Welcome to the website of Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence at Kobe University!

Kobe University has collaborated various education and research activities with universities and institutions in the EU, since the establishment of EU Institute in Japan, Kansai, financed by the European Commission, as a consortium with Kwansei Gakuin University and Osaka University in 2005.
In September, 2015, Kobe University initiated a new Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence programme "Strengthening the Academic Basis of EU Studies in Japan, Kobe" (Agreement No. 2015-0860/057-001) to further implement educational, research and outreach activities in diffusing diverse information on the EU.
In September, 2018, the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence programme, as Consolidation of the Kobe Academic Base for EU Studies (Agreement No.2018-1646 1001-001), entered its second phase to renew its activities. We, as an oldest and best EU related education, research and outreach base in Japan, will make all our possible efforts for not only students and researchers of Kobe University but also for the wide general public.

Director of Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence at Kobe University
YOSHII Masahiko

The main objective of Kobe University's new Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence (CoE) "Consolidation of the Kobe Academic Base for EU Studies (Agreement No. 2018-1646/001-001)" is to enhance the understanding of today's EU at Kobe University as well as at regional and national level by using both existing and innovative means in order to target a more diverse and larger audience among students and civil society.
Kobe University's accumulated 13-year experience of the EU Institute in Japan, Kansai (EUIJ-Kansai) and its 3-year experience of the previous Jean Monnet CoE "Strengthening the Academic Basis of EU Studies in Japan, Kobe (Agreement No.2015-0860/057-001)" will be infused into the new Jean Monnet CoE, in which Kobe University will further refine and consolidate its EU activities in order to form an academic basis in the EU studies with long-term sustainability.

In line with the above-mentioned objective, the new Jean Monnet CoE will engage in the EU-related (1) education, (2) research, (3) scientific collaborations and (4) outreach events. EU-related courses will be further diversified and as a result, students will be given a strong impetus for EU studies. With the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement, Japanese and European firms will need university graduates with a good knowledge of the EU.
Therefore the Jean Monnet CoE will contribute by raising a new generation of EU experts and business persons with Europe-oriented careers. Synergies will be developed between various disciplines in EU studies and the new Jean Monnet CoE will extend its links with European universities.
The new Jean Monnet CoE will also hold various outreach activities in Kobe and Kansai region, putting a great emphasis on spreading the EU-related knowledge not only to the university level but also to non-academic circles of the civil society.

"Resilient EU" has been published in March 2021. Please refer to the website of Keiso Shobo for details.