International & European Studies: ONLINE Summer School "Divided in Diversity â€“ The European Union in Crisis?" at University of Tübingen

About

The Online SummerÂ School will deal with the historical, political, cultural, and economic dynamics of European integration, and it will cover the current challenges Europe and the EU face today: Brexit, political fragmentation and radicalisation, migration, financial turmoil, the pandemic and more. The programme is jointly organised by Eberhard Karls University of TÃ¼bingen and Oregon State University (OSU). First, after a short introduction to intercultural communication and learning environments, online classes will introduce students to the EU as a political system, characterised by the separation of powers principle, with significant executive, legislative, and judicial powers. Sessions will cover how policies are made in this unique multi-layered system of governance and current political challenges will be discussed further. Then students will be introduced to the history and trajectory of human rights in Europe and the crucial question of collective (national) identity and how it is shaped by current developments in Europe, at its borders and beyond. The final set of classes will then focus on the issue of regional economic integration, covering a wide range of topics, from general ones such as trade and trade restriction mechanisms and international business in Europe to the question of what kind of economic entity the European Union represents today and how it can tackle the 21st century economically. By the end of this course, you will have a basic understanding of the EU, its history, itsÂ institutions, its economy and its culture. You will understand why and how it deals with current issues and which role human rights and the idea of "global citizenship" play in Europe. The Online Summer School will be based on online material that you can access at any time using TÃ¼bingen universityâ€™s Moodle system, as well as on live online discussions including video conferences via Zoom (about two hours each). The latter will take place at pre-set times, depending on the cohort/group a student is assigned to, based on the time zone they are in. Hence, by combining synchronous and asynchronous tools of teaching and learning, you will have the chance to gain valuable insights into new cultures and countries, share your perspectives with international classmates and learn more about Europe, the EU, and its economy.