Inter-University Winter School on EU Policy-Making - online course

Institute for European Studies at Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Diplomatische Akademie Wien – Vienna School of International Studies, University of Vienna

6-17 February 2023

From Monday 6 to Friday 17 February 2023, the Brussels School of Governance (BSoG) will organise the third edition of its online Jean Monnet Winter School on EU Policy-Making, in collaboration with its partners the Diplomatische Akademie Wien — Vienna School of International Studies and the University of Vienna. This Winter School, which provides participants a ‘crash course’ in European Union Policy Making, will build on the long-standing expertise of the similar (offline) Summer School that the BSoG and its partners have organised for more than 20 years. Other than being taught fully online, the second main difference with its ‘Summer sibling’, is the focus area of the Winter edition, which will be digital rights and diplomacy, touching on policy discussions related to freedom of expression, data protection, disinformation resilience, and platform responsibility.

This winter programme is a challenging and truly interactive online study experience (workshops, simulation game, etc.) with special attention to the social side. It attracts students and young professionals who wish to broaden their knowledge of the European institutions, European law and the European decision-making process in general. The first week reviews the main EU institutions and decision-making procedures. During the second week students learn more about EU foreign relations.

Target group	Students and young professionals who wish to broaden their knowledge of the European institutions, European law and the European decision-making process in general
Duration	2 weeks (Monday, 6 February - Friday, 17 February 2023)
ECTS	5 ECTS
Language of instruction	English
Tuition fee	EUR 1,600

For any questions you might have that cannot be answered by also consulting
https://www.eu-summerschool.eu/, please contact info_bsog@vub.be.

Programme

The Winter School’s main theme in 2023 will be Analysing digital rights and diplomacy in today’s EU.

The first week (6 to 12 February) provides an introduction to the various decision-making actors and key policy areas. Lectures, discussions and exercises will be facilitated by academics and practitioners. The lectures include the following topics:

Introduction to the European Union
Functioning of the European institutions
EU decision-making procedures
Governance, participation and legitimacy
Overview of select EU policy areas with a focus on digital rights: freedom of expression, data protection, disinformation resilience, platform responsibility, cyber security.

The second week (13 to 17 February) builds on the first week and offers in-depth knowledge on EU policy making, with a focus on external affairs. Lectures and interactive exchanges with experts address the following topics:

EU constitutional and legal issues
European foreign and security policy
Human rights protection
The EU and international organisations
Overview of select EU policy areas with a focus on digital rights: freedom of expression, data protection, disinformation resilience, platform responsibility, cyber security.

Throughout the two weeks, we organise exclusive insight sessions with high-level practitioners in the EU institutions, the UN and the OSCE, providing students with firsthand opportunities to learn and interact with policy-makers. The Winter School participants will work in small groups to negotiate a policy solution to a digital rights-related problem in the EU. They are assigned a role and asked to broker political and legislative agreements among EU member states. Upon attendance and active participation in the two-week programme, the participants receive a 5 ECTS certificate for participation in the Winter School.

Tuition fee

The tuition fee for the Winter School is 1600 EUR.

Tuition Fee Waivers

The Brussels School of Governance will grant one full tuition fee waiver to one student of the Winter School programme. This waiver will be attributed on the basis of merit and motivation, and will in general, but not exclusively, be granted to a student from a partner country neighbouring the EU. If you think you may be eligible for the waiver, you will need to provide the following supporting documents as part of your application to the programme:

a motivation letter
a transcript of your academic records.

The deadline for applying for the tuition fee waiver is 15 November (same as the early bird deadline).

Cancellation Policy

More than 45 days before arrival: no cancellation charges
Between 45 and 30 days before arrival: 50% cancellation charges
Between 30 and 15 days before arrival: 75% cancellation charges
Less than 15 days before arrival: 100% cancellation charges

Application

Please apply via the following online application form:

https://www.eu-summerschool.eu/admission/

Deadlines for Applications

Please note that applications will be reviewed as of October – you may of course already apply before that date.
Early bird deadline: 15 November.
Applicants who submit their application by 15 November at the latest and are subsequently admitted to the programme, are eligible for a 10% discount on the tuition fee.
Tuition fee waiver deadline: 15 November (see information below).
Application deadline: 10 January.

CONTACT

Brussels School of Governance (BSoG)
Vrije Universiteit Brussel

T +32 2 614 80 01
E info_bsog@vub.be
W www.brussels-school.be