CIVICA ESR
COURSE CATALOGUE

20 January 2026

European University Institute

Law and Technology: Towards a General Theory

The law impacts technology. Technology impacts the law. Beyond these basic truths, the interaction between law and technology is all uncertain. Some v...

The law impacts technology. Technology impacts the law. Beyond these basic truths, the interaction between law and technology is all uncertain. Some voices pretend that the law limits innovation that stems from technological change. Others believe the exact contrary. The 2023 kerfuffle over the call to temporarily ban research on generative Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) systems best exemplify the issue. Perhaps, both views are true. But can they be true at the same time, and in relation to the same laws and technologies? In what circumstances does one view dominate the other? Do other regularities govern the relationship between law and technology? Can they be seen in patterns or trends? And do these deep structural relations hold true across areas of the legal system, and across technologies? This course’s core aim is to supply a framework to address these questions. Today, we do not have the beginning of a good answer to predict how law and technology work together. Our limited state of knowledge is unfortunate. Technology is key to human flourishing. And the law is a necessary institution of any human society. Neither of them is about to disappear anytime soon. Absent a systematic understanding of the ways in which law and technology interact, incomplete approaches proliferate in the legal literature. Some works regrouped under the umbrella term law and tech (“law & tech”) tend to approach the issue holistically. But that scholarship focuses predominantly on the legal problems raised by technology (Tranter, 2011). And law & tech’s methods are not entirely satisfactory, in particular, because they predominantly default to existing law’s traditional interests in line with the culture of precedent, and understandably decline on selecting new values which is what policy and lawmakers must do all the time. Outside of that field, the relationship between law & technology is treated on a siloed basis. For example, the emerging legal scholarship on AI pays only marginal interest to prior ethical discussions in relation to human cloning, DNA sequencing, or gene editing. The “compartmentalization” of legal research (Bernstein, 2007) is clearly a problem, given the largely “combinatorial” nature of technology (Arthur, 2011). Last, most of the law and technology scholarship focuses on digital, leaving other important technological fields like bio chemistry and others subject to substantial legal uncertainty. Overall, very few clear and actionable takeaways about the relations between law and technology emerge from the literature. This course represents an attempt to overcome this state of affairs. It is based on four key propositions: one, there are deep structural relations between law & technology; two, the deep structural relations between law and technology can be studied and described; three, a bargain between law’s demands for ethics, and technology’s demand for efficiency structures legal and technological outcomes, and many deep factors like technological literacy or the timing of policymaking affect the bargain; four, some general lessons can be derived from an empirical study of law and technology’s relations.
Teachers:
  • Nicolas Petit (European University Institute)
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Register to course
Hybrid (class + online simultaneous)
20/01/26 - 03/02/26
Reg. deadline: 10/01/26
Credits: 3
N° of Sessions: 3

23 January 2026

The London School of Economics and Political Sciences

Wellness Workshop: Keep Calm and Study On

Do you believe stress is an inevitable part of doing a PhD? With multiple deadlines, performance pressure, escalating tuition fees, and an uncertain j...

Do you believe stress is an inevitable part of doing a PhD? With multiple deadlines, performance pressure, escalating tuition fees, and an uncertain job market, it isno wonder that students are reportedly experiencing higher levels of stress and anxiety. This workshop will examine how sustained periods of stress actually impact the mind and body. We will also consider hoe specific thought patterns contribute to this and explore which tools you can incorporate into your daily routine to help reduce stress.
Entry requirements: N/A
Assessment: N/A
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Register to course
Online
23/01/26 - 23/01/26
Please note that you will need to register via the...
Reg. deadline: 22/01/26
Credits: 0
N° of Sessions: 1

26 January 2026

The London School of Economics and Political Sciences

Managing your Research: Planning the PhD

While the start of a PhD can be exciting – pursing a dream, exploring something that fascinates you, or taking a step in your career – perhaps you mig...

While the start of a PhD can be exciting – pursing a dream, exploring something that fascinates you, or taking a step in your career – perhaps you might feel the understandable pressure to make a good start. Indeed, if we can see the PhD as a project – a temporary set of planned tasks done to achieve a specific aim – how can we manage it effectively to get our doctorate done? This practical and pragmatic 4 session modular programme – although each module stands alone – Managing the PhD, aims to use the 4 essential steps of project management theory and practice to help you manage your PhD, helping you to gain just a little bit more control of it. To do this, Module 1 focuses on Planning the PhD, by providing you with principles, strategies and tips to help you first define and then plan your PhD. Module 2 – Making the Most of Your Supervisor – explores ways to maximise arguably the most important professional relationship during your doctorate, such as optimising your supervisions and ways to be proactive. Module 3 centres on day-to-day Time Management skills, ‘tricks and tips’ to help you manage your PhD. Module 4 continues this centring on the daily management of your doctorate by helping you Manage your Procrastination by drawing on the extensive psychological literature to provide you with the two principles and a range of tools to help you manage your Procrastination.
Entry requirements: N/A
Assessment: N/A
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Register to course
Online
26/01/26 - 26/01/26
This is a set of four workshops that work best whe...
Reg. deadline: 25/01/26
Credits: 0
N° of Sessions: 1
European University Institute

From Dissertation to Book

The course delivery comprises three half-day workshops on the following: 1. Presses and Processes: Participants will consider how to choose the rig...

