6 ECTS credits
176 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 6007623FEW for working students in the 1st semester at a (F) Master - specialised level.

Semester
1st semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Possible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Taught in
English
Faculty
Faculty of Social Sciences & SolvayBusinessSchool
Department
Political Science
Educational team
Ilke Adam (course titular)
Activities and contact hours

26 contact hours Lecture
150 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study
Course Content

This course introduces students into European diversity politicies and politics. It studies EU, national and local responses to migration related diversity (cultural, ethnic & racial, religious). The course approaches diversity governance from an empirical and theoretical perspective. It combines (comparative) empirical case studies with theoretical insights on the role of institutions, ideas and interests in policy making, theories of European integration and Europeanisation. Students will learn how and why EU Member States accommodate diversity differently and engage with the theoretical foundations that lie beneath these differences. They will also analyse how and why EU cooperation on diversity issues originated, and how European diversity policies influence national policies.

The course will include interaction with experts working within and outside of EU institutions on the topics discussed in the course. Practitioners views on diversity politics will add value to the empirical and theoretical discussions in class.

Course material
Digital course material (Required) : A syllabus with compulsory weekly readings and a list of additional readings will be made available at the start of the course, Canvas
Additional info

A syllabus with compulsory weekly readings and a list of additional readings will be made available at the start of the course (through Canvas).

The syllabus is composed of four types of readings:

  1. Readings that critically discuss concepts of diversity policies and politics.
  2. Comparative case-studies on how EU Member States have approached different forms of migration related diversity. The comparative case-studies were selected because they propose theoretical insights into the different state approaches towards different forms of diversity (cultural, ethnic and racial, religious). All together the case-studies presented to the students encompass a diverse range of theoretical perspectives: historical institutionalism (path dependency); sociological institutionalism (ideology and norms), rational choice institutionalism (interests that are formatted within a particular institutional setting).
  3. Case-studies explaining when, how and why EU cooperation on diversity policies originated. These case studies encompass theories of European Integration. 
  4. Case-studies explaining how and why EU policy responses to diversity have differently impacted upon Members States. These case-studies encompass theories on EU compliance/Europeanisation.          

Additional readings will be made available through Canvas when these are not accessible through the VUB library.

Slides will be made available on Canvas.

Lecture notes taken by students during class.

The 3h lectures will be organized as following:

  • The course convenor and/or guest lecturers will introduce the lecture (a power-point will be provided after the lecture)
  • Student presentations of the required and/or suggested readings
  • Seminar: Q&A on the readings
Learning Outcomes

Algemene competenties

Having completed this course, students will be able to:

  • Provide an overview of different EU and Member States approaches towards different forms of migration related diversity.
  • Analyse and explain differences and similarities between different state approaches and political positions towards diversity issues.
  • Analyse and explain the origins and impact of EU cooperation on diversity issues
  • Critically analyse diversity related policies and politics

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Written Exam determines 60% of the final mark.
Other Exam determines 40% of the final mark.

Within the Written Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Written Exam with a relative weight of 60 which comprises 60% of the final mark.

Within the Other Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Participation / Discussion with a relative weight of 40 which comprises 40% of the final mark.

Additional info regarding evaluation

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:

  • Written Exam determines 60 % of the final mark.
  • Presentation of one of the weekly readings or a summary paper of the weekly readings comprises 20 % of the final mark.
  • Active and informed participation in the discussion of the required readings determines 10 % of the final mark.
  • Delivering informed questions for discussion for one of the weekly readings determines 10% of the final mark.

To obtain a high mark students are expected to be present in the courses, to have read the required readings and to actively participate in the Q&A. Each student should also once present one of the weekly readings or provide a summary. Moreover, each student should once prepare 3 questions for discussion on  the required readings for one lecture. These questions are sent to the course convenor 1 week in advance of the lecture. The readings concerned for the questions are different than those prepared for the presentation or summary paper.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of European Integration: Track 1: European Economy - Migration and Europe
Master of European Integration: Track 4: Migration and Europe - European Environmental Governance
Master of European Integration: Track 5: European External Relations and Security Policy - Migration and Europe