Jean Monnet Action

The Erasmus+ call, in which teachers are invited to submit their proposals related to Jean Monnet, was published on 24/11/2021 with a deadline of 1/03/2022 (h 17.00).

Jean Monnet actions aimed at universities are aimed at:

• promoting excellence in teaching and research in the field of European Union studies worldwide;
• promote dialogue between academia and society, involving policy makers, civil servants, civil society actors, and representatives of the various levels of education and the media;
• generate knowledge and information that can assist in EU policy-making and strengthen the EU’s role in a globalised world;
• train teachers of schools and vocational training institutes to promote innovative and engaging teaching in the European Union among the youngest.

Studies on the European Union include the study of Europe as a whole with particular emphasis on the process of European integration in its internal and external dimensions.

They promote active citizenship in Europe and address the role of the EU in the globalised world, raising awareness of the Union and fostering future involvement and dialogue between people.

In addition, Jean Monnet activities are committed to acting as a vector of public diplomacy towards third countries, promoting EU values and improving the visibility of the values represented by the European Union and its objectives.

Active awareness-raising and educational work are also encouraged, which will promote knowledge about the EU in a wider society (beyond the academic and specialist public) and bring the EU closer to the public.

Eligible actions for universities

In the field of teaching and research (“Teaching and Research”):

• Modules:
  short mono or multidisciplinary teaching programmes, also in the form of specialised short courses or summer schools, in the field of European Studies. The involvement of other speakers / experts in addition to the scientific manager is allowed to achieve the minimum annual time.
  Duration: 3 years, for 40 hours/year of teaching (in the form of seminars, lectures, tutorials both face-to-face and online). Maximum European funding: 30,000 euros (fixed lump sum);
   
• Chairs:
  specialized in European Studies intended for a single university lecturer (or senior lecturer) Duration: 3 years, for 90 hours / year of teaching (in the form of seminars, lectures, tutorials both in presence and online) by the scientific manager exclusively. Additional hours for the strengthening and dissemination of issues related to the Chair can be entrusted to other members of the team. Maximum European funding: 50,000 euros (fixed lump sum);
   
• Centres of Excellence (only 1 per university):
  institutions that organise and coordinate, including at transnational level, expertise and knowledge on the European Union.
  Duration 3 years. Maximum funding 100,000 euros (personalized lump sum);

In other areas of education and training:

• Teacher training for the training and updating of teachers of schools (from primary to high school), non-tertiary post-secondary education institutions and vocational training institutes (VET), in order to create structured and innovative training proposals for the teaching of the European Union among the youngest.
  Duration: 3 years. Maximum financing 300,000 euros (personalized lump sum)

Policy debate:

• Networks for the creation of networks between at least 12 universities on predefined topics, in any disciplinary field
  Networks on internal issues: “Future of Europe” (max funding 1,000,000 euros)
  Networks on foreign policy issues: “Europe in the world” (max 1,200,000 euros)

Erasmus+ Call

Requirements, evaluation criteria and all the details on eligible expenses can be found in the Program Guide available in both Italian and English.
The main thematic areas can come from any disciplinary field.

Program Guide

UNILAG Jean Monnet Module Programme

University of Lagos as a leading University in Africa championing international collaboration for a united World based on mutual benefits initiated this Jean Monnet Modules. The Module project will be hosted in the University of Lagos and opened to students who had little contact with European studies and EU. However, given the success of this programme in University of Lagos it could become a model to be followed in the coming years by other Nigerian universities interested in including courses on European studies in their curricula or in strengthening already existing courses of this kind by setting up summer and intensive courses, permanent chairs and research centres

The Module is scheduled to run for three years with 8 modules grouped in

• 3 Sessions of Summer Schools;
• 3 sessions of Workshops;
• 3 sessions of EU Mock Parliament Presentation and Policy Dialogue;
• A Conference.

The Summer School and research workshop component of activities of the project will involve a mixture of students with and without formal opportunities of European studies. Thus, the participants will be drawn from:

• students of the Department of European Languages and Integration which runs French as a degree and some elements of European Union studies.
• students’ other departments in Humanities, Science, Engineering and Environmental degree programmes who do not automatically come into contact with EU studies.

The Conference is designed to foster dialogue between the participants and the academic world, policy makers, as well as the general public society. It will draw its participants from local and state level policy-makers, collaborators of European Union institutions in the country, civil servants, civil society actors, representatives of the different levels of education and of the media; This will help in generating new knowledge and insights on how EU policy-making can be strengthened to enhance its roles in globalized world;

The three programmes will therefore help in:

• in empowering a new set of young academia, NGOs staff, professional research and think tank practitioners, public policy commentators, analysts, opinion shapers and influencers.
• providing an avenue to complement existing collaborations of the EU with other African institutions to equip and enhance the capacity of young people to contribute to policy making through rigorous and in-depth research and insightful analysis of EU activities.
• generating a new pool of resource persons who can advocate, promote and project the EU policy goals and agenda for the goal community and in particular in Africa, correct the stereotypes and build a new understanding for the promotion of EU policy support in Africa
• creating a blending of spectrum of people and a synergy between the academia, industry and the government to engage each other and spread knowledge about EU subjects to wider society (beyond academia and specialized audiences) and also brings the EU closer to Africa and Africans through objective and fair research and policy analysis on European roles in the globalized world.

