Digital Transformation of the Democratic Discourse

Step into the future of democracy by joining a one-of-a-kind course where digital innovation meets civic action, and co-create solutions to reshape public discourse.

← Back to courses
CIVIS focus area
Digital and Technological transformation
Open to
  • Master's
  • PhD candidates/ students
Field of studies
  • Art, Design and Media
  • Business and Management
  • Computer Science and IT
  • Engineering & Technology
  • Law
  • Social Science and humanities
Type
  • Blended Intensive Programmes (BIP)
Course dates
3 October 2025 - 27 March 2026
Apply by
4 May 2025 Apply now

The Digital Transformation of the Democratic Discourse programme is an interdisciplinary, transnational learning experience that explores how digital technologies are reshaping public discourse, political communication, and civic engagement.

In an era defined by rapid technological advancement and increasing societal polarization, this course equips students with the critical tools to navigate and influence the evolving landscape of digital democracy.

Designed for master’s and PhD students from diverse academic backgrounds—ranging from social sciences and media studies to computer science and law—the programme offers a rich blend of theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience. It combines virtual learning sessions led by top academics from across the CIVIS alliance with a week-long, immersive workshop hosted at the University of Lausanne. This onsite component allows students to collaborate in multicultural teams, engage with NGOs and public bodies, and co-create real-world solutions to challenges like disinformation, digital inequality, and civic disengagement.

The course’s main themes include political communication in the digital age, the rise of populism and online polarization, the ethical dimensions of AI and algorithmic influence, and participatory governance through civic technology. Students will examine case studies, develop research proposals, or design innovative civic tools using participatory design methodologies. By the end of the programme, participants will have gained advanced skills in critical analysis, collaborative problem-solving, and ethical digital innovation.

Whether you're passionate about strengthening democracy, combating misinformation, or designing inclusive digital platforms, this course offers a unique opportunity to learn, create, and lead change on a global scale. It is more than a course—it’s a collaborative journey into the future of civic life.

Main topics addressed

As part of this course, students will have the unique opportunity to engage directly with NGOs and practitioners actively working in the fields of civic media, digital democracy, and participatory governance. Through guest lectures, case study presentations, and interactive feedback sessions, participants will gain firsthand insights into real-world initiatives and challenges. These interactions will enrich the learning experience by connecting theoretical knowledge with practical applications and by fostering professional networking opportunities in the civic tech space.

The main topics addressed are:

  • Political Communication and Participatory Democracy
  • Populism, Polarization, and Emotional Narratives in Politics
  • Fake News, Hate Speech, and Online Disinformation
  • Digital Tools for Civic Engagement and Participatory Governance
  • Digital Inclusion and the Digital Divide
  • The Role of Social Media in Political Behavior and Public Opinion
  • Censorship, Digital Rights, and Media Regulation
  • Ethics and Power in Digital Platforms
  • Participatory Design for Civic Technology
  • Data Science and Democracy
  • AI, Deepfakes, and Emotion in Digital Discourse
  • Cross-cultural Approaches to Digital Democratic Innovation

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course, the participants will be able to:

  • critically analyze digital democratic discourse, identifying how digital platforms shape civic engagement, access, and representation;
  • understand the ethical dimensions of digital participation, including issues of power, inclusion, and digital divides;
  • identify and counteract online disinformation, fake news, and algorithmic amplification of harmful content;
  • apply participatory design methods to develop civic technologies or research frameworks that enhance democratic processes;
  • collaborate effectively in interdisciplinary and multicultural teams, bringing diverse perspectives to real-world challenges;
  • develop research proposals in the field of civic media and digital democracy;
  • assess the impact of emotional and conspiratorial narratives, particularly in the context of polarization and populism;
  • evaluate the influence of digital media (including AI-generated content) on political behavior, emotional engagement, and public opinion;
  • design inclusive digital solutions that promote equity and ethical participation in democratic life;
  • gain practical experience and mentorship from academics and civic organizations working at the forefront of digital democratic innovation.
Dates: 3 October 2025 - 27 March 2026 Total workload: 86 hours
Format: Blended ECTS: 3*
Location: Lausanne, Switzerland Language: English (B2)
Contact: mauro.cherubini@unil.ch  

*recognition of ECTS depends on your home university

Physical mobility

The physical component of the course is a one-week intensive, hands-on experience held at the University of Lausanne between 26-30 January 2026.

