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Organisational Structure

As stated in the Venice Charter of the European Master’s Programme in Human Rights and Democratisation, the organisational structure of the EMA Programme consists of the following organs:

EMA Council

The Council is the highest decision-making body and supervises the international and national elements of the programme. It shall, inter alia:

  • Adopt directives regarding the budget
  • Elect the EMA Chairperson
  • Elect the members of the Executive Committee
  • Invite appropriate persons to form the Advisory Board
  • Specify the conditions of admission, determine the overall size of the student body, and determine the student fees
  • Specify the Rules of Assessment
  • Propose to the Inner Circle Universities the awarding of the Master’s degree to those students who meet all the requirements of the programme
  • Evaluate the programme at the end of each academic year
  • Approve all structural changes to the programme

The Council consists of one representative of each Participating University, the EMA Programme Director, the Global Campus of Human Rights President and Secretary General and two representatives of the student body (with consultative status).

EMA Executive Committee

The Executive Committee implements the decisions of the Council and inter alia:

  • Oversees examinations and other procedures
  • Monitors the planning of the academic programme for the first semester, taking into account the recommendations of the Academic Curriculum Group
  • Makes the final selection of the students to the programme
  • Reviews and compiles examination results
  • Establishes contacts with inter-governmental, non-governmental, and governmental organisations
  • Proposes initiatives for the development of the programme to the Council

The Executive Committee consists of the EMA Chairperson, the EMA Programme Director, seven members, drawn from the Council, including at least one from the Inner Circle Universities, the Global Campus of Human Rights President and Secretary General. The current members of the EMA Executive Committee are:

  • Thérèse Murphy (Queen’s University, Belfast) – Chairperson
  • Dr. Orla Ní Cheallacháin (EMA Programme Director)
  • Prof. Dr. Christina Binder (University of Vienna) 
  • Dr. Andrea Broderick (Maastricht University)
  • Prof. Paolo De Stefani (University of Padua)
  • Prof. Dr. jur. Hans-Joachim Heintze (Ruhr-University Bochum)
  • Prof. Jeffrey Kenner (University of Nottingham)
  • Dr. Eva Maria Lassen (University of Southern Denmark/Danish Institute for Human Rights)
  • Prof. Dr. Gerd Oberleitner (University of Graz)

 

Academic Curriculum Group

The Academic Curriculum Group reviews the curriculum of the programme, and makes appropriate recommendations to the Council and the Executive Committee.

EMA Programme Director

The EMA Programme Director inter alia implements and develops the programme, liaises with EMA Directors, Rectors and Presidents of universities, the EMA Chairperson, the Academic Curriculum Group and the Advisory Board. The EMA Programme Director also puts forward proposals to be addressed in meetings of the Council and the Executive Committee, and implements decisions taken by them. Dr. Orla Ní Cheallacháin is the current EMA Programme Director.

EMA Directors

The EMA Directors ensure the implementation of the EMA Programme at their respective universities and execute the decisions of the Council and the Executive Committee. The EMA Directors of the National Coordinating Universities coordinate the Programme activities at the national level.

Advisory Board

The Advisory Board advises the Council on the programme and is apprised of the decisions of the Council and the Executive Committee. The Advisory Board consists of individuals and representatives of international, national, and non-governmental organisations, active in the field of human rights and democratisation.