EUCN Conference 2008: "Europe and the Changing World: Challenges, Priorities and Research Collaborations"
National Centre for Research on Europe at the University of Canterbury
25th - 27th September
The 2008 EUCN Conference, Europe and the Changing World: Challenges, Priorities and Research Collaborations, was held in conjunction with the EUSA-AP to produce a truly international event with over 100 participants from eighteen countries.
The conference was held from the 25th-27th of September at the Copthorne Central Hotel in Christchurch and was hosted by the National Centre for Research on Europe at the University of Canterbury.
The aims of the conference were to promote the collaboration of academics and scholars within the framework of three themes:
- EU Through the Eyes of the World
- Teaching Europe Outside Europe, and
- Ideas for Research Collaboration: State of Play and Future Directions.
With ten conference panels, (42 conference presentations) and two keynote addresses it was an intensive but rewarding three days for participants. One important feature of the conference was the integration of post-graduate students from the region into the conference. Fourteen students presented conference papers and over 15 posters were submitted to the EUSA-AP regional student poster competition. The conference also gave the many other students attending the opportunities to interact with and discuss their research with key international scholars.
The first Keynote Address was delivered by the Hon. Margaret Wilson, former Speaker of the House, who spoke on the importance of Europe to New Zealand and the necessity for New Zealand to continue to actively engage with modern Europe and her experiences of doing this in her position as Speaker.
Dimitri Corpakis, the Head of the Horizontal Aspects and Coordination of Science, Economy and Society Unit at DG Research, presented the Closing Keynote Address, which outlined the way in which research and research collaboration in the social sciences and humanities can help to address the challenges that Europe faces as it plans for the future.
The conference started with an opening function at the Belgian Beer Café in Christchurch’s historic Provincial Council Buildings. This provided participants the opportunity to renew old acquaintances and make new connections.
The first morning of the conference saw parallel sessions looking at:
- EU-NZ Relations
- The EU in the World
- The EU and National Policies
- The EU in Our Region
The afternoon was dedicated to presentations by researchers who have participated in the international study of the perceptions of the EU in the Asia Pacific region.
At the end of the first day, delegates assembled at the Christchurch Club for the Conference dinner and to hear the keynote address of the Hon. Margaret Wilson.
Day two saw sessions presented on NZ-Eu People to People Links and The EU and the Outside World. After lunch the focus shifted to discussing teaching and research related to the EU with presentations on teaching experiences and information sessions on NZ-EU research linkages.
The conference concluded with a reception at the NCRE at the University of Canterbury, giving participants the opportunity to visit the new Centre which was opened in July.
The Conference was co-funded by the EUCN and a grant from DG-EACEA to the European Union Studies Association – Asia Pacific.
Keynote Speakers
Hon Margaret Wilson
We were very fortunate to be able to host the Hon. Margaret Wilson, Speaker of the House of Representatives, as the keynote speaker for this conference. After a legal and academic career, the Hon. Margaret Wilson entered Parliament on the Labour Party List in 1999 and immediately gained a Ministerial post. Her Ministerial positions included Attorney-General, Minister of Labour, Minister Responsible for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, Minister of Commerce, Associate Minister of Justice, Associate Minister of State Services, Minister Responsible for the Law Commission, Minister for Courts, Associate Minister for Courts, Minister of Building Issues and Chairperson of the Privileges Select Committee.She was elected Speaker in March 2005.
Dr. Dimitri Corpakis
Dr Dimitri Corpakis, an engineer by
training, has to date more than 26 years
experience in European affairs.
Before joining the European Commission
in 1990, he worked as an EU expert with
the Greek Ministry of Education. His Brussels career started in 1990 in the area of Education and Training. Dr. Corpakis has held a number of roles in the area of Research and Development and is currently
the Head of Unit on “Horizontal aspects and
Coordination” of the Directorate “Science, Economy and Society” of the Directorate
General for Research, that manages 2 Programmes of the 7th Community RTD
Framework Programme (Research on Socio-economic sciences and Humanities and Science in Society).
Conference Programme
Post-graduate Poster Competition
In association with the Conference ran a Poster Competition for Post-graduate students. Posters respresented students research topics related to the European Union or the European Union in the Asia Pacific region.