After successfully hosting the 31st edition of EuroSim – a Model European Union that brings together around 200 students from the US and the EU to simulate the legislative process of the European Union – the Institute for European Studies (now: Brussels School of Governance) participated with its own delegation of students in the US edition that was hosted at the St. John Fisher College in Rochester, New York between 28 – 31 March. Selected across its LLM, EuroMaster, and Postgraduate Certificate programmes, the Institute’s delegation negotiated together with peers from 20 different universities and colleges the EU’s next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). From their respective alter egos they held on to the positions of Heads of Government, ministers or MEPs in a four-day negotiation marathon at the end of which a compromise was successfully achieved. The EuroSim conference completes the exhaustive theoretical education the Institute is delivering through the three aforementioned programmes by adding a sought-after practical dimension of active and experiential learning where students have the opportunity to solve problems and be confronted with real-life scenarios. Through its transatlantic nature, the event adds an important cultural and social component as well, with long-term impact and benefits for students on both sides of the Atlantic.
Aside of the EuroSim conference, the US tour organised by Silviu Piros (Educational Development Unit) also included two study visits in New York where the students had the opportunity to further discuss the EU’s role abroad as well as EU – UN relations. The first study visit involved a meeting at the EU Delegation to the UN, where the group was received by Ambassador Gustavo Martin Prada and discussed some of the challenges the EU is currently facing in its support for the multilateral system, given the current internal and external threats such as the looming Brexit, the current political climate in the US, and the rise of populism. The second visit took place at the UN Headquarters itself, giving the group the chance to visit the premises of this unique and truly global organisation with a rich history and noble mission.
This opportunity was made possible with the support of the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union, as EuroSim is one of the core activities of the Jean Monnet Chair EXACT led by Prof. Florian Trauner. Now in its 30th year, the programme supports a variety of educational activities that have European studies built at their core, and the Institute for European Studies is proud to have been a longstanding partner of the programme, running currently no less than five different actions, each aiming to further develop and innovate teaching and learning in the field of European Studies.
