Teaching

I had the luck to teach from the very beginning of my career as a researcher. Beyond the transmission of substantial knowledge, I conceive teaching as a way to stimulate critical thinking. Statistics are for example not seen exclusively as an important academic tool, but also as a valuable professional skill and as an essential instrument in politics and society. My teaching principles reflect this objective:

• The syllabus does not include only classic references but also more recent, original and less-known references.
• Theoretical and methodological arguments are illustrated by real-world problems. As far as possible, student’s interest is aroused by integrating my teaching programme into current research.
• Interactions and debates among students are encouraged with the help of techniques such as small-group work, moderated debates, role-playing games, assignments of mini-research projects, peer evaluation…
• Eventually, I use a variety of supports in order to foster student’s involvement and reactions: press articles, electoral programmes, films, sometimes even music, common activities (exhibitions, conferences)…

 
My teaching emphasis has been so far on methodology, Franco-German relations and German language. This year, I am collaborating with Alexander Trechsel and Inés Levin for a seminar about the work of Peter Mair. In the future, I would be interested to teach in fields related to my current research:

• Sociology of political parties
• Europeanization of domestic political systems
• Agenda-setting