This segment allows students to apply the theoretical knowledge acquired during the virtual sessions to real-world challenges. Emphasizing collaborative, interdisciplinary, and intercultural learning, students engage in participatory design workshops, interact with external stakeholders such as NGOs and public bodies, and co-develop innovative solutions or research proposals related to democratic discourse in digital environments.

Throughout the week, students work in multicultural teams, guided by expert mentors, to address pressing issues such as disinformation, civic participation, and the digital divide. They choose between two pathways:

  • Design Contribution – Developing a conceptual civic technology or digital tool
  • Research Contribution – Creating a research proposal on an unexplored facet of digital democracy
  • The week culminates in a presentation session where teams pitch their solutions and receive feedback from academic staff and external stakeholders.

University of Lausanne's activities' schedule:

1. Monday – Foundations and Group Formation
Afternoon:
  • Welcome and introduction to the week’s structure and goals
  • Group formation: interdisciplinary and international teams
  • Initial brainstorming and team discussion of project ideas
2. Tuesday – Methodologies and Inspiration
Morning:
  • Intro to Civic Media Design Methods
  • Presentation on literature review and research methodology
Afternoon:
  • Guest speaker session (NGO representative)
  • Group work: refining ideas with input from instructors
  • Mentoring and coaching sessions
3. Wednesday – Field Engagement and Development
Morning:
  • Second guest speaker session (NGO or civic tech expert)
  • Group project development and feedback sessions
Afternoon:
  • Field visit: Lausanne Participe (City Council participatory budgeting initiative)
  • Reflection on real-world applications of participatory governance
4. Thursday – Finalization and Cultural Exchange
Morning & Afternoon:
  • Final group work and preparation of presentations
  • Peer feedback and coaching from instructors
  • Evening: Group dinner in the city center – a cultural and social networking event
5. Friday – Presentations and Wrap-Up
Morning:
  • Final project presentations by each group (15 minutes each)
  • Feedback from faculty and external stakeholders
  • Closing session and reflections on learning outcomes

This immersive week blends academic rigor with practical application and cultural exchange, preparing students to become informed, innovative contributors to digital democratic transformation.

Virtual part

The virtual component of the course, starting on the 3 October 2025, provides the theoretical foundation for understanding the complex relationship between digital technologies and democratic engagement.

Structured across seven interactive sessions, this phase combines lectures, case studies, and group discussions, offering students an interdisciplinary and critical overview of key themes. Each session lasts two hours and is led by a distinguished academic from the CIVIS network, ensuring exposure to diverse perspectives and regional insights. Students are expected to complete assigned readings and prepare for reflective discussions prior to each session.

Schedule of the Virtual Sessions

3 Oct 2025: Political Communication and Participatory Democracy (Instructor: Michele Sorice)
Overview of how communication practices shape democratic participation and the evolving landscape of political dialogue in digital contexts.
17 October 2025: Polarization, Populism, and Emotional Narratives in Politics (Instructor: Adriana Ștefănel)
Focuses on how digital platforms amplify emotional and conspiratorial narratives, contributing to societal polarization and the rise of populist movements.
31 October 2025: Fake News, Hate Speech, and Online Disinformation (Instructors: Manuel Alcántara Pla & Adrian Stoicescu)
Examines the spread of false information and emotional manipulation in digital media, with strategies for identification and mitigation.
14 November 2025: Digital Tools for Civic Engagement and Participatory Governance (Instructor: Mauro Cherubini)
Analysis of digital platforms designed to promote transparency, accountability, and citizen involvement in democratic processes.
28 November 2025: Digital Inclusion and Engagement (Instructor: Ismael Peña-López)
Discusses the digital divide and strategies to foster more inclusive participation across different social and economic groups.
12 December 2025: Social Media’s Role in Politics and Participation (Instructor: Giovanni Boccia Artieri)
Explores how social platforms influence public opinion, electoral behavior, and the structure of civic interaction.
9 Jan 2026: Censorship, Social Control, and Digital Media Regulation (Instructor: Luis Bouza Garcia)
A look at the balance between freedom of expression and regulation in the digital space, including legal and ethical challenges.