The course delivery comprises three half-day workshops on the following: 1. Presses and Processes: Participants will consider how to choose the right press for their monograph project and how the process of reaching out to editors works; also, what to expect in terms of timeline and, eventually, a contract. There will be a focus on titles and the writing assignment is to draft the book’s rationale/outline as for a book proposal. (Provisional teachers: Ben Carver and Deirdre Curtin) 2. How book purchasing works (and how this affects the proposal): This workshop focuses on the “comp titles” section of the book proposal as an essential move from thinking about the dissertation’s original contribution to the book’s place among comparable works (titles). To help think about the book in the marketplace, the subject specialist Librarian for Law will explain how book purchasing works. The writing assignment will be to draft the comp titles part of the book proposal. (Provisional teachers: Ben Carver and Valentina Spiga) 3. Transformations, from dissertation to book: This third workshop depends on input from Fellows/alumni who have recently published their first monograph. Course participants will read sections from the published monographs that the authors have selected and will talk to when presenting their own experiences of the process, from dissertation to book. This session might (again) be combined with a Law publisher visit, which would be open to a larger cohort of researchers. (Provisional teachers: Ben Carver and Fellows/alumni)
Teachers:
  • Deirdre Curtin (European University Institute)
  • Benjamin Carver (European University Institute)
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Register to course
Hybrid (class + online simultaneous)
26/01/26 - 30/03/26
Reg. deadline: 10/01/26
Credits: 3
N° of Sessions: 3

27 January 2026

The London School of Economics and Political Sciences

Managing your Research: Making the Most of your Supervisor

While the start of a PhD can be exciting – pursing a dream, exploring something that fascinates you, or taking a step in your career – perhaps you mig...

While the start of a PhD can be exciting – pursing a dream, exploring something that fascinates you, or taking a step in your career – perhaps you might feel the understandable pressure to make a good start. Indeed, if we can see the PhD as a project – a temporary set of planned tasks done to achieve a specific aim – how can we manage it effectively to get our doctorate done? This practical and pragmatic 4 session modular programme – although each module stands alone – Managing the PhD, aims to use the 4 essential steps of project management theory and practice to help you manage your PhD, helping you to gain just a little bit more control of it. To do this, Module 1 focuses on Planning the PhD, by providing you with principles, strategies and tips to help you first define and then plan your PhD. Module 2 – Making the Most of Your Supervisor – explores ways to maximise arguably the most important professional relationship during your doctorate, such as optimising your supervisions and ways to be proactive. Module 3 centres on day-to-day Time Management skills, ‘tricks and tips’ to help you manage your PhD. Module 4 continues this centring on the daily management of your doctorate by helping you Manage your Procrastination by drawing on the extensive psychological literature to provide you with the two principles and a range of tools to help you manage your Procrastination.
Entry requirements: N/A
Assessment: N/A
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Register to course
Online
27/01/26 - 27/01/26
This is a set of four workshops that work best whe...
Reg. deadline: 26/01/26
Credits: 0
N° of Sessions: 1
European University Institute

Rediscovering Civil Society Participation in EU law

The Treaty of the European Union explicitly counts on civil society participation to complement representative democracy and make the EU’s policy and ...

The Treaty of the European Union explicitly counts on civil society participation to complement representative democracy and make the EU’s policy and decision-making processes take place openly, regularly, transparently, and as closely as possible to EU citizens (arts. 10 and 11 TEU). This normative claim has been taken up by EU institutions and secondary law in several different fields, from environmental to equality law, from digital to migration governance. In all these fields, civil society organisations are, in different ways, integrated into the elaboration and implementation of EU policies. Since the late 90s, this recourse to civil society participation in the EU has been the focus of many scholars, with several works trying to capture its broader normative meaning for the EU legal order, while others seek to empirically analyse and assess its practice. From these two broader lines of scholarly work emerge common questions. What are the main spaces, strategies and obstacles of civil society participation in the EU? And what is its purpose: to facilitate institutional decision-making and the production of regulatory output, or to ensure a democratisation of the way in which the Union operates? Does civil society participation succeed in including more actors in EU policymaking processes, or does it reproduce pre-existing institutional exclusionary patterns? And what do we mean when we talk about civil society: interest groups and organised NGOs, or also activists, academic researchers and even ordinary citizens? Is the EU truly committed to promoting a genuine civil dialogue in policymaking and implementation, or is participation just another way to represent organised interests? Crucially, these same questions are still being asked today, in a time where EU law increasingly relies on civil society participation as part of its enforcement approach, as can be seen, for example, in the EU’s regulation of digital platforms and AI. Against this background, this seminar aims to take stock of prior scholarly work about the practices and meaning of participation in the EU, ask the same abovementioned questions that scholars have long had about this phenomenon, and reflect on them in light of today’s practices of participation in the EU. Firstly, it provides a lens through which one can conceptualise participation in EU law, by looking at also Curtin’s work on the meaning of civil society participation and re-reading in light of contemporary critiques to deliberative democracy conceptions of participation. Secondly, it zooms into sectoral practices of participation, analysing how participation unfolds in different fields of EU law, what it achieves, and how can one go about researching it.
Teachers:
  • Deirdre Curtin (European University Institute)
  • Mateus Correia De Carvalho (European University Institute)
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Register to course
Hybrid (class + online simultaneous)
27/01/26 - 26/03/26
Reg. deadline: 15/01/26
Credits: 3
N° of Sessions: 3

28 January 2026

The London School of Economics and Political Sciences

Managing your Research: Time Management

While the start of a PhD can be exciting – pursing a dream, exploring something that fascinates you, or taking a step in your career – perhaps you mig...

