Universität Wien

210153 SE M11: Research Practice (2019W)

The EU and Digitalisation

12.00 ECTS (4.00 SWS), SPL 21 - Politikwissenschaft
Continuous assessment of course work

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 35 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

Teilnahme am ersten Termin ist verpflichtend.

  • Wednesday 09.10. 09:45 - 13:00 Seminarraum 1 (S1), NIG 2. Stock
  • Wednesday 16.10. 09:45 - 13:00 Seminarraum 1 (S1), NIG 2. Stock
  • Wednesday 23.10. 09:45 - 13:00 Seminarraum 1 (S1), NIG 2. Stock
  • Wednesday 30.10. 09:45 - 13:00 Seminarraum 1 (S1), NIG 2. Stock
  • Wednesday 06.11. 09:45 - 13:00 Seminarraum 1 (S1), NIG 2. Stock
  • Wednesday 13.11. 09:45 - 13:00 Seminarraum 1 (S1), NIG 2. Stock
  • Wednesday 20.11. 09:45 - 13:00 Seminarraum 1 (S1), NIG 2. Stock
  • Wednesday 27.11. 09:45 - 13:00 Seminarraum 1 (S1), NIG 2. Stock
  • Wednesday 04.12. 09:45 - 13:00 Seminarraum 1 (S1), NIG 2. Stock
  • Wednesday 11.12. 09:45 - 13:00 Seminarraum 1 (S1), NIG 2. Stock
  • Wednesday 08.01. 09:45 - 13:00 Seminarraum 1 (S1), NIG 2. Stock
  • Wednesday 15.01. 09:45 - 13:00 Seminarraum 1 (S1), NIG 2. Stock
  • Wednesday 22.01. 09:45 - 13:00 Seminarraum 1 (S1), NIG 2. Stock
  • Wednesday 29.01. 09:45 - 13:00 Seminarraum 1 (S1), NIG 2. Stock

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

This intense seminar is for advanced students with an already well-established expertise in the field of European integration (EU institutions, decision-making processes, and policies Wahlmodul M5 ! ) and an intense interest in issues of the ongoing digital revolution and the role the EU might potentially play in it. It will inform about the potentials and dangers of the digitisation process, in Europe and around the world, as well as about the EU’s relevant policies in that area.
The goal is to educate students in these matters and, at the same time, prepare them for writing their MA theses. A “Forschungspraktikum” is a research training course for advanced students to coach them how to best develop and execute their own research. Accordingly, social scientific writing and presentation skills will be trained in-depth.
Methods will include, most importantly, literature search, reading, academic writing, peer feedback, group work, presentations, and debate.
You will need a very good command of the English language to follow this course.

Assessment and permitted materials

The work of Shoshana Zuboff shall be the central theoretical basis regarding the process and significance of the process of digitisation. As a taster, please read the following overview article and summarise it, on one to four pages, in academic writing style, with direct and indirect citations: Zuboff, Shoshana (2015), Big other: surveillance capitalism and the prospects of an information civilization, Journal of Information Technology, 2015 (30), 75-89.
IMPORTANT: Please bring two printouts of your summary to the first unit, this will be the basis for our work on 09.10.2019 (09:45 - 13:00)!
Regular and active participation throughout the seminar is indispensable, each unit will have to be prepared in-depth. A large amount of reading and intense work during the entire semester is involved.
Plagiarism software may be used (‘Turnitin’) and individual interviews may be held and may be graded to individually discuss written work. Registration via u:space is indispensable. Who does not come to the first unit forfeits the place and other students may fill in from the waiting list. Students need to know and without exception follow the good academic practice standards (https://studienpraeses.univie.ac.at/infos-zum-studienrecht/sicherung-der-guten-wissenschaftlichen-praxis/).

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

This intense research practice course with 12 ECTS will amount to approx. 300 hours of work – please do check if this is indeed compatible with your other obligations during this term.
One deliverable is due in the first unit (see above, Zuboff article summary).
Written assignments will count approx. 60%; presentations, group work and active participation 40%. Delivery of all partial assignments is mandatory for a positive grade.

Examination topics

Presentations, written deliverables, contributions to discussions, work in small groups, group feedback, possibly seminar papers.
Furthermore, students may be asked to attend relevant public events and provide summaries or discussion papers in which central arguments of required readings are critically discussed.

Reading list

Zuboff, Shoshana (2019), The Age of Surveillance Capitalism (New York: Public Affairs).

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:21