Jean Monnet Programme at NTU
For encouraging studies of the European Union and academic and civil society exchanges and cooperation globally, the European Union (EU), in 1998, began establishing European Union Centres at prestigious universities in developed countries around the world. There are currently 32 such centres around the world: 10 are in the USA, 5 are in Canada, 4 are in Japan and Korea, 3 are in Australia and Russia, while New Zealand, Taiwan and Singapore each hosts 1 centre. Despite variations in name, each centre is formed with a mandate from the European Union and not only acts as a platform for exchanges and cooperation within its host country, but also creates linkages among other such centres to establish global and regional networks to support EU Studies.
Work on making the EU Centre in Taiwan a reality began in early 2008 after the European Commission expressed its intention to create an office, and the Preparatory Committee of National Taiwan University (NTU) for the Creation of the EU Centre in Taiwan (EUTW) was immediately established. Members of the Preparatory Committee, including President Lee, Vice President Bau and Dean of International Affairs, Dr. Shen, made sincere efforts and eventually united several Taiwanese universities into a single consortium on September 22nd, 2008. The Consortium consists of NTU, National Chengchi University (NCCU), National Chung Hsing University (NCHU), Catholic Fu-Jen University (FJU), Tamkang University (TKU), National Sun Yat Sen University (NSYSU), and National Dong Hua University (NDHU). Acting as the lead institution of a consortium of seven major universities in Taiwan, the NTU proposed its plan, and signed the Grand Agreement with the European Commission on December 31st, 2008.
EU Centre in Taiwan implements projects include the EU Center of Excellence, the Transnational Network, Jean Monnet Module, and Jean Monnet Project which are described as follow:
Centre of Excellence
History
For the purpose of promoting excellence in teaching and research in the field of European Union studies worldwide, as well as fostering the dialogue between the academic world and policy-makers, in particular with the aim of enhancing governance of EU policies, the European Union called for proposals on establishing centres of excellence. The goal of this programme is to gather the expertise and competences of high-level experts and aims at developing synergies between the various disciplines and resources in European studies, as well as at creating joint transnational activities and structural links with academic institutions in other countries. It also ensures openness to civil society. National Taiwan University was granted to set up a Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence in 2015.
The creation of the JM Centre of Excellence at NTU aims to meet the objectives of this Action in the following ways:
1. It will gather together the expertise of all high-level experts within National Taiwan University (NTU).
2. It will develop synergies between various disciplines and resources in European Union studies in Taiwan.
3. It will create joint transnational activities and structural links with academic institutions in other countries.
4. It will act as an important open platform for the Taiwan population who want to learn more about the development of EU and related issues and ensure more openness to civil society in Taiwan.
Taiwan is more eager than any other country to connect to the world, especially by building relations with the EU. Hopefully through exchanges with EU, the Jean Monnet Centres of Excellence will become one of the most important centres for EU Studies and bilateral civil society interactions in the Chinese-speaking world.
Transnational Network
History
European Union Centre in Taiwan (EUTW), the largest university level Consortium in Taiwan on the EU studies, offered a wide and in-depth gateway for the advancement of knowledge of the EU and has become a platform for academic exchange within the Taiwan EU Studies community. The host university, National Taiwan University, is a world-class interdisciplinary university and the Chinese-speaking world’s flagship educational institution. EUTW is also the contact point for the regional EU Studies networking. Based on EUTW exiting regional networking, we want to further initiate an EUTW-trans Network , the Trans Continental Cooperation on the EU Studies, which would involve the Transatlantic and Trans Pacific partner institutes including U.S.A (Washington University, Seattle), Canada (Dalhousie University), Europe (Paris II in France and Charles University in the Czech Republic), Asia (EUIJ Tokyo in Japan, Yonsei University in Seoul, Fudan University in China, National Taiwan University in Taiwan and EUC in Singapore at National University of Singapore) and Pacific (EU Centre in the Canterbury University of New Zealand).
The five main outputs and the following outcomes are:
1. Regular meetings of Taiwan EU Studies Group to support the enhancement of existing the EUTW platform: Meetings include Steering Committee meeting, Taiwan EU Studies Community meeting, NTU EU Research Group, Participation of EU Centres/ Institutes’ Roundtable/ Jean Monnet Chair World Meeting, EUSA AP conference.
2. Bilateral Joint Research Projects among partner institutes to exchange practices and research: Two majors research projects will be conducted, one is on the impact of the development of TTIP upon the current TPP negotiations from an Asia-Pacific perspective; another will be Taiwanese perceptions of the EU which would be part of expansive research project led by Dr. Martin Holland.
3. Partner institutes given access to EU Studies Mobility Scheme to encourage the participation of young researchers
4. International workshop on EU Studies involving the partner institutes to share research and teaching techniques in EU Studies.
5. Virtual EU Studies Communities within the partner institutes to allow for transnational cooperation.
Jean Monnet Module
The European Union initiated the Jean Monnet Module to promote teaching and research of European Union studies, as well as fostering the publication and dissemination of the results of academic research. Under agreement with the EU, National Taiwan University began organizing activities for Jean Monnet Module Programme in 2015.
Objectives
1. Promote research and provide first teaching experience for young researchers, scholars and practitioners in EU issues
2. Support the publication and dissemination of the results of academic research
3. Encourage the introduction of a European Union angle into mainly non EU related studies
4. Delivers tailor-made courses on specific EU issues relevant for graduates in their professional life
Jean Monnet Project
The European Union support innovation, cross-fertilisation and the spread of European Union content through Jean Monnet Project. These projects will be based on unilateral proposals and involve other partners.
1. Innovation projects will explore new angles and different methodologies in making European Union subjects more attractive and adapted to various kinds of target populations.
2. Cross-fertilisation projects will promote discussion and reflection on European Union issues and enhance knowledge about the Union and its processes.
3. Spread content projects will mainly concern information and dissemination activities.
National Taiwan University has made a lot of efforts to frame out the strategy with our partners to win this project. Here are our seven key relevant points to meet the objectives of the project.
4. Enhance the visibility and understanding of the EU in the different disciplines in Taiwan.