While the start of a PhD can be exciting – pursing a dream, exploring something that fascinates you, or taking a step in your career – perhaps you might feel the understandable pressure to make a good start. Indeed, if we can see the PhD as a project – a temporary set of planned tasks done to achieve a specific aim – how can we manage it effectively to get our doctorate done? This practical and pragmatic 4 session modular programme – although each module stands alone – Managing the PhD, aims to use the 4 essential steps of project management theory and practice to help you manage your PhD, helping you to gain just a little bit more control of it. To do this, Module 1 focuses on Planning the PhD, by providing you with principles, strategies and tips to help you first define and then plan your PhD. Module 2 – Making the Most of Your Supervisor – explores ways to maximise arguably the most important professional relationship during your doctorate, such as optimising your supervisions and ways to be proactive. Module 3 centres on day-to-day Time Management skills, ‘tricks and tips’ to help you manage your PhD. Module 4 continues this centring on the daily management of your doctorate by helping you Manage your Procrastination by drawing on the extensive psychological literature to provide you with the two principles and a range of tools to help you manage your Procrastination.
Entry requirements: N/A
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Register to course
Online
28/01/26 - 28/01/26
This is a set of four workshops that work best whe...
Reg. deadline: 27/01/26
Credits: 0
N° of Sessions: 1

29 January 2026

The London School of Economics and Political Sciences

Managing your Research: Managing your Procrastination

While the start of a PhD can be exciting – pursing a dream, exploring something that fascinates you, or taking a step in your career – perhaps you mig...

While the start of a PhD can be exciting – pursing a dream, exploring something that fascinates you, or taking a step in your career – perhaps you might feel the understandable pressure to make a good start. Indeed, if we can see the PhD as a project – a temporary set of planned tasks done to achieve a specific aim – how can we manage it effectively to get our doctorate done? This practical and pragmatic 4 session modular programme – although each module stands alone – Managing the PhD, aims to use the 4 essential steps of project management theory and practice to help you manage your PhD, helping you to gain just a little bit more control of it. To do this, Module 1 focuses on Planning the PhD, by providing you with principles, strategies and tips to help you first define and then plan your PhD. Module 2 – Making the Most of Your Supervisor – explores ways to maximise arguably the most important professional relationship during your doctorate, such as optimising your supervisions and ways to be proactive. Module 3 centres on day-to-day Time Management skills, ‘tricks and tips’ to help you manage your PhD. Module 4 continues this centring on the daily management of your doctorate by helping you Manage your Procrastination by drawing on the extensive psychological literature to provide you with the two principles and a range of tools to help you manage your Procrastination.
Entry requirements: N/A
Assessment: N/A
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Register to course
Online
29/01/26 - 29/01/26
This is a set of four workshops that work best whe...
Reg. deadline: 28/01/26
Credits: 0
N° of Sessions: 1

02 February 2026

The London School of Economics and Political Sciences

Academic Writing: Introductions & Literature Reviews

We explore the broad principles underlying academic writing – what makes academic writing distinctive, how to situate your argument within a broader l...

We explore the broad principles underlying academic writing – what makes academic writing distinctive, how to situate your argument within a broader literature, and how to structure a coherent argument. In this session, the trainer will walk you through the five steps to writing a killer introduction and how to think about - and write - literature reviews.
Entry requirements: N/A
Assessment: N/A
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Register to course
Online
02/02/26 - 02/02/26
Please note that you will need to register via the...
Reg. deadline: 01/02/26
Credits: 0
N° of Sessions: 1
European University Institute

(Non)violence

The seminar explores the relationship between violence and the law. Most states go back to a form of violence (in achieving independence, unification,...

