Admission requirements
This course is available to students on the MA International Relations EUS and Global Political Economy tracks and the MA European Politics and Society only.
Description
The range of global challenges impacting the EU are such that they cannot be sufficiently understood or solved by an introspective monodisciplinary study of the EU’s various policy approaches. This module therefore applies a global perspective to comprehend the wider geopolitical ecosystem within which the EU operates, applying insights from a number of connected disciplines: Economics, History, Law and Politics/IR. This innovative module globalises the study of the EU and external interactions. After analysing four disciplines individually, students will investigate the opportunities for and challenges in developing an interdisciplinary approach that can help us to deliver a more holistic understanding of the EU in the world.
The module is divided into four stages:
1. discursive lectures and work groups that offer a strong grounding in the nature of the four academic disciplines;
2. student-led flipped classrooms that explore the concepts, puzzles and methodologies of these four disciplines;
3. the application of this learning to the interdisciplinary analysis of the key global historical and contemporary challenges through case studies;
4. and culminating in a final conference in which students present the findings of their research in a co-authored paper.
Course objectives
- To integrate the insights from four disciplines into a single module, thereby examining the EU’s external relations, past and present, through a multi-disciplinary approach;
- To explore possibilities for developing an interdisciplinary approach to the analysis of EU externally directed policies;
- Through analysis of a number of case studies, to develop students’ understanding of the EU’s role in the world;
- To identify and examine the multiple considerations, multiplicity of actors and variety of sectors impacting on the EU’s policymaking;
- To examine relevant primary sources and apply theoretical and empirical knowledge and understanding acquired in this and other modules to EU external relations.
- To develop students’ transferable skills through an innovative and challenging teaching and assessment agenda.
Timetable
The timetable is available on the website.
Mode of instruction
Lectures, seminars, debate, group and individual research, a symposium. In addition, parts of the course will be taught using problem-based learning (PBL), incorporating independent study, prescribed reading, group discussion; and flipped classrooms in which the students take responsibility for the classroom as a whole.
Course Load
Total course load is 10 ec x 28 hours = 280 hours:
Course participation (4 hours per week x 4 weeks = 16 hours; 2 hours per week x 8 weeks = 16 hours; 8 hours x 1 week = 8 hours) 40 total.
Time for studying the compulsory literature and preparation for the lectures/seminars (4 hours x 10 weeks = 40 hours);
Preparing for PBL sessions (6 hours x 1 week = 6 hours);
Preparing for flipped classroom (8 hours x 1 week = 8 hours);
Total Class preparation time: 54 hours
Researching and writing the portfolio (86 hours).
Researching and writing the conference paper (100 hours).
Assessment method
Assessment
Active participation.
Portfolio (students will choose from a range of alternatives, including writing a funding bid, policy review or blog, making a vidcast).
Co-authored conference paper
Weighting
Active participation: 20%
Portfolio: 40%
Co-authored conference paper: 40%
Presentation of paper 10%
Written conference paper 30%
Resit
A resit is only possible if a student fails the entire course. In such a case, the student will resit only that component or components of assessment that they have failed, writing a new version of the relevant component(s). Class participation and the presentation of the conference paper cannot be retaken.
inspection and feedback
Not applicable.
Blackboard
Blackboard will be used for uploading of all course documents, including slides used in lectures/seminars; updates regarding the course; posting video links, writing advice; submission of all assessments
Reading list
A detailed reading list will be distributed at the start of the course, including compulsory reading for classes (where appropriate).
Registration
Enrolment through uSis is mandatory.
General information about uSis is available on the website
Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs
Not applicable
Contact
Remarks
None