European StudiesEuropean Studies

David Kereselidze

28.02.2009

European StudiesEuropean Studies Relatively new field, the origin of which was conditioned by the integration processes within Europe.

Highly inter-disciplinary in approach: may cover law, economy, political economy, business administration, philosophy, history, sociology, demography, geography and European cultures.

European Studies explores the European society, its historical values, ideas in the light of institutional and social processes.

A graduate is granted with the academic degree of a Bachelor of Social Sciences.

The employment field covers wide range of The employment field covers wide range of activities related to the European Union and activities related to the European Union and

European countries. European countries.

A graduate may be employed in A graduate may be employed in Public agencies; Public agencies; Non-governmental sector; Non-governmental sector; In international intergovernmental and non-In international intergovernmental and non-

governmental organisations, governmental organisations, In private sector; In private sector; In mass media.In mass media.

Learning Outcomes – Subject specific Competencies

a) Knowledge of the EU institutions and decision-making processes

Familiarisation with the EU Institutions and procedures, their theoretical background, the history of their creation and development;

Understanding of the roles, functions and importance of the EU institutions in political, economic and social frameworks of Europe;

Knowledge of specific features of different decision making procedures of the European Union.

Learning Outcomes – Subject specific Competencies

b) Knowledge of the EU policies

Familiarisation with (knowledge of) various policies of the EU;

Understanding of the importance and complexity of policies;

Understanding of the correlation of specific policies with political, economic and social frameworks of Europe.

Learning Outcomes – Subject specific Competencies

c) Ability to interpret European events, developments and policies in national, regional and local frameworks

Understanding of the problems of the European space and the ability to find solutions for them;

Ability to understand the connection of European events with political, economic and social frameworks of Europe;

Ability to understand the European events, processes and policy and to react adequately;

Ability to link specific policies with political, economic and social frameworks of Europe.

Learning Outcomes: Generic Competencies

a) Ability to apply knowledge in practical situations

Ability to link knowledge acquired during the training courses with practical situations and to apply it for the solution of a specific problem.

b) Ability for abstract thinking, analysis and synthesis

Ability to analyse of abstract data in an abstract manner utilising adequate methods, to process the obtained information and link it with the existing knowledge.

c) Capacity to learn and stay up-to-date with learning

Independent deepening of knowledge, identification of information sources (bibliography, documents, web-sites, etc.), search for additional information utilising respective methodology and linking it with the existing knowledge.

Learning Outcomes: General Competencies

d) Knowledge and understanding of the subject area and understanding of the profession

Ability to accumulate knowledge, familiarise with specifics of the sector, to understand the importance of multidisciplinary approach.

e) Ability to identify, pose and resolve problems

Ability to identify problems, to formulate them adequately, to develop the respective thesis, select the means of adequate solution of the problem and the ability to substantiate the selected approach.

f) Ability to communicate in native and foreign languages

Ability to obtain the information in native and at least in one foreign language and to communicate it both orally and in writing, also the ability to adequately use the information technologies.

Learning, Teaching and Assessment

The specifics of the sector provides for the introduction of the interdisciplinary approach.

Interdisciplinary approach means offering such training courses, which connect the significant knowledge of European Studies with various sectors.

Interdisciplinary approach may as well be demonstrated in interrelated teaching of various sectors, what will provide for the possibility of synthesis.

Development of each of the competences should be based on team working approach, development of a project, presentation, homework and similar methods of independent working. The practical component may as well be integrated.