The seminar explores the relationship between violence and the law. Most states go back to a form of violence (in achieving independence, unification, secession, revolution) and most contemporary states continue to rely on violence, or the threat thereof, both internally and externally. They even claim the monopoly of the legitimate use of violence. This latter claim entails, on the one hand, that the use of violence by the state is presumed to be legitimate while the use of violence by others than state officials is presumed to be illegitimate. State and non-state violence comes in different forms, physical and verbal, actual and threatened (coercion). One salient instance of state violence is law enforcement. Criminal law, police, and prisons come to mind. But private law equally relies ultimately on the backing of state violence. Contract, property and tort law are enforced, respectively, through remedies for breach, evictions, and injunctions. Should we – should lawyers – take the legitimacy of state violence and the illegitimacy of non-state violence for granted? Or can non-state violence sometimes be legitimate, for example as a response to illegitimate state violence? In particular, do the colonised, the oppressed, the marginalised and the exploited have a right to use violence to free themselves from the violences of colonisation, oppression, marginalisation and exploitation? Beyond legitimacy, can a just and peaceful society ever be based on organised violence? Should protest and liberation movements remain committed to non-violent, even in the face of brutal violence used against them? If so, why? Should people not belonging to colonised, oppressed, marginalised or exploited groups exercise epistemic and moral humility when it comes to answering such questions? Do the terms ‘violence’, ‘force’, and ‘coercion’ refer ultimately to the same thing (and in all languages) or is their relationship more complex? These and other questions will be central to this seminar. Core themes will include decolonisation, revolution, resistance, and political protest. Our discussions will centre classical and more recent texts on (non)violence. While the texts are mostly from philosophers, the aim of the seminar is to connect them, through our discussions, with very concrete and practical questions about the role of law – and the position of (legal) scholars – in relation to state and non-state violence. Thus, the seminar seeks overlapping encounters between law and philosophy, theory and praxis, and (radically) different views on violence/nonviolence exercised and faced by the law.
Teachers:
  • Martijn Hesselink (European University Institute)
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Register to course
Hybrid (class + online simultaneous)
02/02/26 - 09/02/26
Reg. deadline: 22/01/26
Credits: 3
N° of Sessions: 3

05 February 2026

European University Institute

Me as a teacher: A reflective approach

10:00 to 14:00. This 4-hour online workshop offers a space for you to develop your teaching persona, and reflect on your relationship to teaching. Y...

10:00 to 14:00. This 4-hour online workshop offers a space for you to develop your teaching persona, and reflect on your relationship to teaching. You will get a chance to examine your strengths and interests as a teacher, and build on them. You will also consider your challenges, and how to work with them, integrating the so-called weaknesses as a part of your teaching persona.
Teachers:
  • Carol Kiriakos (European University Institute)
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Register to course
Online
05/02/26 - 05/02/26
Reg. deadline: 02/02/26
Credits: 0
N° of Sessions: 1
The London School of Economics and Political Sciences

Communication and Media Training

A media and communications workshop designed to ensure that, the next time you address a live mic, a rolling camera, an audience or an interview panel...

A media and communications workshop designed to ensure that, the next time you address a live mic, a rolling camera, an audience or an interview panel, you’re equipped to get your message across effectively. This session covers a range of communication and broadcast skills including: taking control of your interview, developing and amplifying your messages, building confidence and presence, and dealing with hostile media or curveball questions. We’ll break down some interview examples and we’ll also look at the media environment, exploring the different types of interview and how to best prepare for each one. By the end of the session, you will have the confidence and ability to take media requests - even at short notice.
Entry requirements: N/A
Assessment: N/A
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Register to course
Online
05/02/26 - 05/02/26
Please note that you will need to register via the...
Reg. deadline: 04/02/26
Credits: 0
N° of Sessions: 1

06 February 2026

The London School of Economics and Political Sciences

Wellness Workshop: Academic Imposter Syndrome

No matter how much we accomplish in our careers, many of us have an inner critic that constantly questions our abilities and our worth. Ironically, th...

No matter how much we accomplish in our careers, many of us have an inner critic that constantly questions our abilities and our worth. Ironically, the voice of the inner critic tends to get louder the more that we achieve. This workshop will teach you strategies for minimizing the volume of your inner critic and enable you to move towards greater self-confidence.
Entry requirements: N/A
Assessment: N/A
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Register to course
Online
06/02/26 - 06/02/26
Please note that you will need to register via the...
Reg. deadline: 05/02/26
Credits: 0
N° of Sessions: 1

09 February 2026

European University Institute

Re-thinking time management: A reflective approach

10:00 to 14:00. Are you struggling with organizing your days, making progress, following your plans, finding a balance between PhD work and other aspe...

10:00 to 14:00. Are you struggling with organizing your days, making progress, following your plans, finding a balance between PhD work and other aspects of life? In this course we adopt a different approach to time-management. The premise is that time-management does not begin with the calendar, but with finding meaning. We will develop awareness and reflective capacities related to your time use, organization of daily life, and creating and maintaining work-life balance. The method is soft, but powerful: we will do reflective exercises and discussion based on poetry therapy and creative writing. No specific skills are needed, but you are expected to come with an open mind and a willingness to work on your challenges on a personal level. The course is suitable for you, for instance, if you: -struggle with time use and planning -fail to meet deadlines -have a constant feeling of being behind -suffer from guilt related to not performing -are unsure of what activities to prioritize -have difficulties saying no to things No preparation is needed, but you are expected to be fully present and in a private space during the meetings, with all distractions eliminated (no multitasking, or other apps open). Please note that this is not a tool- or calendar-based approach to time management. Instead, you will develop access to the fundamental issues related to time use on the individual level. What you will learn You will learn to examine your personal foundations for time use and planning, and identify first concrete step(s) in organizing your days and your life differently. On a more general level, this course will help strengthen your self-reflective and self-management capacities.
Teachers:
  • Carol Kiriakos (European University Institute)
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Register to course
Online
09/02/26 - 09/02/26
Reg. deadline: 04/02/26
Credits: 0
N° of Sessions: 1

12 February 2026

The London School of Economics and Political Sciences

Emotional Aspects of Research: Emotion in Research

By exploring the emotionality of research practices, we are better able to prepare for field work and wider research practice and promote well-being s...

