IN THIS ISSUE From the Director EU Related Courses Past Activities Australia & Europe in Conversation Upcoming Events

Fellowship Student Interns Contact Us

From the Director RMIT as a global university of technology and design has an international reputation for its applied research and vocational education and training and its presence in Asia. Over the past two years the European Union Centre at RMIT has established itself already as a primary example of RMITs strengths, engaging broadly with the Universitys wide range of interdisciplinary activities, building awareness about the European Union (EU) and its linkages with Australia, and assisting in developing partnerships, particularly between Australian universities and business, and European businesses and universities. These activities contribute directly to achieving the objectives of Europe 2020, to enable smart, sustainable and inclusive growth in Europe. Through facilitating greater exchanges amongst Australian and European researchers and students, Europes ambition to be a leader in knowledge generation will be enhanced. Through strengthening understanding about the European Unions international objectives, as expressed in the Treaty of Lisbon, and direct contribution to projects and activities which implement this agenda, the EU Centre enhances initiatives which support sustainability and promote inclusion. Building a comparative perspective on Regional Policy is one example of how this can be achieved. The Centre has become recognised as: a significant source of robust discussion about European Union policies and their implications for Australia; a source of knowledge about the European Union which can be made available in all RMITs degrees in terms

accessible to students from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds; a source of knowledge about practical means of developing partnerships with European universities and business; a facilitator of partnership development in the interests of both Australian and European entities; and an active partner with other European Union Centres and European studies scholars.

ISSUE 3 JUNE 2012

Given the Australian context in which there is often little understanding of the European Union project or of its importance to Australia, the role of the EU Centre in engaging audiences outside the academic environment is important. It enables people to gain some insight in the course of doing business, alleviating the need to commit to a formal learning process. These activities give rise to practical opportunities for partnerships which in turn highlight opportunities for greater connectedness and mutual benefit, and contribute towards the objectives of Europe 2020. Already, the EU Centre at RMIT has facilitated student and professional preparation for study tours, linked researchers with collaborators and research projects, facilitated staff exchange, promoted new research on a core aspect of the European project, and introduced many Australians to better understanding of the processes and potential of the European Union, not only in its own terms but as a model of international collaboration for other regions to learn from. In addition, the Centre has actively contributed to the current public debate about the European crisis and the likelihood that this moment will present opportunities for greater integration and a stronger Union, notwithstanding short-term difficulties. Professor Bruce Wilson June 2012

EU Related Courses With the support of the School of Global Studies, Social Science and Planning, EU related courses have increased at RMIT! We have developed an undergraduate elective with staff in the International Studies program group which was offered in 2011 in second semester as part of the Bachelor of Arts (International Studies), and then by the EU Centre in the Summer Semester 2012 using the online mode. Entitled Contemporary Europe, this is the first course to be offered at RMIT that focuses specifically on the European Union and its approach to regional and global issues. Approximately 40 students enrolled in the course, a terrific result for a new course! The online mode has proved particularly beneficial as it permits students from across the University to undertake the course at a place and time which suits them. It was offered as a University Elective to all undergraduate students at RMIT, and attracted students from business and engineering as well as social sciences. Being available in online mode, the course can be offered as a single elective in other universities and encouraging conversations are underway with colleagues in International Studies in other universities belonging to the Australian Technology Network, of which RMIT is part, towards developing this option further. Also during Year Two, a postgraduate elective course with European Union content at its heart has been developed. This course has a more specific focus than Contemporary Europe as the nature of RMITs postgraduate professional programs requires courses which address more specialised learning priorities for students. As part of the EU Centres aim to broaden its connections across the University, the postgraduate elective has been developed in conjunction with the Graduate School of Business and Law, with a focus on the Geography of Innovation. We anticipate that this course will be taught for the first time in Summer Semester 2013 and it is possible that it will also be a course in an international Masters of Public Administration, to be offered in conjunction with the University of Glasgow, Jyvskyl University School of Business and Economics, and EADA in Barcelona.

With the title of Media, Communication and Democracy: Global and National Environments, the conference drew together a broad mix of academics, industry practitioners, students and members of the public. Keynote speakers were visiting European scholars and other European Union Centres were represented amongst those delivering papers. Further information is available on the Centres website at: http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=49g59cm3qkgi

Participants of the Conference Media, Communication and Democracy: Global and National Environments

In October 2011 we had a visit to the University from a consultant based in the United Kingdom, Ms Gillian Wells, who has had experience in managing a university research office and in supporting consortia bidding for FP7 funds. Ms Wells presented a lecture on the range of EU funding programs, led workshops with research teams involved potentially in EU consortia, and provided specific advice to individual researchers involved already in the submission process. Other activities the Centre held over this period are: September 2011 Seminar: Resilience of the University of Sarajevo during the siege of Sarajevo 1992-1995 September 2011 Seminar: EU-Asia Relations: More than just China? October 2011 Seminar: Employee Driven Innovations: The Case of Helsinki October 2011 Seminar: The economic and political impact of the EUs financial crisis on Korea

Past Activities The Centre held its first Annual Conference in September 2011, in partnership with an RMIT School (Media and Communications) and with the Media and Democracy in Eastern Europe Research Project at the University of Oxford.

