EPIIC is a carefully integrated, multidisciplinary program. Through its innovative and rigorous curricula and projects, EPIIC prepares young people for informed activity in their communities, whether locally, nationally or globally.
Colloquium
At EPIIC's core is the year-long, multidisciplinary course on a global political theme. Undergraduate and graduate students of diverse nationalities, viewpoints, experiences, and interests participate in this rigorous colloquium that stresses critical, analytical, and normative thinking. Students are encouraged to confront the ambiguity and complexity of EPIIC's annual global theme through a multi-disciplinary examination of the issues and controversies that the topic reflects. They are taught the subject under investigation not only by a broad range of distinguished academics and practitioners, but also as active participants in defining the issues through classroom discussions, extensive readings, and independent research. There is an emphasis both on individual progress and on the collaborative effort -- in essence, on growing as an intellectual team. Students produce tangible outcomes of their studies through their individual research papers or projects, the international symposium in late February, and the Inquiry simulation for high-school students in early April.
Symposium
The Norris and Margery Bendetson International EPIIC Symposium is an annual five-day public forum featuring scores of international practitioners, activists, academics, public intellectuals, and journalists. EPIIC's symposia -- consisting of presentations, panel discussions, topical forums, informal gatherings, multimedia and dramatic presentations, and workshops -- are intellectually wide-ranging and accessible. The perspectives of the participants are intentionally diverse, often competing, and at times adversarial.
The 2014-15 EPIIC colloquium will focus on Russia and the international order. The 2015 symposium will be the Institute's 30th annual symposium. More information will be available on these pages soon.
This two-semester effort will attempt to carefully understand Russian society, its culture, its sense of national identity, its economic and political structure, and its strategic imperatives, outlook and foreign policy, as well as the future of its relationship with the U.S.
As part of its EPIIC 2014-2015 Colloquium Russia: In the XXI Century, the Institute for Global Leadership and the EPIIC class hosted the World Boston Ukrainian Delegation.
EPIIC students Caitlin Thompson and Jack Margolin with Garry Kasparov, Chairman of the Human Rights Foundation at the Oslo Freedom Forum.
Group of EPIIC Outward Bound 2014 participants
Students engage in at Outward Bound in beautiful Pinkham Notch, New Hampshire
EPIIC students in Outward Bound team-building activity
Students engage in outdoor activities in New Hampshire
EPIIC student enjoys outdoor activities with Outward Bound program
EPIIC students move beyond the classroom to participate in team-building activities
Students engage critically in Russian issues during Outward Bound
Students interact during EPIIC Outward Bound
EPIIC students explore issues of Russia's past, present, and future
EPIIC students connect over Outward Bound team-building activities
EPIIC student complements education with outdoor adventure
Exciting times with EPIIC in New Hampshire
Distinguished professor Joshua Rubenstein interacts with students about Russian issues during Outward Bound
Students enjoy EPIIC discussion on Russia
Students engage with each other during Outward Bound
