European Studies Intensive: Vienna-Prague-Munich

About

The EU’s Quest for Competitiveness: Technology, Geoeconomics and International Power Dynamics

The course is designed to introduce the complex political and institutional landscape of the European Union. Participants begin with the historical foundations, tracing the EU’s development from the European Coal and Steel Community to a 27-member union, before exploring the institutions and decision-making processes that shape European integration today.

Building on this foundation, the course examines how the EU responds to contemporary global challenges: rising geopolitical competition, vulnerabilities in supply chains and energy, and the race for technological sovereignty in areas like AI, quantum computing, and biotech. Additionally, it highlights the EU’s efforts to promote human rights, its leadership in global climate action, and its role as a normative power—shaping international norms and values in fields such as democracy, rule of law, and sustainability.

By the end of this course, students will have a solid understanding of EU governance, its challenges, and the innovations now shaping its resilience, competitiveness, and global influence on norms and standards.

Date: July 20 - August 14 2026
Arrival: July 19 2026 (in Vienna)
Departure: August 15 2026 (from Munich)

Course leader

Prof. Dr. Klaus Goetz, LMU Munich, Chair of Political Systems and European Integration, Dr. Radu-Mihai Triculescu

Target group

The LMU Munich’s European Studies Program is open for students…

…who have an interest in the European Union as well as European history and culture
…who have different academic backgrounds and cultural interests
…who are looking for an interdisciplinary learning environment
…who are in their B.A. and M.A. and would like to engage in peer-learning
…who are awarded with 6 ECTS credits for their performance

Course aim

All sessions are based on an interdisciplinary approach combining different methodologies such as lectures, group work and student presentations.

Fee info