Module Identifier IP34020  
Module Title EU SIMULATION  
Academic Year 2003/2004  
Co-ordinator To Be Arranged  
Semester Intended for use in future years  
Next year offered N/A  
Next semester offered N/A  
Other staff Mr Thomas Christiansen  
Pre-Requisite IP33820 Pre-requisite or Co-requisite IP10120 or GW11120,  
Course delivery Other   22 Hours Contact Hours. (11 x 2 hours)  
  Other   14 Hours Plenary Sessions. 2 days final "Summit meeting" (residential) at Gregynog Hall (UWA Conference Centre)  
Assessment
Assessment TypeAssessment Length/DetailsProportion
Semester Assessment Report Of Student: Individual written report (3,000 words)  50%
Semester Assessment Attendance And Participation:  50%
Supplementary Exam Students may, subject to Faculty approval, have the opportunity to resit this module, normally during the supplementary examination period. For further clarification please contact the Teaching Programme Administrator in the Department of International Politics. 

Learning outcomes

This module has several inter-related objectives. At the end of the module students should understand - in very real terms - the dynamics behind EU politics and decision making. Students will also be expected to have developed over the course of the simulation a detailed and expert knowledge of their own policy portfolio - which will depend upon their assigned role and the nature of the scenario provided (this is expected to change annually). Students will have cultivated their inter-personal, oral and written communication and negotiating skills. Finally, it is hoped that students will be able to apply these skills directly in their future professional occupations.

10 ECTS Credits

Brief description

This module takes the format of a simulation of negotiations in the European Union, enabling participants to develop a range of transferable skills as well as providing for in-depth learning of the institutions and the policies of the European Union.

Aims

This module aims to provide students with a practical and grounded experience of politics, decision making and negotiation in the European Union. Students will be assigned within national, EU institutional and other teams. These teams will then be provided with supporting briefing material, reading lists and an overall gaming scenario. Their task will then be, over the course of the module, to act within their roles in simulated EU negotiations and decision making. Throughout the course of the module the scenario will evolve both as a result of the students' progress in negotiation but also as a result of "external" events. In a final two-day residential setting the scenario will be concluded at a negotiating session modelled upon an EU European Council summit.

Content

Students are allocated to different teams (e.g. member states, EU institutions) and are provided with a specific scenario (e.g. EU enlargement). On the basis of their own research, they are required to initiate negotiations with other teams, to formulate proposals for approval by the entire group and to debate the various proposals and requests in a weekly 'plenary' meeting. In the process they make use of a range of communication methods, chiefly through the module website using Blackboard technology. The outcome of negotiations is open, but the achievement of constructive compromise is encouraged. A final 'summit' meeting at the University conference centre completes the simulation and provides the forum for feedback and evaluation. A final report is submitted by each participant in order to put the experience of the simulation into the perspective of the academic literature on the EU.

Transferable skills

Students will develop, practice and test a range of transferable skills. Throughout, students will be required to practice and enhance their reading, comprehension and thinking skills. This module in particular demands the development of skills in independent research, writing and the use of IT resources (use of discussion boards, file exchanges, email and virtual classrooms through the dedicated Blackboard website of the module). There is special emphasis on working closely in groups, synthesising documents, succinct writing, effective presentation and skilful debating, all of which form part of the continuous assessment. Writing and analytical skills are further examined through the submission of final report.

Reading Lists

Books
** Recommended Text
G Edwards and A Pijpers The Politics of European Treaty Reform - http://europa.eu.int/en/agenda/igc-home/

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 6