By exploring the emotionality of research practices, we are better able to prepare for field work and wider research practice and promote well-being strategies.  Research is never just an intellectual exercise—it’s deeply human. This session makes the case for why emotion is an essential part of research practice across all disciplines. We’ll explore how emotional engagement shapes our standpoint, influences our methods, and impacts our well-being. From vicarious trauma to imposter syndrome, burnout, and guilt, we’ll normalize these experiences and discuss strategies for managing them. Drawing on a feminist perspective, we’ll uncover the structural inequalities that shape research and researcher identity. Whether you work with qualitative or quantitative data, this session will help you understand the emotional dimensions of research and why acknowledging them is critical for ethical, reflective practice. These sessions are designed to work together but students are welcome to attend only one.
Entry requirements: N/A
Assessment: N/A
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Register to course
Online
12/02/26 - 12/02/26
These sessions may have high emotional content and...
Reg. deadline: 11/02/26
Credits: 0
N° of Sessions: 1
European University Institute

Finding Joy and Productivity in Academic Writing

10:00-13:00 over two days. This workshop offers valuable perspectives on academic writing as a daily practice. The focus is on how to get writing do...

10:00-13:00 over two days. This workshop offers valuable perspectives on academic writing as a daily practice. The focus is on how to get writing done, not on properties of academic texts or the publication process. We will develop an inclusive understanding of academic writing as a central aspect of academic work, and the practical and psychological aspects relevant for writing well and being productive. In addition, the course offers an opportunity to develop meta-skills that are useful in studies and working life more generally. These are skills such as self-management, and a reflective approach to your own working habits. Insights from creative writing, behavioral psychology and other relevant fields are utilized and applied in order to understand academic writing comprehensively. The topics covered include: Basics of the writing process and creating a productive writing habit, writing time management, and overcoming practical or emotional writing problems. The goal is to help you understand academic writing as a comprehensive activity, identify your strengths and weaknesses as an academic writer, and plan your writing effectively. What You Will Learn The workshop will give you tools for -adopting a comprehensive understanding of academic writing as a process -creating a writing habit and setting realistic writing goals -managing the time you use for your academic writing, work, and studies -recognizing your personal challenges and strengths as a writer -overcoming writing difficulties, such as writer’s block and procrastination
Teachers:
  • Carol Kiriakos (European University Institute)
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Register to course
Online
12/02/26 - 13/02/26
Reg. deadline: 09/02/26
Credits: 0

13 February 2026

European University Institute

The European Law of the Enemy

The concept of the enemy has recently re-emerged in Europe. Public life is filled with speeches, statements and rallying cries referring to “external ...

The concept of the enemy has recently re-emerged in Europe. Public life is filled with speeches, statements and rallying cries referring to “external enemies”, “enemies from within”, “existential” or “ordinary” enemies. This is in a context of extreme polarization of most social, political and geopolitical relations in European societies and beyond. In political theory and legal thought, the concept is traditionally associated to Carl Schmitt’s writings. Does this concept help us capture the novelty of our situation in Europe? Are we living a sort of ‘Schmittian moment’ in today’s Europe? Is this concept making its way into the laws of Europe? Schmitt's concept seems both indispensable and inappropriate for grasping the reality and evolution of Europe and its laws. This short seminar will be an attempt to do three things at once: i) explore cases of ‘enemization’ of law, in different domestic contexts and in relation to social groups as diverse as Muslims, migrants, eco-activists, social deviants, and foreign economic or political actors; ii) inquire into the concept of the enemy, its normative presuppositions and its socio-historical context of emergence and re-emergence; and iii) reflect on forms of resistance and alternatives to the enemization of European society and its law
Teachers:
  • Loïc Azoulai (European University Institute)
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Registration for this course is no longer possible
Hybrid (class + online simultaneous)
13/02/26 - 09/03/26
Reg. deadline: 01/02/26
Credits: 3
N° of Sessions: 5

17 February 2026

The London School of Economics and Political Sciences

Refresh your Class/Seminar Learning Activities

A seminar can host many kinds of learning interaction. Learning technology expands these possibilities even further. While whole-group and small-group...

A seminar can host many kinds of learning interaction. Learning technology expands these possibilities even further. While whole-group and small-group discussion are invaluable, these can be augmented or substituted for other tasks.
Entry requirements: N/A
Assessment: N/A
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Register to course
Online
17/02/26 - 17/02/26
Please ensure that you register via this form in a...
Reg. deadline: 15/02/26
Credits: 0
N° of Sessions: 1

18 February 2026

The London School of Economics and Political Sciences

Ethics - Informed Consent

Informed consent is a key legal and ethical principle in the conduct of research involving human subjects, but what does it mean for researchers in pr...

