Associate Professor Philomena Murray, Jean Monnet Chair ad personam, of the University of Melbourne, together with partners from the Netherlands, Korea, Japan, United Kingdom and China, was again successful in obtaining a Jean Monnet European Union grant.  

Also successful was Professor Bruce Wilson, Director of the European Union Centre at RMIT University in Melbourne, with a grant for a teaching module "Comparing Regional Development Policies and Approaches: Europe and Asia".

In New Zealand, Dr Natalia Chaban was granted a Jean Monnet Chair for her project "The EU, its Cultures and Identities: the Meanings of Europe Inside and Outside its Borders".  Professor Martin Holland receives a grant for a research project "EU's unknown Asia: New Horizons and New Beginnings.  European Integration and the Asia Pacific in the 21st Century" and Ms Annick Masselot won a grant for a teaching module "European Business Law". Dr Chaban, Professor Holland and Ms Masselot are all academic staff of the National Centre for Research on Europe at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch. [ read more ]

In August 2011 Monash University will be offering a course that is a first of its kind for Australian professionals engaged in EU affairs. "European Union Law; Commerce, Law and Politics" addresses the core elements of the workings of the EU that are of most relevance to professionals working with the EU from the outside.

Delegates to the course will come away with a comprehensive understanding of (i) how the Lisbon Treaty has changed the way the EU works, and how lobbying of the European Parliament is destined to intensify in the light of Lisbon (ii) the external relations law of the European Union, how the EU structures its relationships with a broad range of non-EU countries, and how this affects commerce (iii) the operation of the EU operates in the international trading system (iv) the Common Commercial Policy of the European Union and its Common Customs Tariff (v) the external human rights policy of the European Union and the ramifcations of this policy for business.

While the course is part of Monash Masters programmes, the University welcomes registration from students of European affairs enrolled at other Australian universities, and practising professionals. The course will take place at 555 Lonsdale St, Melbourne on 25 and 26 August, and and 29, 30, and 31 August.

Dr Angela Ward, who is an experienced practitioner of EU law, will be giving the course. For further details she can be contacted on AngelaWard@lawlibrary.ie, or by telephone on 0420 607 156. Information on registering for the course can be obtained by contacting Law-postgraduate@monash.edu "

The Contemporary European Studies Association of Australia proudly announces the 19th annual Europe Essay Competition 2011

Categories
· Best essay by an undergraduate (2 - 3,000 words)
· Best essay by an honours or postgraduate student (4- 6,000 words)

An essay that has already been assessed by an academic is acceptable. The essays will be judged by a panel of judges selected by CESAA. The judges' decisions are final.

Prizes
Prizes will be awarded as gift vouchers to the value of:
Undergraduate: $200
Honours/postgraduate: $400

Winners will also receive a year's free membership of CESAA.

Winning and highly commended essays will also be considered for publication in the new Australian and New Zealand Journal of European Studies .

Topics
Essays from any discipline - history, politics, law, economics, business, sociology, cultural studies, etc. - will be accepted so long as they deal with contemporary (post-war) Europe and/or the European Union.

How to Enter
Send an electronic version of your essay to: cesaa@cesaa.org.au . Ensure the subject heading reads 'CESAA ESSAY COMP'

Closing Date
FRIDAY, 21 OCTOBER, 2011

The essay should have on a separate page your name, full address, institution, category (undergraduate or Honours/post-graduate), a contact phone number and email address and the word count of your entry. Your name should not appear anywhere else on the essay.

Winners will be notified formally by mail and the results will be publicised on the CESAA website.

For further information please contact evan.thompson@monash.edu

Europe in Crisis: Challenges and Opportunities

Monash European and EU Centre Young Researchers Conference

22-23 September 2011

Monash University , Melbourne, Australia

Call for Papers

For further information or enquiries contact evan.thompson@monash.edu

This conference and the Monash European and EU Centre are funded by a grant from the European Commission. The Monash European and EU Centre is a joint initiative between the European Commission and Monash University , led by the Faculties of Arts, Business and Economics, and Law.

