Space4U: EU law, policies, actions & technology

This Jean Monnet chair, financed by the EU, EACEA, through the Erasmus+ Programme, Jean Monnet Module, aims at introducing an innovative interdisciplinary approach to the study of European Union intervention within the space sector. Precisely, it introduces an in-depth study of European Union law in the academic path of both political science students and engineering students. On the one side, it is observed that political sciences students, well introduced to EU law, mainly approach it from an institutional point of view, leaving apart the analysis of precise action and policy in emerging sectors, that have heavy relapses in the job market. Therefore, the project aims at providing those students with the necessary policy and legal tools to be prepared for the European revolution in space activities and new technologies. On the other side, it is observed that technical students, well prepared in engineering and systems programming, are totally unaware of the legal implications connected to the technology they are studying/developing. The EU intervention in regulating space technologies and applications is massive and can not be ignored by the technical community. Therefore, the chair aims at providing engineering students and PhD students with the legal framework of their studies and their future activities. Moreover, considering the emerging need for specific preparation of practitioners approaching space technologies, an interdisciplinary summer course (40 hours) is scheduled, and a distance learning course (10 hours) in Eu law and new technologies is provided in order to allow students and professionals from different backgrounds to attend the summer school with a basic knowledge of Eu structure and law.

A dedicated web site will be built and a joint interdisciplinary publication will be issued in order to apply the innovative interdisciplinary approach also to research and stimulate students to have an open mind attitude.

The hours characterizing the main activities of the Chair will be split into two academic courses (36 hours + 36 hours) held at University of Genoa and addressed at the two categories of students connected to the topics which characterize the proposal (political sciences and engineering), and a 20 hours course for PhD candidates in engineering (20 hours). Moreover, a set of 10 hours registered lectures will be uploaded on the website in order to provide students from different Universities (and backgrounds) who wish to take part in the additional activity (Summer School) with a basis on EU law and Eu intervention in the space sector.

Precisely, the proposal will deepen teaching in European Union studies embodied in an official curriculum of a higher education institution through the provision of a course in European Union Law within the bachelor in Political sciences, this course will consist in 36 hours of teaching and it will be mandatory for the curriculum. This course will address the European structure, competences, and policies with particular attention to the impact of new emerging technologies and space activities.

The second course will be given at the engineering department, precisely in the Master Program in Internet and Multimedia Engineering, where European Union Law is not taught at the moment. The chair wants to introduce a 36 hours academic course totally held in English and aimed at giving engineering graduates the relevant notions of the EU intervention in law regulating their topics. This course will entail a general introduction on EU structure and competences and then will address the topics covered by technical lectures form an EU law perspective.

Moreover, 20 hours of lectures will be given at the PhD course in Science and Technology for Electronic and Telecommunication Engineering at the Department of Engineering of University of Genoa. The advanced course for PhD students wants to give the participants a legal approach to the topic they are studying, precisely introducing them to the European intervention in regulation of new technologies and space policy.

The Chair will also provide in-depth teaching on European Union matters for future professionals in fields that are in increasing demand on the labour market. Precisely, within both the teaching courses the intervention of Eu institutions will be deepened with reference to Space activities and applications. On the one hand graduates in political sciences entering the labour market often have a general preparation in EU policies, not analysing the specific European framework in emerging sectors such as space. The Chair will provide notions of European Union Law and Space Law, drawing a line between the two topics, then allowing young professionals to have a more specific preparation. On the other hand, the chair aims at giving technical graduates the necessary law notions to enter the labour market with an interdisciplinary approach, considered one of the most desirable features for a young professional. The space sector is an increasing filed, and its economic value (also in terms of work positions) is well known by national and European institutions and enterprises.

Finally, the Chair will also provide students and young professionals entering the labour market with the basic skills of Eu law, through a web course comprising 10 hours of lectures (5 lessons 2 hours each) in European Union law in connection to space activities. The course will be uploaded on the website of the Chair and its download will be allowed for free to registered participants. This packed course is considered to be useful for students and young professionals approaching space activities and applications from a technical point of view, therefore missing an academic preparation in European Union Law.

With reference to Additional activities, the chair provides teaching/lectures to students from other departments (engineering, political sciences, and economics) to better prepare them for their future professional life. The organisation of an interdisciplinary summer course called EUSPACE (European Union in Space: Law and technologies, 40 hours) concerning the European intervention in space law, policy, actions, and technology will involve students and young professionals of different backgrounds, allowing them to build an interdisciplinary curriculum. The relationship between the lectures and the (future) professional life of the participants will be strengthened by the intervention of speakers from enterprises world and professional lawyers that daily face the practical problems connected to this technology.