Academic Centre
A study by Professor Susanne Fengler and her team from the Technical University of Dortmund revealed that more than 60% of journalism students lack basic knowledge about the European Union. For instance, there is a widespread lack of understanding about the EU Cohesion Fund, one of the primary financial instruments aimed to foster regional development, which, alongside agriculture, is among the largest EU funding mechanisms. This gap in foundational knowledge is also evident in various European journalism education programs. Surveys of higher education institutions across several European countries found that one-third of journalism programs do not offer any lectures or seminars addressing EU-related topics or developments.
Effective and critical journalism is essential for the democracy of the European Union. Transparent reporting on EU investments, such as regional development projects, helps promote public understanding. Content analysis conducted in the study indicates that local projects funded by the EU are rarely covered in the media, despite their importance in highlighting the significance of smaller regions. Before the launch of the new platform, it was tested by over 1,500 journalism students, two-thirds of whom said they would recommend it to their peers.
The MOOC is a comprehensive, free, and interactive e-learning platform available in all EU languages. It covers key areas such as EU governance, Cohesion Policy, EU coverage, cross-border reporting, and digital journalism. Structured into 14 modules, the course spans a full semester and is tailored with local examples to suit various national contexts. Designed for journalism students, professionals, and anyone interested in EU affairs, the course offers ongoing professional development opportunities and aims to foster informed journalism and public discourse around EU policies.
The platform was developed by the Technical University of Dortmund’s Institute of Journalism in collaboration with partner institutions from all 27 EU member states. COPE is one of the largest media education initiatives in the European Union’s history, funded with a 1 million euro grant.
For more information about the project, visit - www.cope-journalism.eu
The accompanying e-book is available for free download in English here - https://cope.csd.auth.gr/?page_id=122
 has developed a latvian version of the COPE MOOC e-learning platform. Its goal is to enhance and expand the knowledge of aspiring journalists on key topics and developments within the European Union.){kind=link}