Becoming involved in the European dimension of public life, gaining the ability to carry out a rigorous and critical analysis of contemporary political phenomena and the political changes underway, explaining these and acting within, for and on society with an approach and set of ethics which prioritise service to the community. Such are the challenges awaiting students taking the Master’s specialisation in interdisciplinary analysis of the European integration process.
Students taking this course may already be working. Throughout the programme, they are called upon to use this experience, analysing it with reference to the knowledge, tools and theoretical and methodological frameworks acquired, and vice versa. This Master’s programme thus allows students to question and enhance their professional and personal development, bringing to it an academic approach, a reflective stance and critical distance.
At the end of the clearly multidisciplinary Master’s programme, the successful student will be better able to develop analytical strategies enabling him to better understand the European integration process and to take pertinent action:
- to master and use in-depth and specialised knowledge of the economic, political, political-institutional, historical and legal aspects of the European integration process;
- to carry out an expert analysis, using relevant analytical tools, and with a critical perspective, of the internal and external aspects of the European integration process in its multiple dimensions (institutional, socio-economic, political and legal), as well as its future prospects;
- to develop a multidisciplinary and critical approach to the global issues related to European integration;
- to take a close and critical look at various topical European issues.
The successful student, aware of his responsible role working in the field of European decision-making, will have learnt to take a critical academic approach, and will be able to take decisions independently while prioritising civic and ethical values and serving the community. He will be open to constant improvement, and will thus bring to his job expertise, versatility, an ability to adapt and develop positively in his social and professional environment.
On successful completion of this programme, each student is able to :
1.2. Take a stance in discussions and negotiations to defend the interests of the institutions or bodies which he represents.
1.3. Bring the ethical dimension and the ‘need to serve society and work for the common good’ into discussions and political action.
2.2. Demonstrate an in-depth and specialised knowledge of political issues at European level.
2.3. Identify the various governmental and non-governmental players (social movements, interest groups, individuals, etc.), and demonstrate awareness of their positions.
- political theories explaining the European integration process,
- the major categories of collective (European and national) institutional and non-institutional players involved in European politics, and how these interact,
- European-level organisational frameworks and decision-making processes,
- the main forces at play in the functioning and development of the EU,
- the legal dimension of the functioning of the EU,
- the multi-level dimension of institutional systems,
- the elements and analytical tools needed to understand and assess the internal and external dimensions of the European integration process.
3.2. Show an in-depth knowledge of the most important key elements of the subject areas related to European studies: political, legal, historical and economic knowledge.
3.3. Make use of and express this knowledge critically to analyse particular situations/issues/questions related to European studies, in all their complexity. He will be able to:
- Identify and define the issues involved in a particular situation;
- More closely define and analyse the context;
- Analyse the specific situation;
- Help to analyse and/or design a strategy to manage specific political situations.
- Selecting relevant information which helps to analyse and compare political situations;
- Presenting the information in an accurate, structured, clear, precise and well-argued manner (including reporting ability for reports, where appropriate, balance-sheets, ratings, minutes of meetings, etc.);
5.2. Carry out a critical overview of the existing literature on the subject, making active, critical and relevant use of information tools, primary and secondary sources.
5.3. Bring to bear a rigorous methodological and analytical approach.
5.4. Make consistent and thorough use of relevant concepts and analytical tools to study this issue.
5.5. Collect, analyse and use original data in a consistent and pertinent way.
5.6. Develop an objective analytical sense and the ability to summarise, enabling him to put issues into perspective and to formulate relevant conclusions.
5.7. Show, in general, the ability to regard his own work and the knowledge used in this work with critical distance.
6.2. Develop a critical eye on his own professional practice.
6.3. Become involved, decide and act autonomously and responsibly, respecting his working environment and context, and also respecting others.
6.4. Be aware of his social and civic responsibility.
6.5. Take a critical distance towards himself (his achievements, skills, limitations, creations and actions), and constantly learn and improve, as a key to positive social and professional development.