Outline

The European Union, along with the rest of the international community is entering a period of intense problems and crises. The ongoing developments surrounding the Arab Spring, particularly in Libya and Syria are bringing hard security problems to the doorstep of Europe . In addition, the ongoing consequences of the Global Financial Crisis and the Euro-zone crisis have cast doubt on the viability of the EU socio-economic model. The catastrophe of the tsunami on Japan's eastern coast and the ensuing problems with the Fukushima nuclear plant have led to a revision of the energy policies of many countries, including EU powerhouse, Germany. This re-evaluation has important ramifications for the EU's leadership on climate change issues and its attempts to forge international consensus. The Monash European and EU Centre's Young Researchers Conference 'Europe in Crisis: Challenges and Opportunities' seeks to explore dramatic events affecting Europe and the challenges and opportunities that they present from both a contemporary and an historical perspective. It aims to examine these from both external and internal perspectives, providing a wide range of views and insights. The conference is multi-disciplinary in nature and aims to incorporate as many fields as possible in exploring the overall theme. The main emphases of the conference include: . Political: the EU Constitutional crisis; NATO intervention in Libya; the Arab Spring; the Roma in Europe; . Economic: Global Financial Crisis; Euro-zone crisis; market reforms in Eastern Europe; trade and the developing world; . Environmental: climate change; energy; fishing; marine environment. The conference brings together young researchers from Australia, New Zealand, the wider Asia- Pacific, and Europe to present their research in a collegial environment, and foster the professional and academic development of the next generation of researchers on Europe in political studies, economics, anthropology and law.

Call for Papers

Abstracts of approximately 300 words should be submitted by Friday 22 July 2011 to europecentre@monash.edu

Successful applicants will be notified by email by the end of July.

There is limited funding available for travel and accommodation expenses for selected participants.

If you wish to be considered for the bursaries, please indicate in your abstract submission and also attach a CV and list of publications.

The two best papers have the chance to be published in a special section of the Australian and New Zealand Journal of European Studies. [download flyer]

EU-Australia Policy Dialogue on Early Childhood Education and Care

The event gathered together an impressive array of experts, researchers, practitioners and policy makers from across Australia and Europe. The Australian side was led by Ms Jennifer Taylor, Acting Deputy Secretary, Office of Early Childhood Education and Child Care, and the EU side by Ms Hélène Clark, Director for Lifelong Learning Policies and Programmes, Directorate-General for Education and Culture at the European Commission.

The discussions were guided by a comprehensive discussion paper prepared by Early Childhood Australia (ECA), an Australia wide advocacy organisation which specialises in the wellbeing of young children in ECEC services. The agenda for the discussions covered quality assurance, content, impact, access, equity, integrated services, affordability, indigenous partnerships, and meeting the needs of disadvantaged children and families. Experts and practitioner discussed challenges and possible solutions but it was clear that both the EU and Australia face similar challenges. The Dialogue included exchanges of research and policy by experts from both the EU and Australia, some site visits to Australian Early Childhood Centres/Schools in Sydney and Canberra, as well as a series of public lectures.

The 2011 Policy Dialogue concluded that "the success of the third EU-Australia Education and Training Policy Dialogue attests to the importance of continued bilateral cooperation. In the area of Early Childhood Education and Care, over the past week, it has been obvious that there are significant mutual benefits for supporting such a dialogue and promoting high-quality education across education sectors. " In looking ahead, both sides agreed on key joint actions that highlight the existing approach to working together and support mutually beneficial outcomes (see Joint Statement ).

The 2011 Policy Dialogue was preceded by a "roadshow" throughout Australia promoting education and research opportunities for Australian students, scholars and institutions and the first ever OCEANS Get to Know Europe Workshop for Australian students intending to spend a study period in Europe.

To know more

• Australia: Department of Education Employment and Work Place Relations (DEEWR)
• European Commission: EU-Australia co-operation in education and training

The Treaty of Lisbon, adopted in December 2009, has marked a significant development in the European Union's approach to external affairs. The European Union has been at the forefront of debate and legislative action about democracy, and about establishing common principles in relation to rights and democratic processes, especially with the ongoing expansion of the number of Member States in the Union. In the wake of Wikileaks, it is apparent that the role of media and communications in democratic processes is more important than ever.

The EU Centre at RMIT University, School of Media and Communication (RMIT) and the Media and Democracy in Eastern Europe Research Project (MDCEE), University of Oxford, UK, invite you to attend the Centre's inaugural annual conference entitled Media, Communication and Democracy: Global and National Environments .

Key participants include:

· Professor Paolo Mancini, University of Perugia. (Keynote Speaker)
Visiting Fellow with the ERC-funded project on Media and Democracy in Central and Eastern Europe;

· Associate Professor Ingrid Volkmer, University of Melbourne. (Keynote Speaker)

· Professor Jan Zielonka, University of Oxford.

· Professor Stephanie Hemelryk Donald, RMIT University.

