Admission requirements
This course is only available to Honours students
Description
This unique course, provided by the Jean Monnet Chair on the EU’s role in Security and Global Affairs, offers highly motivated Honours Class student teams the opportunity to deepen their knowledge on real-life topics related to the European Union and apply them in the context of a simulation of the European Council. The simulation, taking place at the end of the course, challenges students to take on the role of key policy-makers and member states in order to negotiate core policy proposals and outcomes during full day intensive simulation. Topics of the simulation will follow closely the actual themes of the Council Presidency (Denmark) , helping students to deepen their knowledge of the EU and hone their public speaking, negotiating, leadership and diplomatic skills.
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 places students at the centre of the learning process, by continuously engaging them through practitioner sessions, negotiation workshops, and an immersive full day Model EU simulation. 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 policy proposals with their counterparts. Students will also delve deeply into the policy challenges related to the EU, European 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 skills
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 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 skills by working with peer students towards a common goal
Timetable
Mondays from 18.15-21.00: 6, 13 and 27 October; 3, 10 and 24 November; December 1.
Full-day Simulation: 8 December (11.00 – 20.00)
Mode of instruction
Total study load: 140 hours
Contact hours: 30 hours
The course will be delivered through a mix of lectures, practitioner sessions, thematic workshops.
Assessment method
Negotiation Strategy (30%)
Position Paper and Participation in the Model EU (50%)
Self-reflection Assignment (20%)
Details for submitting papers (deadlines) are posted on Brightspace.
You can find more information about assessments on the website.
Grading: no compensation possible. All partial grade should be sufficient
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
Selection will be based on a fair division of places over the participating studies.
Brightspace will be used in this course.
FGGA Honours coordinator/administration will take care of selection and enrollment.
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
Honours Coordinator: Annette Righolt; a.j.e.righolt@fgga.leidenuniv.nl