Erasmus+ Jean Monnet Module

The Jean-Monnet Module aims to take new path of teaching EU-politics. It is highly practice-oriented and offers students the unique opportunity to experience the liveliness, dynamics, and relevance of European legislation firsthand. Through interactive simulations and direct exchanges with experts from the field, students not only learn to follow the complex decision-making processes of the EU but also actively participate in them. This allows them to better contextualize, understand, and assess European politic and the characteristics of the Multi-level Governance system of the EU and, thus, reveal the interplay of actors in decision making at both the supranational and national levels.

The funding enables the professional development and implementation of an innovative and competence-oriented teaching concept (such as blended and immersive learning, train-the-trainer approach) and tools (such as video-tutorials, online-quizzes, virtual simulation). Furthermore, it involves talks with guest speakers and the organization of panel discussions on the annually set focal theme. Apart from that, one of the core measures is the development of a virtual simulation of the Ordinary Legislative Procedure of the EU claiming to depict the reality and highlight the various actors of EU policymaking. The project plans to conduct the virtual simulation with a multitude of different universities in Austria, other EU member states and non-EU countries aiming to learn from the experiences and readjust it if needed. Apart from that, it is also planned to hold teacher trainings to enable the implementation of such simulations also with pupils by emphasising the adaptability and usability of the simulation for the usage at highschools and people with almost no prior knowledge. As a result of the project, all relevant resources will be provided free to download for the independent use by course instructors in the area of EU studies at the project webpage. This includes access to the virtual simulation, the provision of different briefings for each scenario, a guidebook, and video tutorials.

Disclaimer: Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Project lead and module instructor: Bernhard Zeilinger

Contact: bernhard.zeilinger@fh-vie.ac.at

Phone: +43/1/720 12 86 - 227

Project number: 101176656