Dr. Aijan Sharshenova, research fellow at the SHAPEDEM-EULink opens in a new window Horizon-funded project, participated in a closed dinner discussion of the policy briefLink opens in a new window "The EU support to democracy: Recognising the democratising potential of the EU's foreign policy agenda" published by Mapping and Organizing Research on Dictatorships EU-funded projectLink opens in a new window. The discussion was organised by the European Partnership for DemocracyLink opens in a new window and included EU officials, civil society and academia.

SHAPEDEM-EU, an EU-funded Horizon project with the participation of the University of Warwick, produced a new publication by Richard Youngs and Elena Ventura (Carnegie Europe). "The EU pushes back a new democracy plan: A mistake? A review of the Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy" critically assesses the EU's 2020-2024 Action Plan and its mid-term review, examining the implications of their design and implementation. The publication is available as open access at the linkLink opens in a new window.

Research Fellow Dr Aijan Sharshenova (SHAPEDEM-EULink opens in a new window Project) participated in the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions (MSCA) event organised by the European Commission, UKRO and UUKi. The event took place at the University College London on June 26^th and focussed on promoting MSCA funding programmes: MSCA Doctoral NetworksLink opens in a new window, MSCA Postdoctoral FellowshipsLink opens in a new window, MSCA COFUNDLink opens in a new window, and MSCA Citizens.Link opens in a new window

Research Fellow Dr. Aijan SharshenovaLink opens in a new window (SHAPEDEM-EULink opens in a new window project) gave a keynote speech at the “Research and Higher Education in Central Asia and the Caucasus” SymposiumLink opens in a new window organised by the Volkswagen FoundationLink opens in a new window in Hannover, Germany on June 10-12, 2024. The Volkswagen Foundation is a private research funding organisation, which supports education and research worldwide. The Symposium took the stock of the 25 years of the Foundation's Central Asia and Caucasus portfolio.

Dr. Sharshenova delivered a keynote speech on making an academic career in Central Asia offering her insights and recommendations to early career researchers from the region. Dr. Sharshenova is a former recipient of the Volkswagen Foundation's research grant.

SHAPEDEM-EU organised an online expert discussion to explore the root causes and future implications of the ongoing mass protests in Georgia against the adoption of the "foreign agents" law. The discussion featured an in-house expertise - Dr. Nona MikhelidzeLink opens in a new window (Istituto Affari Internazionali), Kristina Pitalskaya (EaP Civil Partnership), and Dr. Aijan Sharshenova Link opens in a new window(University of Warwick).

The discussion took place on May 10th via zoom and was open to the public.

The SHAPEDEM-EU Link opens in a new windowProject unites 12 academic, research and civil society institutions in an effort to rethink and reshape EU democracy support in the Eastern and Southern neighbourhoods.