About

Challenges and Futures of the Governance of Platforms and AI

This Blended-Intensive Program (BIP), organized by the Centre for Media, Communication and Information Research (ZeMKI) at the University of Bremen in collaboration with the University of Antwerp, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Université Sorbonne Nouvelle, and the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, brings together students from across Europe in a combined virtual and in-person learning experience. The program is embedded within the YUFE Alliance and fosters international, interdisciplinary exchange on pressing issues in digital governance. It was newly developed from late 2024 onward, with funding and institutional support from the YUFE Institutional Coordinator at the University of Bremen, and emphasizes a transdisciplinary approach integrating perspectives from media and communication studies, political science, law, and related fields.

The BIP focuses on the challenges and future trajectories of governing digital platforms and artificial intelligence. It aims to equip students with the theoretical, analytical, and methodological tools necessary to critically assess the role of platforms and AI in shaping contemporary social, political, and economic relations. Particular attention is given to platform diversity – including social media, generative AI systems, transaction platforms, and streaming services – as well as to evolving governance frameworks, such as European regulatory initiatives and alternative models beyond dominant Big Tech paradigms.

The program consists of both online and in-person components, with the in-person mobility taking place in Bremen from 20 to 24 April 2026. During this period, participants engage intensively with key debates on platformization, AI governance, and digital regulation through lectures, discussions, and collaborative group work. Alongside substantive knowledge, the BIP emphasizes the development of transversal skills, including public speaking, teamwork in transnational settings, and intercultural communication. Students also gain experience in applying research insights to real-world governance challenges through collaborative and practice-oriented learning formats.

A central element of the BIP is a collaborative, policy-oriented research project conducted in small teams. Students investigate contemporary governance issues related to digital platforms and AI, including questions of power, regulation, and societal impact. Through case studies and evidence-based analysis, participants develop practical recommendations and present their findings in both written and oral formats, including final presentations held during the mobility period in April 2026 and optional research papers submitted by mid-June 2026. This hands-on approach encourages critical engagement with current policy debates while strengthening methodological and analytical competences relevant to academic, policy, and advocacy contexts.