Course Content

You will gain an overview of the history, concepts, theories, structures and prospects of the EU, and study the fundamentals of public affairs and communication. You will develop a basic understanding of public affairs and lobbying, public communication and advocacy in the European context and beyond. The module focuses on communicative skills as a prerequisite for international work: you will analyze communication between persons as well as within and between enterprises and organizations, mass media communication, and communication in the context of political logic.

You will consolidate your knowledge of EU institutions, and familiarize yourself with the legal framework of the European Union, its formal acts, and the intergovernmental or community legislative procedures. You will develop a broad understanding of the actual decision-making processes and the interdependencies between the institutions, and of the potential for influencing them. Fundamental to the public affairs perspective is the ability to identify the competent person to address on a given topic at a given time. This module culminates in a field trip to Brussels with important meetings to expand your practical knowledge and skills.

In the third module you will examine political competition and the prevailing media conditions in the European Union. You will analyze the applicability of the traditional concepts of publicity, which evolved in nation states, and the relevant media systems in relation to the process of integration. In simulations you will become familiar with practices of advocacy and public affairs processes at the European level. You will design public affairs strategies for enterprises, public institutions and non-governmental organizations, and learn how to advance specific interests by action in the European context.

You will acquire fundamental management skills and gain an insight into the processes of modern organizations that is indispensable in public affairs today. You will develop generalist skills in the areas of change management, corporate lobbying, project management and qualitative market research. Particular attention is given to ensuring the sustainability of the skills you acquire in the course, and transferring them to the actual working context of the European Union.

You strengthen your skills in knowledge management, leadership, cross-cultural communication and practice research. You will broaden and reinforce the personal abilities that are indispensable to specialists and managers in advocacy as in other fields. This module strengthens your personal abilities in dealing with knowledge, with people, and with different cultures and roles, including expert cultures, in the professional context.

To conclude your course of study, you will write a scientifically grounded master’s thesis that connects theory and practice. Your thesis may be on a specific project from your own field of work, or on a general topic in the field of European Public Affairs. The objective in either case is to discuss an issue that is relevant to practice using the knowledge and methods you have acquired and augmented during your course of study at DUW, and to propose an answer based on your discussion. In developing your master’s thesis, as in all other phases of your studies at DUW, you will receive academic supervision and thorough guidance counselling.