Awards for Grant Competition 2013-2014
Getting to Know Europe: Local Communities and the European Union
The European Commission is supporting the following institutions for projects submitted to the Getting to Know Europe Grants Competition. These projects will be completed during the January 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014 period.
The proposals were evaluated according to the applicants’ technical and economic capacity to undertake the proposed project and the award criteria established in the competition Call for Proposals. The 14 projects listed below were consequently selected for award out of 27 proposals received.
| Recipient Institution | Project Description | ||
| Boston University | Boston University will explore democratic politics against the backdrop of transformations taking place across Europe in response to the Euro crisis. It does this from two perspectives, from a series of debates from European ambassadors, and from European artists, writers, intellectuals, and activists. The project targets a broad audience and has several components: a series of public debates, 8 European Voice lectures, European Voices Literary. The project team will create and maintain website, social media links, radio broadcasts and blogs. | ||
| Bay Area Council Economic Institute (BACEI) | BACEI will endeavor to display the extent of relations between the San Francisco Bay Area and the EU. The project team will include original publications related to local development and its shared importance in Europe. They will enable direct dialogue by hosting a series of conferences about important issues for the EU and US. They will also create an online set of tools to facilitate communication and support. Summary reports will be published about all the collected information. | ||
| Brigham Young University (BYU) | BYU will develop outreach programs for Utah and some surrounding areas about the EU. The project funding will help offset recent budget cuts, allowing for expansion of current programs and creation of new ones. The project will include an educator workshop, art competition, model EU competition, website improvement, partnerships with radio programs, increased social media activity, and business outreach. | ||
| City University of New York (CUNY) | CUNY will hold workshops to teach students, academics, and the public about contemporary issues in the EU. They will also host business forums to inform the local business community about the impact of economic issues in Europe. The university will furthermore organize a Europe Day celebration that will feature quizzes, maps, posters etc, as well as a panel of several speakers about the EU and a concert showcasing European music. These would add to their existing EU programs and create links between diplomats, local government officials, academics, the public, and the business community. | ||
| University of Florida | University of Florida will promote the EU and the transatlantic relationship at the local level. They will organize a series of competitions and activities at local schools, such as photo exhibitions, model EU, and roundtables. They will partner with the Bureau of Economic and Business Research at UF to produce a database and website for business and government officials for information on economic/demographic ties between EU and Florida. | ||
| Friends of the Goethe Institute (FOGI) | FOGI will explore how EU experiences are similar to the Baltimore area through art and culture in partnership with Washington-based EUNIC. They will promote dialogue and cooperation between the Baltimore area and partner cities in Europe. The project team will organize a study tour, residencies for the artists/experts from EU, film screenings, and panel discussions. | ||
| University of Nebraska, Omaha (UNO) | UNO plan to increase awareness of the EU as a major player in the global and political economic system, as well as showcase the value of the transatlantic relationship. They will advertise the GTKE program in state papers and social media and launch a GTKE media portal. They will recruit and train 12 EU students to become UNO-EU Diplomats, host an EU Consuls General lecture series, European Union Day, and Student-Faculty Exchanges. They will also present to local and regional officials through service clubs. | ||
| New York University (NYU) | NYU’s project will promote greater knowledge of Europe in the New York metro area and other areas of the US. They will focus on three themes: immigration, politics, and economics. The project team can draw on experts and organizations in NYC. They will organize a series of week-long faculty development seminars and will partner with organizations that connect with minority communities. The team will also develop public programs to increase discussion about EU. Additionally, the team will have partners develop their own outreach plans. | ||
| Old Dominion University (ODU) | The AcessEU program at ODU is a Hampton Roads Initiative, engaging the Hampton Roads region of Southeastern Virginia, in a series of programs, events, and activties that enhance the region’s understanding of the European Union. The project team will host a European-American Conference, a Military Community Seminar, a Seminar on Defense Collaboration, Two High School Teachers Curriculum Workshops, a Study Abroad Program for Students and will Establish Visiting Entrepeneurs Program. They will also organize annual Model EU High School Simulations. | ||
| Rutgers University | Rutgers will raise awareness about the EU and EU-US relationship across New Jersey. They will expand on their previous EU granted funded project and engage business, government, educators, and the public. Project events include EU-NJ business forums, Europe Day activities at Rutgers and strengthening the Euro Challenge program from the previous project. | ||
| Smith Middle School | Smith will seek to raise awareness about the EU, its institutions, role in the world, and the value of the transatlantic relationship through professional development workshops, student/teacher learning, and exchange programs in France and Belgium, as well as community awareness activities for Europe Day. These include a Euro-Mania Jeopardy competition for middle school students, European foods, videos, and speeches. They will promote an EU booth during the festival following the Walk for Education. They will also promote French, Spanish, and Italian food and culture during Smith Middle School’s Global Connections event. | ||
| World Affairs Council of Atlanta | World Affairs Council of Atlanta will seek to better inform the Atlanta public of the essential nature of the US-European relationship in all its aspects through a series of programs: Europe Day Public Luncheon & Private Reception; European Ambassador’s Forum Series; Evening Public Briefings and Roundtable Discussions; Transatlantic Trade and Innovation Seminar for the Southeast United States. | ||
| World Affairs Council of Houston | WAC Houston will attempt to educate members of the single largest World Affairs Council of America, and the Houston area, about the European Union and its growing importance. Their focus will be on three EU themes: history and institutions, economic affairs, foreign policy and security affairs. The project team will also involve corporate programs and workshops, programs for educators, and young professionals. | ||
| World Trade Center San Diego | World Trade Center, San Diego’s goal is to increase exposure of the EU to those living in and doing business in Southern California. The project team will organize numerous activities, such as conferences on FDI, biotech, and green tech, as well as business mixers. Around Europe Day, there will be a showcasing of European films and arts, as well as an outing to a European exhibit at a museum. They will also hold briefings on the EU and the transatlantic relationship for constituents and students. Will create and maintain brochures, website, webinars, podcasts, radio programs, and print media. | ||