PLURIEX enhances EU Studies at BAU by integrating interdisciplinary knowledge, technical expertise, and real-world policy engagement into the curriculum. The programme offers new courses connecting students with EU practitioners from Turkish ministries and regulatory bodies and enriches existing courses with pluriversal, practice-oriented perspectives on EU governance and EU–Turkey relations.
PLURIEX aims to pluriversalize the EU studies curriculum at Bahçeşehir University (BAU) by integrating interdisciplinary perspectives, technical expertise, and diverse knowledge sources into EU-related courses. The following courses will be offered under PLURIEX to broaden the scope of EU studies and connect students with EU practitioners, policymakers, and technical experts from Turkey’s ministries and regulatory bodies:
Pathways to EU Expertise: Careers in Turkey’s Public Sector – Engages students with EU experts from Turkish ministries and public institutions, demonstrating how EU policies are implemented at the national level and offering career insights into EU-related public service.
Gender Politics in the EU – Previously part of the FEJUST Jean Monnet Chair, this course critically examines the intersection of gender, nationalism, and policymaking in the EU, using feminist epistemic justice to challenge mainstream perspectives.
Current Issues in European Union Politics – Analyzes both key political developments within the EU and the technical aspects of EU-Turkey relations, covering topics such as trade regulations, energy policy, digital governance, and regulatory alignment.
Integrating PLURIEX Content into Existing Courses
As part of PLURIEX’s mission to expand and diversify EU studies, its content and approach will be integrated into two existing courses: International Organizations and History of the European Union. This integration will broaden the scope of these courses, moving beyond traditional political and institutional perspectives to incorporate technical expertise, interdisciplinary insights, and real-world policy engagement in EU-Turkey relations.
International Organizations will incorporate PLURIEX’s focus on epistemic pluriversality by examining how technical expertise, bureaucratic elites, and sectoral policymakers shape EU governance. Through guest lectures from EU experts working in Turkey’s ministries and regulatory bodies, students will gain practical insights into Turkey’s engagement with international organizations, including its evolving relations with the EU, UN agencies, WTO, and NATO. Special emphasis will be placed on Turkey’s participation in EU-led initiatives, sectoral negotiations, and regulatory harmonization efforts.
History of the European Union will move beyond chronological institutional narratives to integrate PLURIEX’s interdisciplinary approach, offering a pluralistic understanding of EU integration. The course will explore the role of technical diplomacy, economic governance, and sectoral cooperation in shaping the EU’s evolution, with a specific focus on EU-Turkey relations. By incorporating expert discussions on trade agreements, industrial regulations, and digital transformation, the course will provide a more comprehensive understanding of Turkey’s historical and ongoing interactions with the EU. This strategic integration of PLURIEX content will equip students with a more nuanced and policy-relevant understanding of EU governance, bridging historical, institutional, and technical perspectives while fostering critical engagement with the evolving nature of EU-Turkey relations.
These courses will actively engage researchers and students from disciplines beyond traditional EU studies, including engineering, law, sociology, business administration, agriculture, and science and technology. While these fields are essential to Turkey’s alignment with the EU acquis, they are often overlooked in EU studies curricula. Given that EU harmonization is a deeply technical process, requiring expertise in industrial standards, environmental regulations, digital governance, trade compliance, and public health policies, PLURIEX courses will bridge this gap by integrating diverse academic perspectives and sectoral expertise.
By connecting students with EU experts working in Turkish ministries, regulatory bodies, and local government, PLURIEX will foster interdisciplinary dialogue and equip participants with practical insights into the technical dimensions of EU-Turkey cooperation. This approach aligns with Jean Monnet and Erasmus+ objectives, ensuring that students from various disciplines understand how EU policies shape their respective fields and encouraging future professionals to engage with EU governance, regulatory frameworks, and policy implementation.
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