Programme:

• Wednesday 31 August, 2011
  Time: 6:00pm. Opening Keynote Address and Public Lecture presented by Professor Paulo Mancini.
  Venue: Theatrette, State Library of Victoria, Melbourne.
• Thursday 01 - Friday 02 September 2011
  Time: 9:00am. Conference sessions, including keynote speaker A/Professor Ingrid Volkmer.
  Venue: Storey Hall, RMIT University, Swanston St, Melbourne.
  (Note: times approximate, to be confirmed closer to the event)

Further information available at:

• Centre website
• Attached registration form [pdf]

Get to know Europe Workshop in Australia - A Milestone for the OCEANS Network

On the morning of 8 April 2011, 60 young Australians from across the country gathered inside the University of Sydney's New Law School Building for the OCEANS "Get-to-know-Europe-Workshop". OCEANS [Organisation for Cooperation Exchange And Networking among Students] unites like-minded people with diverse academic backgrounds from the EU countries, the USA, Canada , Australia,  New Zealand,  Japan and  South Korea.

The event involved presentations from Mr Bodo Richter, Coordinator for Cooperation with Industrialised Countries at the European Commission's Directorate-General for Education, Employment and Workplace Relations; Mr Niclas Jönsson, Director, International Engagement, Australian Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, Dr. Brendan Nelson, Australian Ambassador to the European Union, Ms Tammy de Wright, Australian Representative to the Erasmus Mundus Association, and members of the OCEANS network. Intercultural training, provided by Christine Baer of ICUnet.AG, also equipped the students with useful tools for understanding and managing differences between cultures when abroad, while a panel of OCEANS and EMA alumni shared their exchange experiences, provided personal advice and addressed the questions and concerns of student participants. [read more]

The ANU Centre for European Studies has issued a new publication in the Briefing Paper Series titled "Balancing exclusion, prosecution and non-refoulement: the application of article 1F of the Refugees Convention in The Netherlands", by Deciana Speckmann.

Deciana Speckmann completed her communications degree in the Netherlands before moving to Australia in 2005. Following a Master of Business at the Australian National University (ANU), she worked as an Australian Youth Ambassador for Development in media and peace building for a regional NGO in Bangkok, Thailand. She is currently a policy officer at the Netherlands Embassy in Canberra, Australia. Deciana completed her Master of International Law at the ANU in 2010. The views expressed in the article are those of the author and do not represent the position of the Dutch government. The paper can be located by following the link on the ANU Centre for European Studies website at: http://ces.anu.edu.au/news/briefing-paper-balancing-exclusion-prosecution-and-non-refoulement-application-article-1f-refug

If you would like to place an order for a hard copy please contact the Centre by email at Europe@anu.edu.au Tel:  + 61 2 6125 9896

EU-Australia Education & Training Policy Dialogue, Brussels (Belgium), 15 December 2010 : JOINT STATEMENT

The second EU-Australia Education & Training Policy Dialogue took place in Brussels (Belgium) on 15 December 2010. The Dialogue was organised by the European Commission's Directorate General for Education and Culture (DG EAC) and by the Australian Department for Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR). It was co-chaired by Mr Jordi Curell, DG EAC, Director for Higher Education and International Affairs, and Ms Margaret Pearce, DEEWR, Minister-Counsellor.

The purpose of the EU-Australia Education & Training Policy Dialogue is to exchange views on common challenges, share experiences and best practices in selected policy areas and decide on appropriate joint follow-up actions. The agenda of this meeting focused in particular on qualifications frameworks, their crucial role in lifelong learning, facilitating recognition and mobility as well as assuring quality.

The Policy Dialogue was organised in the framework of the 2007 Joint Declaration on Co-operation in Education and Training and the EU-Australia Partnership Framework, most recently updated in 2009. It was preceded by a two-day International Peer Learning Activity on Qualifications Frameworks aiming at triggering mutual learning from national and transnational developments and exploring how qualifications frameworks can be developed into efficient instruments for international cooperation - in particular facilitating the mobility of learners and workers. [READ MORE]

Canberra student wins summer school course in Germany

The International Summer Science School Heidelberg (ISH) is a project of the German city of Heidelberg and a range of prestigious local institutions of science. For four weeks every summer, the ISH brings emerging talent from all over the world to Heidelberg.

Participants are selected by a range of international partner organizations and sister cities of Heidelberg. The ISH provides the participating students with some valuable insights into several institutions of science and the laboratories of a renowned research university. Being supervised by experienced scientists, they gain some practical experience in the world of science and research. The program also offers them various possibilities to get to know the city of Heidelberg and their host country Germany.

For the first time, this year's ISH will also host three Australian participants. One of them being 17 years old Melanie Tacey from Canberra, 12th Grade student at Trinity Christian School. Melanie is looking forward to her stay in Germany. read full release