Course code

RIV6037.YK

old course code

Course title in Estonian

E-riik, e-demokraatia ja digiühiskond

Course title in English

E-government, E-democracy and Digital Society

ECTS credits

6.0

Assessment form

Examination

lecturer of 2024/2025 Spring semester

Not opened for teaching. Click the study programme link below to see the nominal division schedule.

lecturer of 2025/2026 Autumn semester

Not opened for teaching. Click the study programme link below to see the nominal division schedule.

Course aims

The course aims to provide an overview of the main practices and developments of e-government and e-democracy. Additionally, the course provides the students with several practical skills in digital service design and cyber security, as well as understanding the major e-government regulations and practices, detecting misinformation campaigns in the media, and using digital tools for civic participation.

Brief description of the course

The major concepts and notions of e-government and e-democracy. Contemporary digital societies and their features. The main framework and regulations of e-government in Estonia (and other selected countries). Cyber hygiene and everyday cyber behaviour. Cybersecurity. Digital service design – the concepts, notions, target groups and users. Digital service design - good practices for the public, private and the third sector. AI and digital services. E-elections – accessibility and safety. E-democracy and the tools for e-participation. Cyber-attacks against elections and disinformation campaigns. Geopolitics and the new digital challenges. E-government in Estonia – the evolution and contemporary challenges.
The independent work for the students comprises reading the course materials and seminar texts, writing and presenting the seminar papers, and analyzing e-government processes and services.

Learning outcomes in the course

Upon completing the course the student:
- knows about the major concepts of e-government and e-democracy;
- understands how the development of digital technology has transformed governance, democracy and geopolitics in the contemporary world, and the students can conduct relevant case studies on the subject;
- can orientate in the major regulations concerning e-governance and e-democracy in Estonia (or in other countries);
- knows the major principles of good service design and is able to apply them in the relevant contexts in the public, private and third sectors;
- has acquired the major skills and knowledge on cyber security and is aware of his/her own digital hygiene;
- has developed essential civic skills for digital participation and knows about e-elections and safety;
- can detect and critically assess the disinformation in digital media (including social media) and recognize the major features of the targeted disinformation campaigns or cyber-attacks.

Teacher

Catlyn Kirna

Study programmes containing that course

Philosophy, Politics and Economics (HFPMB/26.HT)
Politics and Governance (RIPGB/25.YK)
Liberal Arts in Social Sciences (KKLSB/25.YK)
Public and Business Management (RIHKB/25-o.YK)
Politics and Government (RIRIB/25-o.YK)
Public and Business Management (RIHKB/25-t.YK)
Politics and Government (RIRIB/25-t.YK)
Liberal Arts in Social Sciences (KKLSB/24.YK)
Politics and Government (RIRIB/24-t.YK)
Public and Business Management (RIHKB/24-t.YK)
Public and Business Management (RIHKB/24-o.YK)
Politics and Government (RIRIB/24-o.YK)
Politics and Governance (RIPGB/24.YK)