Professional Skills Seminar

Recommended Prerequisites

Not applicable.

Teaching Methods

The course combines theoretical and practical approaches, and is operationalised by modules. The theoretical part is based on lectures by the course tutors and professional experts in each field, complemented with a strong focus on practical exercises resolved by students, and students’ engaging in simulations of real working environments through role-play.

Learning Outcomes

The curricular unit aims at developing relevant professional skills to the performance of a national or international career, in the field of European Studies, political consulting, international relations, and governmental, non-governmental or business affairs. The cu envisages to provide students with critical and analytical thinking, rhetoric and oral communication, thus promoting the ability to deal with controversial issues, and fostering skills of leadership and mediation, as well as intercultural skills.

At the end of the semester, the student should be able to:

1. Be proficient in research, analysis and advice on complex political, social or economic issues

2. Cover and brief meetings, conferences, debates

3. Write a position paper, to support a political narrative

4. Orally communicate and argue on complex subjects

5. Lead a meeting and mediate a negotiation

6. Lead by teamwork, cooperation and integration

7. Work in multicultural environments.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. Policy-oriented research, analysis, briefing, and advice

2. Intercultural Skills

3. Communication and advocacy

4. Negotiation and mediation

5. Leadership and teamwork.

Head Lecturer(s)

Francesco Navarrini

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Laboratory work or Field work: 30.0%
Simulation : 70.0%

Bibliography

Alexander,D., & Lewis,J. (2017). Making Public Policy Decisions: Expertise, skills and experience. Routledge.

Coleman,P. et al (Eds.). (2014). The Handbook of Conflict Resolution (3ª ed.). Jossey-Bass.

Gill,R. (2011). Theory and Practice of Leadership (2ª ed.). Sage.    

Halpin,D. (2015). The Organization of Political Interest Groups: Designing Advocacy. Routledge.

Lewicki,R. et al (2014). Negotiation: Readings, Exercises and Cases (6ª ed.). McGraw-Hill.    

Markland,A. (2020). NGOs, Knowledge Production and Global Humanist Advocacy. Routledge.    

Nishishiba,M. (2017). Culturally Mindful Communication: Essential Skills for Public and Nonprofit Professionals. Routledge.

Rubin,H. (2018). Advocacy for Social Change: Coalitions and the Organizations That Lead Them. Routledge.

Smith,C. (2015). Writing Public Policy: A Practical Guide to Communication in the Policy-Making Process (4ª ed.). OUP.

West,M. (2012). Effective Teamwork: Practical lessons from Organizational Research. Blackwell.