Informed consent is a key legal and ethical principle in the conduct of research involving human subjects, but what does it mean for researchers in practice? This session will provide an overview of the obligations upon researchers to ensure that participants have provided their informed consent. The session will cover basic principles and consider how informed consent is assured in various different contexts such as in-depth interviews, ethnography, social media, research with children and vulnerable individuals, ‘second-hand’ participation (such as when images of others are produced by research participants), deception and covert research, and data-sharing. The session will provide lots of advice about how to manage processes of informed consent in practice, including in situations where it may become tricky to navigate. Participants are invited to bring their own questions and dilemmas to the session for discussion.
Entry requirements: N/A
Assessment: N/A
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Register to course
Online
18/02/26 - 18/02/26
This session is foundational for the course coming...
Reg. deadline: 17/02/26
Credits: 0
N° of Sessions: 1
European University Institute

How to teach academic writing as a process

10:00 to 13:00 over two days. Even in the age of AI, writing continues to be an essential tool for academic thinking, learning and communication. Thi...

10:00 to 13:00 over two days. Even in the age of AI, writing continues to be an essential tool for academic thinking, learning and communication. This course focuses on writing as a process and a practice, and how to teach these in higher education. The course is useful for anyone who teaches or supervises in the academia. We will not look at features of academic texts, but how to use writing as a practical tool, when working on assignments, theses, or research articles. The course, then, essentially focuses on the aspects of writing AI cannot replace. What you will learn The course is divided into two main parts. First, we will establish an understanding of academic writing as a practical, comprehensive process essential for your thinking. Second, we will learn how to apply this understanding of the writing process in your teaching and guiding students and writers in the academia.
Teachers:
  • Carol Kiriakos (European University Institute)
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Register to course
Online
18/02/26 - 19/02/26
Reg. deadline: 12/02/26
Credits: 0
N° of Sessions: 2

20 February 2026

The London School of Economics and Political Sciences

Wellness Workshop: Doctoral Distractions

Are you often distracted by your devices? Do you find yourself procrastinating by checking email or social media when you are meant to be working on y...

Are you often distracted by your devices? Do you find yourself procrastinating by checking email or social media when you are meant to be working on your PhD? PhD students now face an unprecedented challenge. Pursuing a PhD requires boundless concentration, yet the exponential increase in device use has created an atmosphere of endemic distraction. During this session we will explore the consequences of digital dependency on PhD productivity and wellbeing more generally. Participants will reflect on how to better manage their time spent on devices and explore strategies for cultivating focus amid digital distraction.
Entry requirements: N/A
Assessment: N/A
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Register to course
Online
20/02/26 - 20/02/26
Please note that you will need to register via t...
Reg. deadline: 19/02/26
Credits: 0
N° of Sessions: 1

26 February 2026

The London School of Economics and Political Sciences

Emotional Aspects of Research: Resilience & Resistance in Neoliberal times

By exploring the emotionality of research practices, we are better able to prepare for field work and wider research practice and promote well-being s...

By exploring the emotionality of research practices, we are better able to prepare for field work and wider research practice and promote well-being strategies. Doing research can be challenging—not just intellectually, but emotionally and politically. This session goes beyond individual coping strategies to consider resilience and resistance in the context of structural barriers. Together, we’ll reflect on what harm means in research, develop proactive plans for well-being, and explore collective approaches to creating safe and supportive environments. We’ll also discuss the role of allies, senior colleagues, and peers in fostering conditions where researchers can thrive. The conversation may lead us toward practical well-being strategies or a bold manifesto for change—the direction is yours to shape. Join us to build not only resilience but also the power to resist and transform the systems that constrain us. These sessions are designed to work together but students are welcome to attend only one.
Entry requirements: N/A
Assessment: N/A
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Online
26/02/26 - 26/02/26
These sessions may have high emotional content and...
Reg. deadline: 25/02/26
Credits: 0
N° of Sessions: 1

03 March 2026

The London School of Economics and Political Sciences

Making the Most of your Writing Time

Writing time is precious. It's also often either interrupted or wasted at least in part in procrastination. This workshop is an opportunity to review ...

Writing time is precious. It's also often either interrupted or wasted at least in part in procrastination. This workshop is an opportunity to review our own writing habits; to explore and practise writerly techniques that can help use precious writing time more efficiently; to set up realistic and imaginative daily routines; and to analyse when it’s best to ease off and when to press on.
Entry requirements: N/A
Assessment: N/A
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Register to course
Online
03/03/26 - 03/03/26
Please note that you will need to register via the...
Reg. deadline: 02/03/26
Credits: 0
N° of Sessions: 1

06 March 2026

The London School of Economics and Political Sciences

Wellness Workshop: Overcoming Presentation Anxiety

Public speaking can be a daunting experience in general, but even more so in an academic setting. Whether it’s sharing your research findings, deliver...

Public speaking can be a daunting experience in general, but even more so in an academic setting. Whether it’s sharing your research findings, delivering job talks or teaching a class, doctoral students are frequently required to be in front of an audience. For those who suffer from presentation anxiety, the experience can be uncomfortable and even debilitating. This workshop will explore some of the common causes and symptoms of presentation anxiety. Students will come away from the workshop with a roadmap for delivering academic presentations with greater confidence.
Entry requirements: N/A
Assessment: N/A
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Register to course
Online
06/03/26 - 06/03/26
Please note that you will need to register via the...
Reg. deadline: 05/03/26
Credits: 0
N° of Sessions: 1

09 March 2026

The London School of Economics and Political Sciences

Editing your Own Work

How many times have you produced an original insight, only to be told that your writing interfered with conveying your ideas? Academic writing require...

