Prospectus

nl en

The European Union Today

Course
2010-2011

Admission requirements

Minimaal BSA (40 ects).

Description

Gaining knowledge is one thing, putting that knowledge to use is quite another. The Minor EU-Studies would can only be fruitful if the students learn to put their knowledge at use by sharing it with others. The purpose of the course EU Today is precisely that. Students are required to research current issues, write and present position papers and debate with each other.
The purpose of the course is that students learn how to research, how to opinionate and debate, how to write and present. In addition the students will require more in-depth knowledge of certain aspects of the EU. The course builds on the theoretical information provided in the Institutions of the EU course yet allows students to focus on current issues. In this way it simulates a working environment where employees are asked to follow up recent developments and place it in the required context. Thus as in the Institutions of the EU course the theoretical context is laid down of a specific EU-related issue, the EU Today Course requires the students to work with that issue on a specific and current matter. There will be three main ways in which the students are required to perform: they will give a short presentation on a current issue, they will debate various statements chosen by the lecturer and, finally, they will present and write a policy paper in an area of their choice.

Course objectives

  • Learn how to find relevant up-to-date (digital) material (books, articles, working papers, documents)

  • Learn the basics of researching a policy issue: how to formulate a research question and how to answer it

  • Learn how to select, site and make a literature review

  • Learn how to debate and present (PowerPoint)

  • Learn how to write a position paper

Timetable

Workgroups on friday from 13.15.15.00 and 15.15-17.00. Can be subject to change (see the website on this).

Mode of instruction

Classes where presence and participation is required.

Assessment method

The final mark will be a combination of the following notes obtained during the classes weighted in the following way.

  • Presentation current issue (15%)

  • Debate 1 (15%)

  • Debate 2 (15%)

  • Presentation policy paper (15%)

  • Policy paper (40%)

Blackboard

yes

Reading list

The idea behind the course is that the students learn themselves how to find the most relevant material.

Registration

Through uSis

Contact information

Mr.dr. K. Heede