Hardly ever has it been more timely and important than today to study the process of European integration. In the aftermath of the global financial and economic crisis of 2008, the sovereign debt default crisis has affected several EU Member States of the Euro-zone. The Euro crisis and its potential domino-effects vis-à-vis other countries, does not only undermine the economic basis of the historical project of European integration, it also threatens to push the entire world into a global maelstrom. The European Union is at the most critical juncture of its history facing both the threat of disintegration and the challenge of further deep integration. Any lasting solution is certain to require fundamental changes in the way the EU has been governed thus far. It is toward this background that new light is being shed into old debates, such as the persistence of national interest, the democratic deficit and, in general, the European Unions role in the world and model for regional integration.
Bringing together graduate students, young scholars and well-established academics from Norway, Europe and the entire world since 1990, the European Integration Summer School at the University of Agder has always provided a stimulating environment for these debates. The programme is dedicated to the study of the European integration and proposes to take a closer look at various core aspects of European integration. Doing this from a country outside the European Union, but inside Europe, sometimes triggers more nuanced perspectives.
The European Integration Summer School prides itself of providing a very comprehensive, methodologically driven introduction into European Studies at the MA level. Its profile is threefold: first it provides an introduction into key aspects of the political system of the European Union; second it includes a module on methodology in European Studies and identifies on an annual basis core themes of European integration, such as for instance the European Unions role in the global combat against climate change which are discussed together with the top scholars in the respective field; third, it offers interested students a web-based thesis option during the subsequent fall term which may be used to deepen any aspect of the courses of the European Integration Sumer School.
The programme consists of three courses of 10 credits each:
The first course is a problem-oriented analysis of the motives behind European integration, its historical, economic and political foundations and core aspects of the political system of the European Union. The second course is concerned with a selection of current issues of the European Union, such as for instance the development of its external relations and the implications of the European debt crisis for the Economic and Monetary Union. Both courses make up the core of the European Integration Summer School (EISS) of the University of Agder, Norways oldest summer school dedicated to the study of the European integration. Finally, an additional course, offered in the fall term and open to successful participants of the previous two courses only, will provide the students with the opportunity of writing a thesis (with the approval of the academic coordinator) on a topic of their choice, but related to any of the topics dealt with during the summer school. Upon the successful completion of all three courses students will earn 30 ECTS.
Upon successful completion of this programme, the student should be able to
Knowledge
Skills
General competence
ST-419 and ST-420 are highly demanding portions of this programme which are given over a period of seven weeks during the summer. Both courses build on lectures, working groups and seminars and involve several local and international scholars. Students are expected to take an active part in the development of the study as they are exposed to a unique blend of different lecture and teaching styles creating an extraordinary classroom atmosphere. As a consequence, there is an attendance requirement of at least 80% of all classes.
Students have to hand in one individually written assignment of 1200 words per course in order to be able to sit for the final exam. For each course, there is a six hours school exam. ST-421 consists of a thesis which is due at the beginning of the exam period in the fall term.
Successful completion of the European Integration Summer School courses (ST-419 or ST-420) before examination in ST-421.
30
Full time
Kristiansand
Faculty of Social Sciences