoicing please contact open@ha.ax.

Apply for registration by sending an e-mail to open@ha.ax, with the following information:

1. Course name

2. Your full name

3. Date of birth

4. Postal address

5. E-mail-address

6. Highest/latest university degree/qualification

7. The time zone you will be in while attending the course

8. Any fixed/regular times during the week when you are unavailable for on-line sessions, for example due to work or other courses?

Deadline for application 08.09.2025

The homepage of the Åland Islands Peace Institute can be accessed through www.peace.ax