How many times have you produced an original insight, only to be told that your writing interfered with conveying your ideas? Academic writing requires conceptual clarity and coherence. But it also demands clarity and cohesion at the level of the sentence and the paragraph. This workshop will run students through the basics of academic writing with a focus on concision and clarity. Topics include how to eliminate unnecessary words and phrases, as well as the importance of employing active verbs, parallel construction, and short sentences. Students will come away with more confidence in how to edit their own writing, as well as a better understanding of which grammatical rules matter, and which can be safely ignored
Entry requirements: N/A
Assessment: N/A
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Register to course
Online
09/03/26 - 09/03/26
Please note that you will need to register via the...
Reg. deadline: 08/03/26
Credits: 0
N° of Sessions: 1

11 March 2026

The London School of Economics and Political Sciences

Supervision: How to Make the Relationship Work

The purpose of this workshop is to empower you to be more assertive when you deal with your supervisors and to give you some tools to navigate the rel...

The purpose of this workshop is to empower you to be more assertive when you deal with your supervisors and to give you some tools to navigate the relationship in a way that would lead to a successful and enjoyable PhD journey. The relationship with your supervisors is vital because it’s a long-term bond and it can have an impact on your wellbeing and your overall PhD experience. During this workshop we will discuss the importance of clear communication and setting expectations early on, how to develop your own voice during supervision meetings and how to deal with some challenges that might arise. Drawing on her coaching work with PhD students, Katarina will bring up the main areas that represent challenges for students and explore ways of solving these. At the end of the session, there will be a panel with PhD students who will share their experiences and discuss what has helped them to have a good relationship with their supervisors.
Entry requirements: N/A
Assessment: N/A
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Register to course
Online
11/03/26 - 11/03/26
Please note that you will need to register via the...
Reg. deadline: 10/03/26
Credits: 0
N° of Sessions: 1

18 March 2026

The London School of Economics and Political Sciences

Ethics - Sensitive Interviews

Sensitive interviews include interviews about emotionally difficult topics or deeply personal issues, interviews with vulnerable populations or resear...

Sensitive interviews include interviews about emotionally difficult topics or deeply personal issues, interviews with vulnerable populations or research that could have negative consequences for participants. The ethical considerations when conducting such interviews are complex. The session will address a range of questions and is designed to equip researchers conducting sensitive research with the understanding, tools and strategies they will need in the field. Specifically, the session will consider what are the risks for respondents and how should these be these managed? What will researchers need to consider in order to gain ethical approval for sensitive research? What are the researcher’s responsibilities? What skills and competencies are required in the conduct of sensitive interviews? What issues might arise in practice and what strategies can researchers use to manage these? What are the possible impacts for researchers and how can these be addressed? Participants are invited to bring their own research projects and examples, experiences, questions and concerns to the session.
Entry requirements: N/A
Assessment: N/A
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Register to course
Online
18/03/26 - 18/03/26
Students attending this session are expected to ha...
Reg. deadline: 17/03/26
Credits: 0
N° of Sessions: 1

20 March 2026

The London School of Economics and Political Sciences

Wellness Workshop: PhD Plan B

Has the plan for your PhD been thrown off by events beyond your control? Are you unsure about how to proceed or what your next steps should be? This o...

Has the plan for your PhD been thrown off by events beyond your control? Are you unsure about how to proceed or what your next steps should be? This online workshop will offer a safe space for students to reflect on how their PhD plans have changed. We will discuss how to re-evaluate PhD plans and let go of aspects of the original plan which may no longer fit. After exploring the many different paths towards pursuing a PhD, we will discuss how to construct – and ultimately embrace – a PhD Plan B.
Entry requirements: N/A
Assessment: N/A
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Register to course
Online
20/03/26 - 20/03/26
Please note that you will need to register via the...
Reg. deadline: 19/03/26
Credits: 0
N° of Sessions: 1

26 March 2026

The London School of Economics and Political Sciences

Academic Writing: Writing as Conversation

In this workshop, we look at how to approach academic writing "as a conversation." We explore the broad principles underlying academic writing – what ...

In this workshop, we look at how to approach academic writing "as a conversation." We explore the broad principles underlying academic writing – what makes academic writing distinctive, how to situate your argument within a broader literature, and how to structure a coherent argument.
Entry requirements: N/A
Assessment: N/A
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Register to course
Online
26/03/26 - 26/03/26
Please note that you will need to register via the...
Reg. deadline: 25/03/26
Credits: 0
N° of Sessions: 1

07 April 2026

Central European University

CTDP - Section B: Learning by Design

NOTE: Participants must previously take Foundations or contact elkanacenter@ceu.edu for exemption! In spring term: Mondays and Thursdays 10.50-12.30 ...

