The course consists of two types of sessions: lectures and practical seminars. Lectures will focus on introducing and discussing the course content. On the other hand, practical seminars will involve presentations of selected empirical research by the teaching team, followed by debates among small groups of students on the concerned readings. It is expected that all students read the assigned readings for each seminar and participate actively.

During the course, participants will also receive an overview of existing practical tools and specific data sources for comparative political analysis.

Overall, the course methodology is based on a combination of the following elements:

Guided Activities:

• Lectures by the teaching team
• Presentation of specific examples of comparative research during seminars
• Moderation of presentations and debates among small groups of students

Supervision:

• Support/feedback on analytical understanding of scientific readings for mid-term and/or final exams
• Support/feedback on the creation of analytical commentaries, both for preparation of debates (continuous assessment) and for the creation of short written commentaries (single assessment)

Independent Activities:

• Readings: scientific articles and book chapters
• Individual study
• Preparation of analyses and commentaries on specific readings to be presented in seminars and debates or in the form of written commentaries, depending on the selected mode of participation (continuous or single assessment, respectively)

For this subject, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is permitted exclusively in support tasks, such as bibliographic or information searches, text correction or translations. The student must clearly identify which parts have been generated with this technology, specify the tools used and include a critical reflection on how these have influenced the process and the final result of the activity. The lack of transparency in the use of AI in this assessable activity will be considered a lack of academic honesty and may lead to a partial or total penalty in the grade of the activity, or greater sanctions in serious cases.

Assessment

The course can be assessed through two modalities: continuous assessment or single assessment.

Option 1: continuous assessment

• Mid-term exam, with multiple-choice questions: 40 % of the final grade.
• Debate on a scientific article: 20 % of the final grade.
• Final exam, with multiple-choice questions: 40 % of the final grade.

Option 2: single assessment

• Final exam, with multiple-choice questions: 40 % of the final grade.
• Oral exam, with three open-ended questions selected randomly from a list of topics previously defined by the teaching team: 30 % of the final grade.
• Critical commentary on a text selected randomly from a list previously defined by the teaching team, with a length of one page: 30 % of the final grade.

Continuous assessment

Students following continuous assessment will take a mid-term exam and a final exam. The tests, in English, will include multiple-choice questions on the topics covered during the course.

During the practical seminars, small groups of students will participate in a debate on a scientific article, with the aim of promoting in-depth understanding and critical analysis of the text. This format is intended to promote critical thinking, effective communication and active participation by students.

To pass the course through continuous assessment, students must have participated in the three corresponding assessment activities.

Students who do not pass continuous assessment may opt for reassessment, provided that they have previously been assessed in activities equivalent to at least two thirds of the total grade and have obtained a minimum average grade of 3.5. Reassessment will consist of a general multiple-choice test and a presentation followed by a question-and-answer session with the examining lecturers on an article randomly selected from a list of options previously defined by the teaching team.

Single assessment

Students who opt for single assessment must complete all assessment activities on a single assessment date. Opting for single assessment does not exempt students from attending class.

Single assessment will consist of the following activities:

• Final exam, with multiple-choice questions, based on all the course content.
• Critical commentary, one page in length, on a scientific article randomly selected from a list provided by the teaching team a few weeks before the exam.
• Oral exam, consisting of three open-ended questions selected from a list of topics provided by the teaching team a few weeks before the exam.

To be eligible for reassessment under the single-assessment system, students must have completed all the planned assessment activities. If students do not pass the single assessment, reassessment will consist of repeating the same assessment format.

Schedule, review and other considerations

The detailed course schedule will be presented on the first day of class. At the beginning of the course, the teaching team will also provide information about the dates of the continuous-assessment and single-assessment activities.

Students will be graded with a numerical grade ranging from 0 to 10, with 10 being the highest grade.

The final grade will be communicated to students at least 72 hours before the reassessment test.

On carrying out each evaluation activity, lecturers will inform students, via Moodle, of the procedures to be followed for reviewing all grades awarded and the date on which such a review will take place.

Erasmus and exchange students who request to advance an exam must present a document from their home university justifying their request.

Students will obtain a “not assessed/not submitted” course grade unless they have submitted more than 30 % of the assessment items.

In the event of a student committing any irregularity that may lead to a significant variation in the grade awarded to an assessment activity, the student will be given a zero for this activity, regardless of any disciplinary process that may take place. In the event of several irregularities in assessment activities of the same subject, the student will be given a zero as the final grade for this subject. Assessment activities in which fraud, plagiarism or unauthorised use of AI has been detected cannot be reassessed.

Use of Artificial Intelligence

This subject allows the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies exclusively for support tasks, such as bibliographic or information searches, text correction or translation, in accordance with the lecturer’s instructions. Other specific uses may be considered, provided that they have been authorised by the lecturer.

Students must: i) identify which parts have been generated using AI; ii) specify the tools used; and iii) include a critical reflection on how these tools have influenced the process and final outcome of the activity.

Lack of transparency regarding the use of AI in an assessed activity will be considered academic dishonesty and will result in the activity being awarded a zero, without the possibility of reassessment, or in more serious sanctions in severe cases.