University of Surrey to celebrate its Centre for Britain and Europe

The University of Surrey’s Centre for Britain and Europe (CBE) is to celebrate the launch of its Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence funding programme at an online event on Thursday 19 November, from 10:30 am until 3:30 pm.

Part of the European Commission’s Erasmus+ Programme, the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence is awarded to organisations and institutions that offer unique expertise on the EU. It brings together leading experts to bridge the gap between the various disciplines and resources in European studies and to form links with academic institutions in other countries.

Founded in 2019, the CBE’s purpose is to provide high-quality analysis that informs and develops scholarly and public debate on issues affecting the UK and Europe, both now and in the future.

For details on how to join the free event or for more information, please click here.

The three-year funding programme will allow Surrey to deliver world-class teaching, research analysis and engagement designed to promote ongoing dialogue between the UK and EU across Surrey, the country and beyond.

Five key themes will allow the CBE to draw together its cutting-edge research on Europe and Britain, as well as to build on the strong track record of the Department of Politics in engaging with key EU-UK politics:

• gender and identity
• electoral behaviour
• European and British security and defence
• de-Europeanisation/re-Europeanisation
• cross-thematic outputs designed to ensure that the CBE’s work reaches as broad an audience as possible.

Professor Amelia Hadfield, Head of Politics at the University of Surrey, said:

“While the world is struggling with many pressing issues this year, it is essential to remember that Brexit is right around the corner, and so the timing of this launch, and the funding of the CBE as a Centre of Excellence could not be better.

“As the UK reframes its relationship with the EU, it is important that dialogue and bridges of cooperation stay firmly open. The Centre for Britain and Europe’s designation as a Centre of Excellence will further strengthen its ability to operate at the intersection of academia, think tanks, government, private sector and the media as a key forum for research, analysis and debate.”