Conducted in terms: 2022/23L, 2023/24Z, 2024/25Z, 2025/26Z

ISCED code: 0312

ECTS credits: 5

Language: English

Organized by: Faculty of Political Science and Security Studies

Global Challenges in European Perspective 2751-KONJA-GCEP

Global Challenges in a European Perspective
The Global Challenges in a European Perspective course offers an in-depth analysis of key global challenges, viewed through a European lens, taking into account their impact on politics, society, the economy, and international relations in Europe. The course focuses on understanding the complexity of issues such as climate change, migration crises, international security, socioeconomic inequalities, digital transformation, and rising geopolitical tensions, which are of particular importance to the European Union and its member states. Students explore how global issues shape European public policies, decision-making processes, and international cooperation strategies, as well as how Europe positions itself as a global actor.

The course curriculum combines theoretical and practical approaches, enabling students not only to understand the causes and consequences of global challenges but also to develop skills to analyze their impact on various aspects of the functioning of European societies. Through detailed case studies, interactive debates, analysis of current events, and decision-making simulations, students learn to identify key issues, assess the effectiveness of existing policies, and propose innovative solutions. The course places particular emphasis on developing critical thinking skills, the ability to formulate coherent arguments, and the design of policy strategies that can be applied at both the regional and global levels. Students also learn about the mechanisms of international cooperation, the roles of European institutions, and the challenges of harmonizing policies in the face of global change, preparing them to participate informed in debates on the future of Europe in a rapidly changing world.

Timetable:

1/ Introduction to the course

2/ Climate change, clean water, sustainable development

3/ World population and resources

4/ Human rights and democratization

5/ Safe internet

6/ Health - biotechnology and bioethics

7/ Migrations

8/ Modern education

9/ War and displacement

10/ Racism

11/ The future

12/ The rich and the poor gap

13/ Atomization in modern cities

14/ Final presentations pt. 1

15/ Final presentations pt. 2

Total student workload

- Total: 150 hours, 5 ECTS; - Classes requiring direct participation of the teacher: 30 hours, 1 ECTS; - Self-study: reading: 60 hours, 2 ECTS; - Self-study: learning new vocabulary; 30 hours, 1 ECTS; - Self-study: preparation of final speech; 30 hours, 1 ECTS;

Learning outcomes - knowledge

- Has a broad knowledge of professional English vocabulary related to political science. - Is familiar with various social issues. - Is familiar with arguments from various opinion-forming sources used in public debates.

Learning outcomes - skills

- Uses professional vocabulary in English at a basic level. - Demonstrates sufficient proficiency in discussing political science issues in English. - Can communicate and explain their views in English.

Learning outcomes - social competencies

- Is prepared to work in international research - Is prepared to deliver public speeches in English.

Teaching methods

Discussion, simulation, presentation of topics, panel discussion, brainstorm of ideas, individual ideas analysis,

Observation/demonstration teaching methods

- simulation (simulation games)

Expository teaching methods

- discussion
- participatory lecture
- description

Exploratory teaching methods

- presentation of a paper
- brainstorming
- panel

Online teaching methods

- evaluative methods
- methods referring to authentic or fictitious situations
- games and simulations

Prerequisites

Intermediate knowledge of English, both in speaking and writing

Course coordinators

Mariusz Popławski

Assessment criteria

Points are given for:

- participation in discussions, games, etc.
- final speech
- one point per classes
- max 5 point for final speech

Points are taken for:

- not passing small vocabulary test (if made)

Points and grades:

0-7 p.: 2

8 p.:3

9 p.:3+

10 p.: 4

11 p.: 4+

12-17 p.: 5

Practical placement

None

Bibliography

Bibliografia

Oreskes, N. (2004). The Scientific Consensus on Climate Change. Science, 306(5702), 1686. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1103618

Dimick, D. (2014, October 21). As World’s Population Booms, Will Its Resources Be Enough for Us? National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/9/140920-population-11billion-demographics-anthropocene/

European Union. (2018). EU Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World 2018 (pp. 19–40). https://eeas.europa.eu/sites/eeas/files/2018_annual_report_on_hr_e-version.pdf

Byrne, J., & Burton, P. (2017). Children as Internet Users: How Can Evidence Better Inform Policy Debate? Journal of Cyber Policy, 2(1), 39–52. https://doi.org/10.1080/23738871.2017.1291698

Ahmad, H., et al. (2015). Ethical Issues of Biotechnology, Possible Risks and Their Management. Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare, 5(11), 120–129. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/280094592_Ethical_Issues_of_Biotechnology_Possible_Risks_and_Their_Management

Kushminder, K. (2019). At Europe’s Frontline: Factors Determining Migrants’ Decision Making for Onwards Migration from Greece and Turkey. Migration and Development, 9(2), 188–207. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21632324.2019.1601829

Fatkullina, F., Morozkina, E., & Suleimanova, A. (2015). Modern Higher Education: Problems and Perspectives. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 214, 571–577. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.11.757

Lombard, L., & Picco, E. (2019). Distributive Justice at War: Displacement and Its Afterlives in the Central African Republic. Journal of Refugee Studies, 32(4), 517–535. https://doi.org/10.1093/jrs/fez012

Grosfoguel, R. (2016). What is Racism? Journal of World-Systems Research, 22(1), 9–15. https://doi.org/10.5195/jwsr.2016.609

Sotala, K. (2018). Disjunctive Scenarios of Catastrophic AI Risk. In R. V. Yampolskiy (Ed.), Artificial Intelligence Safety and Security (pp. 315–337). CRC Press. https://www.academia.edu/40127592/Disjunctive_Scenarios_of_Catastrophic_AI_Risk

Keeley, B. (2015). The Gap Between Rich and Poor. OECD Publishing. https://espas.secure.europarl.europa.eu/orbis/sites/default/files/generated/document/en/0115391e.pdf

Ronald, R. (2009). Atomizing the Urban: Social Change, Single Households and Spatial Transformations in Tokyo. In Proceedings of the International Forum on Urbanism (IFoU) Conference: The Urbanized Society (pp. 1–10). http://ifou.org/conferences/2009delft/proceedings/3%20The%20Urbanized%20Society/full%20papers/B029_Ronald_Richard_%20Atomizing%20the%20Urban.pdf

Additional information

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of 2751-KONJA-GCEP in USOSweb