www.rmit.edu.au/eucentre

November 2011 Seminar: Translation of the Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir. The Second Text: feminist approach to Translation November 2011 Seminar: Domestic Violence and Workplace action in Europe and Australia December 2011 Seminar: Lifelong Learning and the Autumn of Europeanization in Asia December 2011 Seminar: Regional Trade Agreements: The emergence of Ersatz for Globalisation December 2011 Seminar: Adapting to Climate Change: Showcasing new perspectives from the Netherlands February 2012 Seminar: Creative Berlin: The Role of Culture and Creative Industries for the Development of the Divided Capital City of Germany February 2012 Research Workshop: Developing a Research Agenda on Comparative Regional Policy: Europe, Asia and Australia March 2012 Policy Briefing: Productivity in Australian industry: how does the debate look from Europe? April 2012 Seminar: A Market mechanism for adaptation to Climate Change April 2012 Seminar: Progress and Challenges in Developing a Green Economy: A European-Australian Exploration April 2012 Policy Briefing: Progress and Challenges in Developing a Green Economy: A European-Australian Exploration April 2012 Seminar: The European Union Managing Crisis: does this foreshadow a stronger political union? May 2012 Public Lecture: What is the EU? How does it work? Why does it matter? May 2012 Seminar: The role of the European Parliament in times of Crisis May 2012 Public lecture: Australia and Europe in Conversation

Australia and Europe in Conversation: 50 Years of EU-Australia Relations Celebrating 50 years of Australia and the EU Fifty years ago, in March 1962, Sir Edwin McCarthy took up his position as the first Australian Ambassador to the European Union. On May 30 , the European Union Centre hosted an Australia and Europe in Conversation session, one of a th series being held to mark the 50 anniversary of the European Union. Patrick Renault, Ambassador of Belgium; Sven-Olof Petersson, Ambassador of Sweden; and Dr Bruno Mascitelli, President of the Contemporary European Studies Association of Australia (CESAA) at Swinburne University took part. They discussed The EU as a regional institution and democracy? The place of smaller member states. Paul Barclay from ABC's Radio National moderated the discussion. Professor Bruce Wilson, Director of the EU Centre, said: To mark the anniversary, Ambassadors from EU member states, together with Australian Ambassadors to Europe and other experts, are coming together to talk about the issues. RMIT was delighted to host this recent discussion, which was enjoyable and thought-provoking. Listen to a podcast recording of this conversation: http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/rn/podcast/2012/05/bia_201 20531_2005.mp3
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Left to right: Dr Bruno Mascitelli, President of the Contemporary European Studies Association of Australia (CESAA); Swinburne University Mr Paul Barclay from ABCs Radio National H.E. Mr Sven-Olof Petersson, Ambassador of Sweden to Australia H.E. Mr Patrick Renault, Ambassador of Belgium to Australia

www.rmit.edu.au/eucentre

Upcoming Activities June 2012 Seminar: Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technology June 2012 Public seminar at University of Technology Sydney: Transforming Cultures & European Union July 2012 Public Seminar at Curtin University WA: The European Union Managing Crisis: does this foreshadow a stronger political union July 2012 Public Seminar: The Asian Century: what it means for the EU and Australia

Student Interns Student interns undertaking placements for their RMIT course requirements are also able to spend a term of approximately three months with the Centre. During this time, the students benefit from being involved in the decision making and activities of the Centre as well as undertaking their research project incorporating aspects of Europe-Australia relations. Students interested in undertaking placement at the EU Centre can contact Fran Martens at franny.martens@rmit.edu.au.

European Union Centre Publications Further information on Centre activities is available on the website at: http://www.rmit.edu.au/eucentre Policy Briefings: 1. Skills Formation in Australia: Lessons from Germany 2. Productivity in Australian Industry: How does the debate look from Europe

International Visiting Fellow with the Centre: Professor Klaus Kunzmann The Centre successfully applied for funding from the RMIT Foundation for Professor Klaus Kunzmann, a Jean Monnet Chair from Dortmund Technical University to come to RMIT for a month as an International Visiting Fellow. Professor Kunzmann was a key architect of the European Spatial Development Perspective in 1999.
Professor Klaus Kunzmann

Working Papers: 1. C. Duke Transposing Concepts: Lifelong Learning and Learning Regions 2. B. Wilson Regional Policy After Lisbon:

Contact us European Union Centre RMIT University Building 5, Level 2, Bowen Street GPO Box 2476 Melbourne VIC 3001 Tel: 03 9925 8214 Fax: 03 9925 8220 Email: eucentre@rmit.edu.au www.rmit.edu.au/eucentre Image To unsubscribe from this newsletter please reply to this e-mail and write unsubscribe in the subject line.
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During his visit in February 2012, Professor Kunzmann made seven presentations to various academic and policy audiences, including one at the ANU Centre for European Studies. One presentation was part of the Vice Chancellors Transforming the Future lecture series, accompanied by a Masterclass for academic staff and postgraduate students. He contributed also to several activities promoting the Centres Comparative Regional Policy research program.

www.rmit.edu.au/eucentre