In addition, the workshop is a training workshop to build the capacity, develop analytical skills and empower the participants with tools and techniques in policy research, analysis and advocacy on EU policy and EU/AU partnership.

Hence expanding the capacity of these young generations with deeper understanding and greater inputs into EU policy for Africa and the rest of the world and increase the potential to enhance EU policy diplomacy and EU/Africa partnership and integration

PHILOSOPHY

The philosophy and mission statement underlying programme is to equip the participants adequately with appropriate cutting-edge skill and knowledge that are sufficient for making informed decisions and contribute to African economic and sociopolitical integration and connectivity with Europe, and the global community

Vision

The vision of UNILAG-Jean Monnet Module is to promote excellence in teaching and research in the field of EU studies and policy advocacy that stimulate greater partnership and collaboration between EU and African Scholars and Institutions

Mission

To provide a conducive environment for teaching, learning, research and development, where the graduates or participants of the Module in University of Lagos will interact and contribute meaningfully to policy debate, advocacy effectively with other counterparts globally on EU Policies and issues

AIMS/OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The project is designed to contribute to filling the skill gap by specifically organising a summer school, seminar and workshop as well as conference and other outreach programmes like media engagement and programme consecutively. Specifically:

• to facilitate the teaching and learning of European culture, history and political system with a view to fostering policy dialogue with stakeholders, raise awareness about the relevant European policy agendas and promote Europe Union as the model of both social and economic integration
• promote excellence in teaching and research in the field of EU studies by African scholars and Institutions
• organize events, campaigns and other activities which will inform Nigeria’s citizens and organizations about the European Union policies
• deepen the knowledge and capacity of Nigerian in identifying and disseminating European good practices as well as success stories from the in order to give them more visibility and scale them up at local, national and continent levels in Africa;
• develop synergies across universities, public institutions and corporate organisations in Africa to develop a framework for research and innovation and the programmes relating to addressing issues of economic integration, nascent democracy, illegal migration and culture
• Enhance the quality of resource persons for research and development needed to meet the challenging demands of ever-changing global economy; and
• Prepare the students for higher degree and speciality in the area of international affairs and policy analysis

GUIDELINES FOR STUDENT PARTICIPATION

The guideline for student participation is:

• The programme is mainly for students of University of Lagos who are currently in 200 level and have at least 6 semesters more before graduation. This is to ensure that all students that enrol for the programme will have the privilege to participate in all three aspects of the 3-year duration of the programme.
• However, a limited number of students from other Universities will be allowed to participate in the programme
• Students will be drawn mainly by not limited to the following disciplines: engineering, sciences (pure, applied and social), law and education.
• The potential candidate must be on academic good standing and must currently a registered student of university of Lagos and or any other recognised Universities in Nigeria or other African Countries
• No applicant will be discriminated on basis of gender, race, religion belief, political ideology.
• The participants must be at least 18 years old
• The participation will be selection through a competitive selection process but special consideration for gender balancing and inclusiveness

PROGRAMME CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

The programme has requirements to qualify for certificate of participation which are:

• Participants will be given certificate of participation for each Module completed and a certificate of completion if they complete all the modules including research workshops, EU- mock parliament participation and papers presentation at the final conference
• To earn the certificate of participation, the participant must have 70% attendance in the Module classes and EU Mock presentation
• Must also score a minimum of 80% in the end of Module assessment and earns 75% cumulatively in all the five modules to get the certificate of competency in EU Africa Connectivity Studies,
• Must publish or have acceptance letter for at least a paper by rated and high-ranking journals in rated and high-ranking Journals in Europe or Africa.
• Must also contribute, as individual or jointly with not more than two other co-authors who also must have participated in the programme, a chapter in a book to be published on Europe and Africa Connectivity and Economic Integration.

WHY THE UNILAG JEAN MONNET MODULE

The exposure of Nigerian and indeed African undergraduate and postgraduate students is usually limited to study of some selected European languages. Such studies only focused extensively on language mastery aimed at communication n proficiency in order to work effectively in European companies and establishments in African and in Nigeria in particular.

Most of the graduates of these language programmes tend to see the knowledge as a meal ticket and not as a way of deepening their understanding of the culture and social system of the country whose language they studied. Over time and once they shift jobs to areas where such language is less relevant to their career aspirations, they tend to feel less concerned about the values and principles of the European country whose language they had studied. Most specifically, the existing programme focuses only on specific languages of specific countries. The principles and values of the EU as the leading global player hardly feature in the curriculum.

