Rector: Prof. Jörg Monar
Website: http://www.coleurope.eu/
(Bruges) The College of Europe was the world’s first university institute of postgraduate studies and training in European affairs. It was founded in 1949 by leading European figures such as Salvador de Madariaga, Winston Churchill, Paul Henri Spaak and Alcide de Gasperi in the wake of the first Congress of the European Movement in The Hague in 1948. The idea was to establish an institute where university graduates from many different European countries could study and live together. Today, the College consists of two campuses, one in Bruges and the other established in Natolin, (Warsaw, Poland) in 1993 with the support of the European Commission and the Polish government. The College now operates as ‘one College – two campuses’ and what was once referred to as the ‘esprit de Bruges’, is now known as the ‘esprit du Collège’.
Each academic year at the College is presided by a ‘Patron’ who has contributed to European integration and the values of the European Union. The College of Europe is characterised by its academic independence, its bilingualism, the diversity of its teaching staff and its multicultural environment, which together create a genuine European ‘microcosm’. Entry requirements and rigorous selection procedures ensure that students who are recruited are of the highest calibre. The student body reflects a variety of cultures and personal experiences. Students come from over 50 countries, many speaking several languages. The accredited academic programmes of Bruges and Natolin provide students with a specialised grounding in the European dimension of their fields of study, as well as an in-depth understanding of Europe in all its complexity.
In Bruges, students enrol in one of five academic departments: European Economic Studies; European Legal Studies; European Political and Governance studies; EU International Relations and Diplomacy Studies and Transatlantic Affairs. In Natolin, the study programme analyses the process of European integration from a pluri-disciplinary perspective. Upon completion of the programme, students are awarded the ‘Master of Arts in European Interdisciplinary Studies’.
Each department is flanked by a team of Academic Assistants who support the students through teaching activities as well as research. Some Academic Assistants also work alongside Research Chairs such as the EP Geremek European Civilisation Chair, the European Neighbourhood Policy Chair, the InBev-Baillet Latour Chair of European Union-China Relations, and the European Energy Policy Chair. Throughout the year at the College, students participate in many academic pursuits such conferences, simulations, moot court exercises, high level lectures, and study trips to international and European institutions. They also take part in organising their own cultural events in the form of “National Days” to allow their colleagues to discover their national heritage.
Relying on its extensive network of professors, trainers and alumni, the College also delivers, through its Development Office, professional training on EU affairs as well as consultancy services.
The Bruges campus and the Natolin campus are both associate TEPSA members.
Latest News (Bruges):
- Renewed course on EU Energy Policy in July 2020 (College of Europe, Bruges)
- New Scholarship scheme by the Polish MFA for students from the Western Balkans (College of Europe, Bruges)
- “Confronting the Competence Conundrum of an EU Directive on Minimum Wages: In Search Of a Legal Basis?”, Ane Aranguiz and Sacha Garben (College of Europe, Bruges)
- High-Level Conference: “Democracy and Human Rights in the Digital Age”, 19-20 February 2020 (College of Europe, Bruges)
- “EU-Morocco Negotiations on a Readmission Agreement: Obstacles to a Successful Conclusion”, Kevin Kaiser (College of Europe, Bruges)
- Library Talk Series: “The political theory of Hannah Arendt”, 17 February 2020 (College of Europe, Bruges)
- Three editions of the EU Project Management executive training course in 2020 (College of Europe, Bruges)
- Professor Olivier Costa contributes to a book on EU-Colombia relations (College of Europe, Bruges)
- “The Evolving Relationship between China, the EU and the USA”, Jing Men, Simon Schunz and Duncan Freeman (eds.) (College of Europe, Bruges)
- “Post-Cotonou and the EU-African Relationship – A Green Light for a Renewed Cooperation?”, Gauthier Schefer (College of Europe, Bruges)
Latest News (Natolin):
- Special issue of “De Europa” features six selected Master’s theses by College of Europe Natolin students (College of Europe, Natolin)
- Call for applications: 8th European Neighbourhood Policy PhD Summer School (College of Europe, Natolin)
- Inauguration of the “Climate Transition Lecture Series” by Ms Patricia Espinosa, UNFCCC Executive Secretary (College of Europe, Natolin)
- Report on Natolin Space Week (College of Europe, Natolin)
- The College of Europe in Natolin is hosting Executive Education Programmes (College of Europe, Natolin)
- Call for applications: “Warsaw Euro-Atlantic Summer Academy WEASA 2020” (College of Europe, Natolin)
- The College of Europe in Natolin hosted the panel discussion: “Religious Communities and European Integration” (College of Europe, Natolin)
- ”Towards a Happy Twentieth Anniversary? Future Thinking on the Eastern Partnership’s 3Ds: Dilemmas, Design and Deliverables”, Andriy Tyushka (College of Europe, Natolin)
- High-level Visit by H.E. Ct Herman Van Rompuy at the College of Europe in Natolin (College of Europe, Natolin)
- High-level Visit by Mr Margaritis Schinas, Vice-President of the European Commission at the College of Europe in Natolin (College of Europe, Natolin)