Curriculum and Learning Contents

The TRIGGER curriculum was developed to provide students with a practical and policy-oriented understanding of the European Green Deal (EGD) and its implementation. The educational package combines governance, environmental policy, and sectoral perspectives, allowing learners to explore how European sustainability objectives are translated into concrete actions in agriculture, environmental management, and other sectors.

The curriculum was organised around two complementary MSc-level courses and a package of open-access learning modules.

Environmental Management in the EU and Green Deal (PK.1771)

This course introduces students to the institutional, legal, and policy framework of European environmental governance. It examines how environmental objectives are formulated and implemented within the European Union and explores the role of environmental policies in addressing climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and resource management challenges.

The course covers:

• the evolution of EU environmental policy;
• environmental governance and decision-making in the EU;
• the roles of European institutions and Member States;
• environmental policy instruments and implementation mechanisms;
• climate and energy policy;
• biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management;
• environmental data, monitoring, and evaluation;
• the objectives and implementation of the European Green Deal.

Students learn to analyse environmental policies, assess their impacts, interpret policy-related information, and understand the interactions between governance, science, and society.

Ecological Agriculture: From Farm to Fork (PK.1837)

This course focuses on the agricultural dimension of the European Green Deal and is structured around the EU Farm to Fork Strategy. It examines how food systems can contribute to climate neutrality, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable resource use.

The course covers:

• ecological and organic farming systems;
• sustainable food production and consumption;
• integrated pest management and environmentally friendly plant protection;
• biodiversity and ecosystem services in agricultural landscapes;
• sustainable soil and nutrient management;
• organic certification and labelling;
• genetically modified organisms and associated policy debates;
• the Farm to Fork Strategy;
• the European Green Deal and the EU Biodiversity Strategy.

Particular emphasis is placed on connecting policy objectives with practical management solutions and innovation in agricultural systems.

Learning Approach

The TRIGGER curriculum combines lectures, seminars, case studies, policy analysis exercises, student presentations, and independent work. Throughout the courses, students work with real examples from Estonia and other countries, allowing them to compare implementation challenges and policy responses across different contexts.

The teaching materials were continuously updated using:

• student feedback;
• ongoing project research;
• current developments in EU environmental policy;
• and experiences from stakeholder engagement activities.

This approach ensured that learning remained closely connected to contemporary environmental challenges and policy developments.

Open-Access Learning Modules

The knowledge developed through the courses was further transformed into a set of six open-access learning modules available through the TRIGGER learning platform (https://trigger.emu.ee/learninglink opens in new page).

The modules cover:

• Evolution of EU Environmental Law;
• Member States and Environmental Policy Integration;
• EU Institutions and Environmental Governance;
• EU Legislative Processes and Environmental Decision-Making;
• Implementation and Enforcement of EU Environmental Law;
• The European Green Deal and Sustainability Transitions.

Each module includes explanatory texts, self-assessment exercises, recommended literature, and video lectures, making the materials accessible both to enrolled students and to independent learners interested in European environmental policy and sustainability transitions.