6 ECTS credits
150 h study time
Offer 1 with catalog number 6023953FNW for working students in the 2nd semester at a (F) Master - specialised level.
This course engages with the politics, policies and economics of the climate change and energy domains. Students will acquire an understanding of interconnections among these complex societal issues, will assess how policy-makers and others respond to the challenges, and will learn to critically assess these responses.
The course analyses EU policies in these fields, including on climate mitigation, decarbonisation, emissions trading, renewable energy, energy efficiency, the internal energy market and energy security. It includes exploring the EU’s role in the international cooperation on climate change as well as dynamics of the development of internal policy development. The role of the European Institutions and of EU member states are investigated. In the course, students will learn to assess policy responses through the lenses of concepts such as policy integration and coherence, leadership and effectiveness.
Furthermore, having understood the complex interconnections among politics, economics and policies, students will learn to critically assess the assumptions underlying actors’ responses. Students will identify and question basic assumptions; will learn about the role of stakeholders in promoting a particular view; and will thereby develop the skills to assess and evaluate presented ‘facts’ for their true merit.
Overall, this course is designed to offer an integrated vision on the subject area in a Socratic (“interrogative”) teaching mode that includes use of an online platform and group work/exercise (negotiating/debating exercise or essay writing). Course materials including the readings and the lecture slides are made available on the online platform. Reflective questions on the most important themes are discussed. Examples of exam questions are discussed in the class and with the help of the online learning environment.
The learning outcomes are threefold:
1. To acquire in-depth knowledge and understanding of the complex political, legal and economic aspects of climate change and energy policies, especially in the EU and as a key challenge of the European integration process.
2. To understand the complex links and interactions between these policy issues and the responses to them.
3. To develop advanced critical thinking skills regarding related policy debates on the basis of important concepts (such as policy integration, effectiveness, etc.).
Acquiring both such in-depth knowledge and critical skills will equip the students for a career in climate and energy-related fields, as analysts, lobbyists, activists, researchers, administrators – within and outside governments or EU institutions.
The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Written Exam determines 60% of the final mark.
Practical Exam determines 30% of the final mark.
Other Exam determines 10% of the final mark.
Within the Written Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:
Within the Practical Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:
Within the Other Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:
Students will be assessed as follows:
The written exam is based on the lectures and/or the assigned reading material. The short questions test the student’s knowledge of and insight in understanding, remembering and explaining key issues of the course. The long question tests the students’ ability to apply their critical analytical skills in a coherent and persuasive manner.
This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of European Integration: Track 3: European Economy - European Environmental Governance
Master of European Integration: Track 4: Migration and Europe - European Environmental Governance
Master of European Integration: Track 6: European Environmental Governance - European External Relations and Security Policy