The project application of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Özgün Erler Bayır from Faculty of Political Sciences, İstanbul University which is called “Future of EU: Security, Economy and Transatlantic Relationship” achieved to be selected for Jean Monnet Module, a program that is supported by the European Commission. The project proposal shortly named FUTUREU with a 36-month duration is awarded to be funded by receiving 96.5 points out of 100. In the module, the future, economy, security of the European Union will be discussed throughout three years.

Appointed at the Department of International Relations, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Özgün Erler Bayır’s project application “Future of EU: Security, Economy and Transatlantic Relationship” is deemed worthy of funding among 1447 project applications. The project whose procedures will be followed in the European Union and International Projects Office coordinated by Prof. Dr. Bekir KAYACAN and Istanbul University Vice-Rector Prof. Dr. Mustafa Oral ÖNCÜL as the Chairman of its Executive Board will be carried out for the first time at Istanbul University.

The module aims to expand and disseminate knowledge on the European Union and stimulate further research in different dimensions of the future of the European Union. The project starts in the academic year 2020/2021, and it will be carried out for 3 years in cooperation with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Oğuz Demir from Istanbul Commerce University. The module focuses on three different yet highly interrelated areas: economy, security and transatlantic relationship.

The future of the European Union will be evaluated with the students

In the module which will be conducted for three years, through 1 undergraduate and 1 postgraduate lecture in every academic year, the future of the European Union will be discussed within the contexts of economy, security, and transatlantic relationship from a multidisciplinary point of view. For 3 years, 150 students will take courses for 252 hours. The module consists of not only formal education methods but also informal ones such as simulations, case studies, etc. which intend to give the opportunity to students for understanding and discussing theoretical and practical issues and generating solutions for them, via real-like scenarios.

Academic and non-academic stakeholders will come together

The activities which will throw academia, non-academic stakeholders, and students together will support the module. Apart from the teaching program that is designed for undergraduate and graduate students, it is aimed to gather the stakeholders from different sectors. Alongside the workshops which were designed for graduate students, academics, and policymakers, with the series of seminars for NGOs, stakeholders, state institutions, think tanks, and academics, 300 people will gather in 3 years.

What is Jean Monnet Module Program?

Jean Monnet Module Program promotes the excellence of European Union Studies on a global scale. It aims to build a bridge between academics, researchers, and policymakers. The modules include the training programs and courses on European Union Studies. They might focus on a specific topic or discipline, and they might be multidisciplinary.