Arena for Journalism in Europe has developed two modules for the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) “Covering Cohesion Policy in Europe” (COPE). The course, launched by the European Commission in collaboration with six European universities and the European Journalism Training Association, addresses gaps in journalism education about the European Union and its Cohesion Policy. Arena’s modules focus on cutting-edge investigative methods and the skills needed for collaborative reporting, placing participants in the role of trainee journalists.
The course – which already had over 1,400 students enrolled – was developed following a €1 million call for proposals by the European Commission in 2022. The winning proposal came from a consortium of institutions, including the Technical University of Dortmund (Germany), the University of Porto (Portugal), Wrocław University (Poland), Babeș-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca (Romania), Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece), and AP University of Antwerp (Belgium). Arena for Journalism joined the consortium to bring practical journalism expertise to the project.
The MOOC is a free, interactive e-learning platform available in all EU languages. Structured into 14 modules, the course spans a full semester and includes local examples tailored to various national contexts. Designed for journalism students, professionals, and anyone interested in EU affairs, it offers ongoing professional development opportunities and aims to foster informed journalism and public discourse around EU policies.
The course is accessible via the project website: cope-journalism.eu.