Admission requirements
This course is only available to Honours students.
Description
This unique course offers highly motivated Honours Class student teams the opportunity to be trained for -and participate in- the international EuroSim Model European Union, taking place each year at a European or American partner university. The EuroSim event challenges students to take on the role of key policy-makers and member states in order to negotiate core policy proposals and outcomes during a four-day intensive simulation with over 200 participants from more than 20 universities. Each EuroSim has a specific theme related to the real-world policy agenda of the EU, helping students to deepen their knowledge of the EU and hone their public speaking, negotiating, leadership and diplomatic skills.
This course provides in-depth training for selected students and the exploration of core EU policy challenges and real-life negotiation skills in order to prepare the Honours Class student teams for their successful participation in the EuroSim simulation.
The course seeks to explore negotiation, diplomatic tactics and techniques and in-depth knowledge of EU policy-making in an active and experiential manner, and place students at the centre of the learning process, by continuously engaging them through practitioner sessions, negotiation workshops, and an immersive four-day Model EU simulation on the legislative process. Students will understand the nature and functioning of major EU institutions, their power and role in the policy making process from a historical and theoretical perspective and will have the opportunity to put their knowledge into practice, by taking on the role of a policy maker and negotiating a legislative proposal with 200 peers from the EU and the US. Students will also delve deeply into the policy challenges related to the EU and major European, transatlantic, and global policy challenges. As a result of this practical experience students will become better problem-solvers and will have the chance to hone not only their negotiation skills, but also their inter-personal and inter-cultural skills and establish stimulating networks among an international and transnational cohort of learners.
Course objectives
At the end of this course students will:
Understand core historical, theoretical and practical aspects of the European integration process
Understand the role of the EU in tackling major policy issues from a European, transatlantic and global perspective
Understand the set-up and functioning of the EU’s major institutions and their role in the policy-making process
Have a good knowledge of the mechanisms and procedures that guide the legislative process
Identify and support the position of a given persona (alter ego) in the legislative process
Further transfer academic insights and research on relevant literature into real-life scenario and for real-life problem solving
Develop own negotiation strategies, by identifying and engaging with relevant stakeholders under time constrains
Develop collaborative, inter-personal and inter-cultural skills by working with large and diverse groups of students towards a common goal
Self-evaluate, reflect, and contribute to group debrief sessions after the Model EU simulation
Timetable
The full course schedule will be posted on Brightspace.
Mode of instruction
Total study load: 140 hours
Contact hours: 21 hours
Model EU simulation: 32 hours
Self-study hours (reading, preparing lectures, assignments, self-reflection, etc.): 87 hours
The course will be delivered through a mix of lectures, practitioner sessions, thematic workshops, and will end with a 4-day simulation game (hosted at one of the EuroSim consortium members in Europe or the US).
Assessment method
Negotiation Strategy (30%)
Position Paper and Participation in the Model EU (50%)
Debrief & Self-reflection Assignment (20%)
Grading: Failed partial grades weighing less than or 30% can be compensated with other partial grades. The calculated overall grade must be at least 5.5 in order to pass the course. If a student passed an assignment, it is not possible to participate in a re-sit in order to obtain a higher grade. Students are only permitted to resit the 50% assignment if they have a calculated overall course lower than 5.5.
Details for submitting papers (deadlines) are posted on Brightspace.
You can find more information about assessments on the website.
Reading list
The course will be supported by thematic readings, including relevant book chapters, articles, and policy papers. They will be made available via Brightspace
Registration
FGGA Honours coordinator/administration will take care of selection and enrolment.
Please note: students are not required to register through uSis for this class. Your registration will be done centrally after successful completion of the Class.
Contact
Professor Joachim A. Koops j.a.koops@fgga.leidenuniv.nl
Silviu Piros s.piros@fgga.leidenuniv.nl
Honours Coordinator: Annette Righolt; a.j.e.righolt@fgga.leidenuniv.nl