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INRL30400

Academic Year 2024/2025

EU Foreign Policy: understanding how the European Union and its member states engage with the world (INRL30400)

Subject:
International Relations
College:
Social Sciences & Law
School:
Politics & Int Relations
Level:
3 (Degree)
Credits:
10
Module Coordinator:
Professor Ben Tonra
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module offers an exploration of the derivation, development and practice of the EU as a global actor, with a particular focus on contemporary challenges and crises. Students will gain a detailed insight into the Union’s place in the contemporary world and its efforts to define its own place within a rapidly evolving global order. This will include an analysis of EU foreign policy strategy, policy making and economic, political and military interventions. It is intended that this module will provide a solid theoretical and empirical grounding for further advanced study, and will encourage students to compare and to evaluate critically competing understandings of the Union’s role in the world. Taught through Problem Based Learning, extensive transferable skills will be acquired in group and team work, presentation, communication, independent research and role play.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate a detailed knowledge of the evolution, formation and implementation of EU foreign policy.
• Debate and discuss these policies as they relate to a number of significant contemporary challenges.
• Evaluate and apply the major theoretical approaches in International Relations to EU policies.
• Understand the construction of the European Union's foreign policy from the perspective of different stakeholders
• Critically analyse EU foreign policy through contrasting perspectives and utilising detailed empirical material.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

12
Small Group

12
Specified Learning Activities

50
Autonomous Student Learning

150
Total

224

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The module will be taught in a Problem Based Learning (PBL) format with a mix of lectures and group work. All students are expected to read the specified material for each lecture/seminar, undertake active learning as part of the PBL framework, and reflect critically on reading and research. The BrightSpace system will be used as a support to the module.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Group Work Assignment: A series of three team assignments will be undertaken and will each comprise a 2,500 word written submission and oral presentation. Week 4, Week 8, Week 11 Graded No

60

 No
Participation in Learning Activities: Student engagement and participation will be assessed through records of attendance, my professional assessment and by self and peer review within your teams. Week 12 Graded No

10

 No
Reflective Assignment: Four reflective learning journal entries and a final reflective essay Week 3, Week 6, Week 9, Week 11, Week 12 Graded No

30

 No

Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Journal entries will not be graded but feedback will be provided on a selection thereof. Students will then submit a final Reflective Learning Journal Essay which will reflect on both their own learning, their working experience in teams and how these have impacted them.

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