Feb–Mar 2026: Second Virtual Phase (Post-Onsite). This phase involves personalized guidance as students develop their final individual assignments. It includes:

  • Regular coaching via videoconferencing
  • Support in applying theoretical knowledge to real-world case studies or research proposals
  • Feedback on ethical, methodological, and practical dimensions of their work
  • Together, the virtual sessions ensure that students enter the onsite phase well-prepared, and exit the course with deep, applicable insights into digital democratic discourse

Assessment

The evaluation of the course is based on two complementary components designed to assess both collaborative and individual learning. Students are evaluated through:

  • Group Presentation (40%): At the end of the onsite component, student teams present either a research proposal or a design concept for a civic technology solution. This presentation is assessed on originality, practical relevance, theoretical grounding, and clarity.
  • Individual Assignment (60%): Following the course, students submit a written report (approx. 4 pages) analyzing a real-world case or challenge related to digital democracy, demonstrating critical thinking, methodological rigor, and ethical awareness.

This dual structure ensures a balanced assessment of teamwork, innovation, and individual analytical ability.

Students wishing to enroll in the course should be enrolled in a master's or PhD programme at CIVIS member universities and possess a background in one or more of the following fields: social sciences, communication and media studies, political science, linguistics, computer science, information systems, cultural anthropology, or law.

While no specific coursework is required, students should be familiar with basic concepts related to digital media, civic participation, or democratic processes.

Additionally, participants must demonstrate English language proficiency at a minimum B2 level to actively engage in discussions, readings, and group work.

They should also have critical thinking, digital literacy, participatory design, interdisciplinary collaboration, ethical reasoning, civic engagement, research methodology, disinformation detection, problem-solving, cross-cultural communication, public speaking, innovation in civic tech, emotional narrative analysis, digital inclusion strategies, social media analysis, project development, policy awareness skills. 

This CIVIS course is a Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) - a new format of Erasmus+ mobility which combines online teaching with a short trip to another campus to learn alongside students and professors across Europe.

NB: Visiting Students - Erasmus Funding Eligibility

To be eligible for your selected CIVIS programme, you must be a fully enrolled student at your CIVIS home university at the time you will be undertaking the programme. Students from Associate Member Universities in Africa are also invited to apply for participation in this course. One or two African students are eligible for UNIL mobility scholarships upon selection.

Partner universities:

  • Sapienza Università di Roma (Italia)
  • Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain)
  • University of Bucharest (Romania)
  • Université de Lausanne (Switzerland)

The course is led by a distinguished team of scholars from across Europe, each bringing deep expertise in their fields.

Professors Ismael Peña-López, Michele Sorice, Adriana Stefanel, Manuel Alcántara Pla, Luis Bouza Garcia, Giovanni Boccia Artieri, and others contribute insights from political communication, civic technology, digital media, sociology, and AI.

Hailing from institutions like the Open University of Catalonia, Sapienza University, University of Bucharest, and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, they offer students a truly interdisciplinary and transnational perspective on the digital transformation of democratic discourse, grounded in both academic excellence and practical engagement.

Send your application by filling in the online application form by 4 May 2025, and including:

  • CV,
  • motivation letter,
  • level of English (According to CEFR).

Applications will be evaluated based on: 

  • Academic Background: Relevance of the student’s field of study to the course themes (e.g., social sciences, media, politics, computer science, law, etc.).
  • Motivation Letter: Clarity, relevance, and originality of the applicant’s motivation for joining the course, especially their interest in digital democracy and civic engagement.
  • Interdisciplinary Interest: Demonstrated openness to collaborate across disciplines and engage with diverse perspectives.
  • English Proficiency: Adequate language skills (minimum B2 level) to participate in academic discussions and group work. A language certificate is not mandatory (applicants can declare their level in the CV and Motivation Letter).
  • Previous Experience or Coursework: Any relevant academic, research, or practical experience in areas such as digital media, civic tech, disinformation, or political communication.
  • Diversity and Balance: Contribution to creating a diverse and balanced cohort in terms of academic disciplines, geographic representation, and institutional affiliation.

Apply now

GDPR Consent

The CIVIS alliance and its member universities will treat the information you provide with respect. Please refer to our privacy policy for more information on our privacy practices. By applying to this course, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with these terms.