Georgia Tech Selected to Host European Union Center of Excellence

September 2008 · The Sam Nunn School of International Affairs at Georgia Tech was one of eleven universities in the country selected to host a European Union Center of Excellence (EUCE) for the 2008-2011 period. The Center’s core mission is to promote knowledge and understanding of the European Union and the significance of the transatlantic relationship, including the strong economic and cultural ties between Europe, the state of Georgia, and the southeast. The Center will build on these ties and foster new relationships through a range of activities including interdisciplinary research and curricular developments; high profile speaker series; conferences; the creation of research and learning networks; and numerous public forums bridging the diverse communities of academia, business, government, media, and other civic and professional organizations. According to Dr. Vicki Birchfield, Associate Professor of International Affairs and Principal Investigator for the grant, "The Center will facilitate dialogue and collaboration among academics, policymakers, and citizens and serve as a catalyst for generating interest in European affairs and promoting mutual understanding and cooperation between Europe and the United States." Birchfield will serve as Director of the newly established EUCE beginning September 1.

Building on the natural strengths of Georgia Tech and its commitment to interdisciplinary programs, the Center’s educational, outreach, and research activities will revolve around the theme of “Technological Transformations and Global Challenges in the 21st Century: EU and Transatlantic Strategies for Innovation and Sustainability." Dean Sue Rosser from the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts expressed that “The award of this grant is a real coup for Georgia Tech! It spotlights the role that the School and College play at the Institute particularly as the activities of the Center will promote greater exchange between the sciences and the liberal arts both at Georgia Tech and across the Atlantic." Nunn School Chair, Professor William Long, added “The prestige associated with operating an EUCE significantly enhances the Institute’s effort to define its international agenda."

The award and the re-established EUCE allows The Nunn School, Georgia Tech, and the wider community to deepen and expand existing European partnerships as well as forge new connections within the twelve newest member states of the EU. Three years of funding will provide for academic conferences and research workshops; visiting dignitaries and EU practitioners; faculty and student grants to promote EU scholarship; and a host of outreach activities between Georgia Tech, the business community, local government, and civic leaders. The Center will also coordinate teacher workshops and programs at area public schools, promote interaction throughout the University System of Georgia among faculty and students interested in EU and transatlantic studies, and continue The Nunn School’s flagship summer abroad program in Brussels.

This award is a prestigious honor for the School and the Institute and underscores the vital role of higher education in enhancing EU-US relations.