This paper will be looking into the e-learning tool developed by the Institute for European Studies in Brussels- the E-modules. The main aim is to analyze the content and specific features of the tool and to address a few of the challenges that have emerged from the experience of working with it so far.

The Institute for European Studies (IES) is an autonomous department of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). Alongside its core teaching and research activities, the IES has developed, in the past five years, an innovative e-learning platform designed to complement and enhance the academic offer of the Institute.

Even though e-learning methods have been continuously spreading in the last years, they remain confined, to a certain extent, to natural sciences, with fewer examples from the area of social sciences. This evolution can be explained by the more subjective and less precise nature of social sciences that require extensive reading and debate and, implicitly, a more flexible approach, including permanent interaction.

Nevertheless, having in mind the latest developments that aim at “digitalizing” and, thus, “democratizing” education, it is becoming increasingly important to create suitable frameworks for teaching social sciences online. This can prove to be beneficial in the broader context of “life-long learning”, as the new methods would address not only students but also citizens in general and could thus contribute to the development of civic and political culture.

The E-modules have been designed with the purpose of offering a structured and interactive way of learning how the European Union functions. As European law and policies exert an important influence in the everyday life of European citizens, the E-modules aim at providing the essential information, helping, at the same time, the users to find their way through the complexity of existing information sources. The concept behind the E-modules is, thus, transfer of knowledge combined with skills acquisition.

The course currently contains three modules: European History, Institutions and Decision-making, EU Law and European Information Sources. The modules are addressed at students, professionals or simply citizens who want to get familiar with the structure and activities of the EU. In the future, the E-modules will develop towards more in-depth content on specific policy fields, in order to offer added value for professionals specialized in a certain area. The E-modules can be used as stand-alone courses but also as support material for lectures or conferences.

The main features of this e-learning tool have been developed bearing in mind the field in which it is used (social science- political science- European Studies). Its dynamic form (using graphics, maps, animated applications) tries to offer a complete picture of a complex reality; the embedded reference tools (the glossary, the internal and external links) encourage the users to learn through association.

The most important challenge for the E-modules is to continuously re-define and adjust to the latest developments of the European Union. This is vital since, unlike in natural sciences, here the learning target is constantly moving, creating a real danger for any study material of becoming obsolete. Therefore, keeping up-to-date and offering various means of engaging the user are two main things the E-modules developers have to keep in mind for ensuring the further success of the tool.