Universität Wien

290174 VU Structural change, innovation, and regional policy in EU enlargement and neighborhood countries (2020S)

3.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 29 - Geographie
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

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. 20 participants
Language: German

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

Access to Big Blue Button video conferences via Moodle
Learning materials willl be found in the Moodle course

  • Saturday 07.03. 13:30 - 17:00 Seminarraum Geographie NIG 5.OG C0528
  • Friday 13.03. 12:30 - 17:00 Hörsaal 4C Geographie NIG 4.OG C0409
  • Saturday 14.03. 09:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 4C Geographie NIG 4.OG C0409
  • Saturday 21.03. 13:30 - 17:30 Hörsaal 4C Geographie NIG 4.OG C0409
  • Friday 27.03. 12:30 - 17:00 Hörsaal 4C Geographie NIG 4.OG C0409
  • Saturday 28.03. 09:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Geographie NIG 5.OG C0528
  • Thursday 02.04. 18:00 - 19:30 Seminarraum Geographie NIG 5.OG C0528

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

The course provides students with the theoretical basics on the political framework for structural policies in EU enlargement and neighborhood countries (e.g. institutional alignment under the umbrella of EU accession negotiations, EU neighborhood policy, Barcelona process, association agreements). In this context, recent developments in innovation and regional policy will be presented in the cases of selected enlargement or neighborhood countries. Participants will apply the theoretical lessons learned during in the second part of the course by writing case studies in small groups. Each case study will address a specific subject related to innovation or regional policy in a region or country. The lecturer will help students develop their research questions and the structure of their written case study. Students will write the case study during the roughly six weeks after the last course session.

Assessment and permitted materials

Students' written contributions to the case study are the primary course achievements and will be graded (60%). The lecturer will give students guidelines on how to work on the case study. For the case study and for methodological exercises, materials to be used include notably literature and insights gained from empirical methods introduced by the lecturer. Further, students' participation in discussions and methodological exercises will be graded (40%). To pass the course, students will be required to submit one contribution to each of the two assessment components.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Minimum requirements for participation include an interest in questions on local and regional development and economic geography as well as for the context found in EU enlargement and neighborhood countries. A significant part of literature used is available in English language only. The course will be held in German language. However, depending on a sufficient number of participants willing to work in English, one case study can be written in English.
Participants are required to be present during at least two thirds of the course sessions.

Examination topics

Students' performance in participation and written case study contributions will be assessed in terms of critical reflection and application of lessons learned according to scientific standards. These lessons learned include notably theory on economic geography, empirical methods, academic writing and critical analysis of regional economic questions. The lecturer will answer students’ methodological questions between and after the course sessions.

Reading list

Asheim, B.T., Boschma, R., Cooke, P. (2007): Constructing regional advantage: platform policies based on related variety and differentiated knowledge bases. In: Regional Studies 45 (7): 893-904.

Cammett, M. (2007): Business-government relations and industrial change: the politics of upgrading in Morocco and Tunisia. World Development, 35 (11), 1889-1903.

Cassarino, J.-P. (1999): The EU-Tunisian association agreement and Tunisia's structural reform program. Middle East Journal, 53 (1), 59-74.

Matusiak, M., Kleibrink, A. (eds.) (2018): Supporting an innovation agenda for the Western Balkans: tools and methodologies. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.

Murphy, E.C. (2006): The Tunisian mise à niveau programme and the political economy of reform. New Political Economy, 11 (4), 519-540.

Petrakos, G., Tsiapa, M., Kallioras, D. (2016): Regional inequalities in the European Neighborhood Policy countries: The effects of growth and integration. Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, 34 (4), 698–716.

Revilla Diez, J., Schiller, D., Zvirgzde, D. (2016): Doing business in Ukraine – multinational companies in the trap of regional institutions? Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, 34 (4), 638–655.

Association in the course directory

(MG-S3-PI.f) (MG-S5-PI.f) (MG-W3-PI) (MG-W4-PI) (MR3-PI) (MR6) (MA UF GW 02)

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:21