Europe Explored: Summer School on the External Dimensions of EU Policy-Making

ongoing

The module ‘Europe Explored External’ comprises a Summer School on the External Dimensions of EU Policy-Making. In this short course, we offer an overview of EU institutions, decision-making procedures and key policy areas, whilst providing a theoretical underpinning in governance and projection of values abroad. The module fits in the EU Commission’s political priority on a stronger Europe in the world, covering trade, development, tech and sustainability policies, focusing on responsible global leadership. The summer school is an intensive two-week study programme with a strong multidisciplinary character, developed and delivered by the Brussels School of Governance at Vrije Universiteit Brussel, in close cooperation with the Department of Political Studies at NOVA University of Lisbon (NFCSH). The school is an in-person course, in which students spend one week in Brussels and one week in Lisbon. The summer school attracts students and young professionals seeking to broaden knowledge of the EU institutions, European law and decision-making processes in general. Its thematic focus on external dimensions of EU policy-making provides insights on the EU as a responsible global leader. The objectives of the summer school are to: •Foster knowledge and understanding on external dimensions of EU policy-making: the module provides understanding of the EU policy-making process, in particular the EU’s role in a global context, by means of a well-balanced mix of theory (preparatory readings and lectures) and practice (simulation game, foresight workshop and study visits). •Introduce a European Union angle into non-EU related studies: the module actively recruits in partner countries and attracts participants who do not have a background in social sciences. The summer school and its recruited students benefit from multi-disciplinary exchanges on EU governance. The programme is organised yearly in summer, with a group of thirty students and young professionals per edition.