Why Barcelona?
I was motivated to apply for the POLNET Winter School in January 2025 in Barcelona for several reasons. What excited me most was the unique opportunity to learn from a group of European experts who would not only teach network analysis but also apply it to social science and political science cases. The professors from five different institutions are increasingly working on topics related to climate and movement politics, which aligns with the focus of my department at EUF. The chance to learn from such outstanding experts is rare and extremely valuable. Another key incentive was the opportunity to deepen my skills in R. Since this programming language is a core part of the methodological toolkit used in my field, I hoped the Winter School would offer valuable practical insights and help me expand my skills. Having already taken part in training on this topic at EUF, I looked forward to applying what I’d learned and sharing it with students at our institute. I also looked forward to meeting inspiring colleagues from other universities for an enriching exchange. And because the seminar took place in Barcelona, I also hoped to use and further improve my Spanish – a personal and academic bonus.
Preparation
Even before submitting my application for the POLNET Winter School, I began preparing to participate. First, I checked whether I could receive Erasmus+ funding for the event and contacted the International Center at Europa-Universität Flensburg well in advance. After receiving confirmation, I contacted the Institut Barcelona d'Estudis Internacionals (IBEI) to ask if they would be willing to serve as my host institution. Only after both institutions had agreed did I finalize my application. Once accepted by the organizers of the Winter School, I began carefully planning my travel and accommodation for the week in Barcelona to ensure smooth participation.
For climate protection reasons, I chose to travel by train and took the opportunity to visit other colleagues in Spain. To do so, I applied for Erasmus+ "Green Travel" top-up funding. This type of funding is available to participants who use sustainable means of transport such as train, bus, or carpooling and covers the extra time and cost involved. In my case, the journey took two days, traveling from Germany to Paris and then on to Barcelona. I highly recommend checking out the Interrail program, which offers maximum flexibility for short-notice planning and has a clear price advantage.
For accommodation, I chose a small rental apartment with a kitchen. Given the short booking window of two months, this option was cost-effective and also allowed me to cook in the evenings. This approach is especially worthwhile for vegetarians in case there are limited vegetarian options on-site. I found a good apartment in the city, about twenty minutes from IBEI, with great infrastructure nearby to explore the area after class.
My stay
Once in Barcelona, the methods school filled the week with intensive learning sessions, including lectures and practical modules. Unlike other winter or summer schools, the focus here was not on presenting your own research but on gaining a deep understanding of the method in order to share it with others. The instructors provided a detailed overview of how the method can be applied to various research topics and which programs are suited for it. That said, we still had plenty of time during lunches and coffee breaks to talk to other participants and build valuable connections. In addition, the organizers hosted a lovely group dinner with the professors, where we enjoyed Spanish cuisine together on the beach in Barcelona. At the end, we received all course materials and relevant literature, and a mailing list was created for future exchange.
Outside of the course, there were also some chances to explore everything Barcelona has to offer, including its wide range of food and music. But what I enjoyed most was browsing the city’s many second-hand bookshops. These are great places to find learning materials to practice both Spanish and local languages.
My conclusion
Taking part in the POLNET Winter School on network analysis was a valuable contribution to my work at Europa-Universität Flensburg (EUF) and to my doctoral research. The intensive training gave me a comprehensive understanding of how to apply network analysis, which I can now integrate into teaching – especially in the EEM master’s program. These skills are particularly relevant for helping students develop a modern, interdisciplinary perspective on the social science analysis of the energy transition. The Winter School also played a key role in advancing my research on the German heat transition, as I learned new approaches and tools to enhance my analysis. The international networking with scholars and collaboration with renowned institutions like IBEI not only promotes knowledge exchange in energy research but also opens new perspectives for European cooperation projects. The combination of methodological training, personal networking, and institutional knowledge exchange strengthens both my own research and EUF’s position in the international research landscape.