Course development
A global democracy?
Introduction to theory, empirics, and practice
German National Academic Foundation (Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes)
Leysin, Switzerland
Summer 2021
Course description
10-day full-time summer academy course (selected from 190 submitted proposals)
Students: 11 undergraduate awardees of Germany’s leading scholarship institution (selected from 56 applicants)
The curriculum included:
Student presentations on selected articles and books from the academic and policy literature
Virtual meetings with the theorist Daniele Archibugi and the advocate Andreas Bummel
Non-conventional exercises like a student debate and a “daydreaming” session
Day trip to Geneva to visit the United Nations and Doctors Without Borders (MSF)
Quantitative evaluations
Anonymous in-class evaluation at the end of the seminar:
Top rating of 1.3 by students (on the German scale from 1 as the best grade through 6 as the worst)
All ratings ranging between grades 1 and 2
Exemplary student comments
“Very nice working group with lots of interesting input and (personally and professionally) first-class lecturers.”
“I found it super interesting and was pleased – even as a student of another subject – to be able to study Political Science at such a high level.”
“The working group was super cool. You really led it well and the atmosphere was always super comfortable.”
“Interesting discussions and input even outside the classroom”
“Very good combination of theoretical knowledge with practice”
“The selection of texts, especially for the student presentations, were a very good introduction.”
“Thorough competence, great planning, and transparency (course schedule) through you”