NOTE: Participants must previously take Foundations or contact elkanacenter@ceu.edu for exemption! In spring term: Mondays and Thursdays 10.50-12.30 CET. Second in a two-part sequence providing a systematic approach to teaching fundamentals, focusing on course design and assessments. Participants must previously take Foundations or contact elkanacenter@ceu.edu for exemption. “Learning by Design” is a semester-long, intermediate-level course focused on how students learn and how instructors can facilitate student learning. Building on Foundations of Teaching in Higher Education (which is a prerequisite), it shifts the focus even more firmly from the teacher to the student. In their roles as designer, facilitator (and assessor) of learning, course participants explore how they can guide students in their learning and how to make that learning longer lasting and more significant. During our sessions we will unpack assumptions that surround student learning, delve into theories of how students learn, and explore corresponding principles and approaches to teaching that seek to align learning, teaching, and asessment. We will discuss how to better understand your students, recognize several implications of student diversity for student learning, and explore how to support different types of learners and different types of learning. We will explore, at some length, how to assess student learning, including assessment design, grading, and feedback. Throughout all of this, we will constantly reflect on our own growth as scholars in the process of becoming facilitators of learning.
Teachers:
  • Tamara Kamatovic (Central European University)
Entry requirements: Participants must previously take Foundations or contact elkanacenter@ceu.edu for exemption!
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Register to course
Online
07/04/26 - 09/06/26
Reg. deadline: 17/03/26
Credits: 4
Central European University

CTDP - Section C: Foundations of Teaching in Higher Education

The course is a semester-long, foundational course for doctoral students preparing for their role as teaching assistants and future scholar-teachers (...

The course is a semester-long, foundational course for doctoral students preparing for their role as teaching assistants and future scholar-teachers (in Spring term on Tuesdays between 13.30-15.10 CET). This course also forms the basis of the comprehensive certificate program for teaching in higher education offered by the Yehuda Elkana Center for Teaching, Learning, and Higher Education Research (The Elkana Center). The course fosters an understanding of the university teacher as a professional scholar ready to engage in teaching informed by research, models of good practice, a spirit of inquiry, and critical intellectual engagement. Our approach to teaching in higher education combines knowledge of theoretical foundations, a strong practice orientation, and an appreciation for collaborative, inquiry-driven, and technology-enhanced learning environments. This course will allow for the development of your own teaching approaches and values through a combination of reading, reflective writing, and practical tasks. You will gain a research-driven foundation for your work as twenty-first century scholar-teachers through the study of key issues and experimentation in a variety of approaches. First in a two-part sequence providing a systematic approach to teaching fundamentals, focusing on the design and delivery of lessons/sessions.
Teachers:
  • Mátyás Szabó (Central European University)
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Register to course
Online
07/04/26 - 09/06/26
Reg. deadline: 17/03/26
Credits: 4

08 April 2026

Central European University

CTDP - Section A: Creating a Teaching Portfolio

In Spring term on Wednesdays between 10:50-12:30, 1 US credit (2 ECTS). Guided creation of a teaching portfolio, primarily using materials from previo...

In Spring term on Wednesdays between 10:50-12:30, 1 US credit (2 ECTS). Guided creation of a teaching portfolio, primarily using materials from previous CEU teaching courses. (only for students who have completed all YELC credits, including 2 credits of electives: Democratic teaching and learning, Foundations and Learning by Design are generally prerequisites).
Teachers:
  • Tamara Kamatovic (Central European University)
Entry requirements: only for students who have completed all YELC credits, including 2 credits of electives: Democratic teaching and learning, Foundations and Learning by Design are generally prerequisites).
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Register to course
Online
08/04/26 - 10/06/26
Reg. deadline: 17/03/26
Credits: 2

10 April 2026

Stockholm School of Economics

CTDP –Designing teaching to meet different learning styles

We all know that we learn in different ways. But what are the consequences of this for our teaching? Do we really take this into consideration when pl...

We all know that we learn in different ways. But what are the consequences of this for our teaching? Do we really take this into consideration when planning our courses? Maybe we plan our courses according to our own preferences for learning? During this session, we will first look at different preferences for learning, including your own preferences. We will then apply this on your teaching, and you will have the opportunity to review this, and see how you perhaps could change it? Finally, you will learn about ideas that other participants have about how they could change their teaching. After this session you are expected to be able to: - Recognize the diversity of ways of learning. - Analyze your own teaching in relation to different
Teachers:
  • Pär Mårtensson (Stockholm School of Economics)
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Register to course
Online
10/04/26 - 10/04/26
Reg. deadline: 31/03/26
Credits: 0
N° of Sessions: 1

21 April 2026

European University Institute

Judicial Populism in Comparative Perspective

Description of the course will follow


Register to course
Hybrid (class + online simultaneous)
21/04/26 - 19/05/26
Reg. deadline: 10/04/26
Credits: 3
N° of Sessions: 5

13 May 2026

The London School of Economics and Political Sciences

An Introduction to Coaching Approaches for Supporting Students

We will explore some of the benefits of bringing coaching approaches to your work with students, including in assisting them in setting goals, increa...

We will explore some of the benefits of bringing coaching approaches to your work with students, including in assisting them in setting goals, increasing their sense of ownership and providing them with a safe and constructive space in which to develop, and practice the approaches with peers.
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Register to course
Online
13/05/26 - 13/05/26
Please ensure that you also register via this link...
Reg. deadline: 11/05/26
Credits: 0
N° of Sessions: 0