Jean Monnet Successes 2010

Jean Monnet Successes 2010

New Zealand and Australia have once again been successful in the recent Jean Monnet Awards.

The Jean Monnet programme aims to stimulate teaching, research and reflection in the field of European integration studies at the level of higher education institutions within and outside the European Community.

European integration studies are defined as the analysis of the origins and evolution of the European Communities and the European Union in all its aspects. They cover both the internal and external dimension of European integration, including the European Union's role in the dialogue between peoples and cultures and the European Union's role and perception in the world.

Launched in 1989, the programme is now present in 62 countries throughout the world and around 740 universities offer Jean Monnet courses as part of their curricula. Between 1990 and 2009, the Jean Monnet Action has helped to set up approximately 3,500 projects in the field of European integration studies, including 141 Jean Monnet European Centres of Excellence, 775 Chairs and 2,007 permanent courses and European modules.

In New Zealand, Professor Martin Holland (who is also a holder of a Jean Monnet Chair ad personam) has won €40,000 for an international conference entitled "Assessing the external impact of the Lisbon treaty within the Asia Pacific Region".
Professor Holland said, "The Jean Monnet programme is a unique global resource which the study of the EU in New Zealand has greatly benefitted from for more than a decade. The award will facilitate the hosting of the 6th international conference of the Asia-Pacific EU Sudies Association, the secretariat of which is based at the NCRE at the University of Canterbury. The conference will be held in Bangkok from 16-18 February 2011."

In Australia Dr Stefan Auer from La Trobe University has won a grant of €45,000 for a Jean Monnet Chair entitled "New Pathways in teaching European Integration". There are now two Jean Monnet Chairs and one Jean Monnet Chair ad personam in Australia (the others being held respectively by Professor Pascaline Winand at Monash University and Professor Philomena Murray from Melbourne University).
Learning of his success, Stefan Auer, Senior Lecturer in History and Politics at Latrobe University, said "I am delighted to have the opportunity to further advance La Trobe's innovative delivery of the EU subject to students across Australia. I am looking forward to expanding on the key dimension of that teaching project, which is to engage scholars, practitioners and students in an open ended debate about the aims and virtues of European integration."

Professor Bruno Mascitelli from Swinburne University has won €21,000 for a European Module entitled "Extending the understanding of the European Union in Australia" and Professor Pascaline Winand has won €21,000 for a module entitled "The European Union and the Developing World".

Dr Bruno Mascitelli, Associate Dean for the Faculty of Business and Enterprise at Swinburne University, was delighted to have the opportunity to improve understanding of the EU in Australia, saying “Our sound reputation for delivering European studies has been recognised by the European Union through this award. We are now in a position to build on our current programs and improve the understanding of the EU and Europe among our students".

Altogether two applications from New Zealand and five applications from Australia were received.

ENDS

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