• Demonstrate knowledge of megatrends and their impact on the European context
• Describe key megatrends affecting Europe as opportunities and constraints for business
• Build on what students have learned in previous courses - specifically approaches they have met in the political economy-as well as the new theories taught in this course to analyze how EU institutions could address the challenges posed by the megatrends
• Define and analyze a relevant policy problem pertaining to one or two of the five megatrends drawing upon a range of qualitative and quantitative sources
• Communicate and discuss the results clearly, using appropriate terms and concepts

Content overview

This course is a form of applied scholarship that deals with global megatrends. Megatrends are systemic changes in the conventional ways of approaching key challenges situated at the intersection of business and society in the European context.

Specifically, the course explores the fundamentals of select environmental, economic and societal megatrends as they manifest themselves in Europe and assist students with writing in practical ways about the challenges posed by these megatrends.

In terms of structure, the first part of the course will introduce the concept of megatrends as a useful way to frame, understand and practically deal with drastic, systemic and global transformations of the extent political, societal and economic order.

Next, the course will use peer reviewed articles, podcasts, policy studies and case studies to zoom into specific megatrends affecting Europe: the crisis of hyper globalized trade and finance, the climate crisis, the rise of green finance, techonomic cold wars, digitalisation and globalized tax avoidance. This part of the course also looks at how each of these is currently addressed by EU governance institutions and processes. Since the emphasis falls on the contemporary relevance of megatrends, the specific choice of the megatrends will vary from year to year and will be presented in the course plan on CBS Canvas. 

Thus, the course builds on the comparative political economy approach used in Denmark in Comparative Perspective and the Political Economy of European States by teaching students how to translate the insights of that literature into concrete interventions and business opportunities for firms in the European context.

Pedagogy 

Pedagogically, the course aims to bolster students' capacity to translate insights and knowledge about megatrends into the practical platform of short corporate memo conceived in an online environment that multiplies opportunities for collaboration across research teams.

This memo is a loan concept whereby you pitch a business idea to be funded by an EU-level lender such as the European Investment Bank or InvestEU. Learning to write these memos is essential for acquiring the entrepreneurial knowledge required to address the challenges to humanity and Europe that these megatrends represent.

All content is online. There will be live lectures (to be recorded and posted after the lecture) as well as podcasts. There will be weekly "walk in" online consultation hours as well as collective feedback on a one-page loan concept pitch to be submitted midway through the course.

Finally, the course builds upon specific Nordic Nine values ​​and competencies such as creating value from global connections for local communities while thinking critically; placing deep business knowledge in a broad context while thinking about how to protect the prosperity of next generations; being critical when thinking and constructive when collaborating; learning to recognize humanity's challenges and acquiring the entrepreneurial knowledge to help resolve them; understanding ethical dilemmas and having the leadership values ​​to overcome them; being analytical with data and curious about ambiguity; having deep business knowledge placed in a broad context. Each module focuses on specific values ​​and competencies of this kind.