EU values & digitalisation

Department

International Program

Course unit code

IFLV6571

Number of ECTS credits allocated

5.0

Name of lecturer(s)

FH-Prof. Dr. Frischhut Markus, LL.M.

Mode of delivery

blended learning

Recommended optional program components

none

Recommended or required reading

Excerpts of the following two open access books:

Frischhut, M. (2019). The Ethical Spirit of EU Law. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-10582-2

Frischhut, M. (2022). The Ethical Spirit of EU Values: Status Quo of the Union of Values and Future Direction of Travel. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-12714-4

Frischhut, M. (2017). What one should know about the European Union (EU): A quick introduction to EU law (4th edition). Neuer Wissenschaftlicher Verlag. N.B. Book is also available as an eBook.metioned on slides

Assessment methods and criteria

Homework, Presentation, Participation

Additional information about examination modalities

Presentations in the last session(s), further information on slides

Level of course unit

Bachelor

Year of study

Spring 2026

Semester when the course unit is delivered

2

Language of instruction

English

Learning outcomes of the course unit

As digitalization is changing the way we live and work, this course strives to raise awareness and to make students familiar with the EU’s common values (including ‘corner-stone’ of human dignity) and their importance in the discussion of these new phenomena.

After a short general introduction on law as such as well as on EU law (hence, no pre-knowledge required), this course aims at raising awareness of both legal and ethical challenges of some selected topics in this context; i.e. artificial intelligence, self-driving vehicles, and digitalization at large.

This course also strives to promote and strengthen active EU citizenship through discussion and reflection on the impact of EU integration and the meaning of the EU’s common values, as well as their application to practical situations.

The course is taking a more holistic approach, therefore, strengthening their critical thinking ability.

Course contents

• General introduction into law, EU law, ethics and values (no pre-knowledge necessary)
• Self-driving vehicles and values
• Digitalization, artificial intelligence (AI), new technologies and values
• Filling EU values (human dignity, etc.) with life
• Compliance and values

Work placement(s)

none