Learning outcomes

The project ‘European Integration: learning theories in negotiation role-plays’ bridges different disciplines and knowledge, namely history and theories of European integration, comparative politics and European law. The unit also aims at developing students’ communication oral and written skills in English. In particular, the course brings to students the necessary theoretical, analytical and practical knowledge on EU decision-making processes and European integration. Overall, the course is designed to encourage students to develop a critical and insightful analysis about the democratic nature of the European institutional functioning. To this end, the course ends by the organization of a role-play game simulating a negotiation at the EU level. The role-play offers students a fertile ground for experimenting with the EU institutional complexity at the light of European integration theories. 

Goals

The main objectives of the course are the following:

1.     Understanding the history of EU decision-making processes;

2.     Explaining the national position of EU Member States;

3.     Defining Member States’ institutional and political features;

4.     Understanding inter-institutional EU decision-making processes;

5.     Acting in negotiations (role-play);

6.     Acquiring  the necessary oral and written communication skills to present a Member State’s position and to negotiate a common position with the other Member States’ delegations.

 

Content

The course takes place over the entire academic year and is divided into 5 complementary modules. Each module provides students with the specific knowledge and necessary skills for the role-play. Specific covid-19 measures might be adapted introducing e-learning teaching methods.

- Module 1: Understanding the history of EU decision-making processes 

- Module 2: Explaining the national position of EU Member States

- Module 3: Defining ‘Country profiles’

- Module 4: Understanding (inter-institutional) EU decision-making processes

 -Module 5: Acting in negotiations (role-play)

Exercices

Tutorials and Coaching sessions are provided for each module. The details are available via WebCampus.

 
 

Assessment method

 

Responsible

Focus of the exam

Evaluation

 

Module 1

Prof. Dodeigne

Crash course on EU history (+ coaching)

Written exam at the end of the module (week 5).

 

/5

Module 2

Prof. Dodeigne

Prof. Foissac

Comparative politics (oral skills & content)

Group oral presentation (with a poster) on the institutional architecture of their Member States: 

Two group research notes (800-1,000 words) comparing two countries, mobilizing concepts and empirical materials covered in Module 2

 

/5

 

/2

Module 3

Prof. Dodeigne

Prof. Foissac

Comparative politics and coordination systems of Member States

Country profile paper (per group) presenting the key characteristics of one EU Member State and their implications on EU negotiations

 

 

 

 

/8

 

 

 

 

/20

Module 4

Prof. Randour

 

EU decision-making processes

Individual written exam at the end of the module (week 6).

 

 

 

/5

Module 4

Prof. Foissac

EU decision-making processes

Group oral presentation (with power point) on EU institutions

 

/5

Module 5

Prof. Randour

Prof. Foissac

Role-play & participation

Group & Individual assessment during the role-play game and the coaching sessions

 

/10

 

 

 

 

/20
 

Sources, references and any support material

All mandatory and optional references are available via WebCampus.

 
 

Language of instruction

Français