More so, most of these curricula were developed when there was so much anti-west slogan dominating the discourse among leading African scholars and policy makers. Therefore, the graduates of the existing programmes that have some element of EU studies are inadequately prepared, equipped and grounded in the contemporary EU policies, values and aspirations for the world and the developing countries in particular. The graduates were also not exposed to the political structure, social systems and policy of EU except the limited exposure they gain through the language programme of specific countries hence they had very little exposure to EU organisation structure, the values and aspirations. They were less conversant with the current contemporary practices of the other EU members as well as the significant roles EU play in their own countries and how the EU could and had been relevant to socio political development in their countries.

The lack of this exposure had robbed off on the quality of African countries domestic policy, engagement with EU as a bloc and EU member countries. Much of the valuable experience and best practices that could have been beneficial to African countries are not well harnessed and the education system was lacking in curriculum to effect the necessary changes that would fill this gap. Therefore, organising this module is to fill this gap and create a framework that can be scaled up to the whole of African countries and Universities in addressing the problem from the basics.

Using the undergraduate as the focal group helps to build the EU ideology, values, policies and contributions to the minds of the potential leaders of the continents. It also provides ample opportunity to catch them young and fresh. The inclusion of those in academics and public service as well in the private sector as facilitators is to have a broad-based approach and all-inclusive programme that creates a pool of experts who will become advocates of EU policies in Africa.

One unique feature of this programme is the introduction of EU Council simulation by participants. To make them appreciate and understand the decision-making process of the EU Council through a Mock EU Council. In addition, the adoption of one school at a time by concentrating on University of Lagos students is to deepen impact yet the facilitators are from Italy, Belgium, and South Africa, Kenya and Ghana hence providing a broader based approach to the learning experience and exposure of the participants and also giving the programme the widest coverage beyond the existing educational programme in which hardly anybody beyond the locals attends.

Another novelty in the programme is the progressive approach adopted. The Summer School on Africa-European Union Connectivity provides the breeding ground for new advocates for the EU policies and values, the Training Workshop on EU Policy Research and Analysis to be organised after the summer school builds on the gains from the summer school and equips the new advocates who attend the summer school plus the existing practitioners and advocate of EU with skills and tools to engage in rigorous research and in-depth analysis on issue relating to EU. The Conference on European Union and African Integration that will be organised after the Seminar and Work is to equip the participants the ability to engage in public speaking, paper presentation of policy dialogue on EU Africa integration issues .This will also allow all the participants to interact with academia, business communities, public officers and representatives of EU to discuss and present position papers on issues that they have learnt and using methods they have acquired to dissect the issues and problems identified in specific EU policy and programme and then make some useful suggestion on how Africans can leverage of experience of EU and the EU and Africa could form a greater partnership and promote joint EU global agenda.

Although the project mainly involves Italian professors and experts from the University of Pavia for past research and student mobility activities, its impact is replicable in other European countries, which for historical, cultural, political and economic reasons have strong relations with the African continent such as Germany, France, Netherlands, Spain and Portugal. These countries have important universities and research centres that promote and invest in teaching and research in African studies. However, the history and developments of the African continent are increasingly linked to those of the European continent and vice versa.

Module Description

The module will offer students who would otherwise not engage in European Studies an opportunity to learn about and discuss key aspects of the European Union and the process of European political institution, integration, cultural values, international Polies and relations. While imparting factual information on key aspects of the history, institutions and politics of the European Union will be prominent in the first part of the module, the second half aims to actively engage students in discussions about topical issues relating EU-Africa relations, policy and programmes such as EU-Africa Partnership relations. The third part will focus on development issues such as migration and AfCFTA, relation, trade, investment and bilateral relationship and perhaps more importantly, democracy, human rights and in reflections about the future of the African Union in the context of EU African Partnership. The module is interdisciplinary in nature and will include and integrate the areas of politics, cultural studies and economic studies. a proper understanding and appreciation of European history, languages and cultures, political economy and institutions not only by the policy makers but also by young scholars and public opinion shapers will go a long way in strengthening the AU-EU partnership. This will not only benefit the European policy advocacy and European values but also enhance the EU’s public diplomatic role. This will, more importantly, assist Africa in strengthening their partnership with European Union and achieve the goal of African Union and the Vision 2063.

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The Module is targeted at younger generations who are yet to form their opinions, made up their minds and also, amenable to change. The Module will serve as a framework to change the stereotypes that might have been built in the minds of the younger generations and help rebuild the strong ties between Africa and Europe that flourished in the past. The Module  would not only fill the vacuum but also provides an ample opportunity for younger generations to have access and understand the African-European historical relations and understand the working of European union as well as potentials of benefits and strong EU/AU integration.