Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence Erasmus+ Program

Jean Monnet Centres of Excellence 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. Jean Monnet Centres of Excellence have a major role in reaching out to students from faculties not normally dealing with European Union issues as well as to policymakers, civil servants, organised civil society and the general public at large. Jean Monnet Centres of Excellence develop a strategic three-year annual plan including a wide range of activities, such as: organising and coordinating human and documentary resources related to European Union studies; leading research activities in specific European Union subjects; systematic publication of the results of research activities; developing content and tools on EU subjects to update and complement the current courses and curricula (teaching function); enhancing the debate and exchange of experiences about the EU, where possible in partnership with local stakeholders and/or EU Representations Offices in the Member States and EU Delegations in third countries (think-tank function). Jean Monnet Centres of Excellence reflect on higher education institutions strategic development. They provide guidance and a vision for the best experts available among the teaching and research staff for creating synergies allowing high-level collaborative work on specific EU subjects. Higher education institutions are obliged to maintain the activities of a Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence during the entire duration of the project. Jean Monnet Centres of Excellence disseminate and exploit the results of the organised teaching and research activities beyond the stakeholders directly involved. This will considerably increase the impact and contribute to a systemic change. They include in their dissemination activities open educational resources (OER) and involve open education activities to respond to technological progress. This fosters more flexible and creative ways of learning and reaches out to a considerably increasing number of students, professionals, policymakers and other interested groups. Jean Monnet Centres of Excellence are asked to update their respective section of the Erasmus+ specific online tool where all the information about the Jean Monnet Activities will be hosted. They are strongly encouraged to use the relevant existing platforms and tools (i.e. the Jean Monnet directory, the Jean Monnet virtual community). These functions ensure that the wider public is informed about the institutions and their Jean Monnet courses. Centres of Excellence are encouraged to participate in dissemination and information events at European and national level; organise events (lectures, seminars, workshops, etc.) with policymakers at local(e.g. mayors and counsellors), regional and national level as well as with organised civil society and schools; disseminate the results of their activities via the organisation of seminars or lectures geared and adapted to the general public and civil society representatives; network with other Centres of Excellence, Jean Monnet Chairs, coordinators of Modules, etc; apply open educational resources (OER), publish the summaries, content and schedule of their activities as well as the expected outcomes. https://eacea.ec.europa.eu/erasmus-plus/actions/jean-monnet/jean-monnet-centres-excellence_en