University launches new European Institute for Security and Justice
Published On Tue 2 Dec 2014 by Roddy Isles
The European Institute for Security and Justice (EISJ), a major new initiative which will examine the wide range of issues from terrorism and national defence to food, energy and health security, has been launched at the University of Dundee.
News over the past few months highlights the many issues of security and justice facing the world today, some of them well-established threats such as terrorism and wars, others which have become emergent issues in the 21st century.
The EISJ will look to provide a broad understanding and analysis of issues of security and justice, drawing on expertise from disciplines as varied as politics and history to anatomy and pathology.
“We live in a changing world where the idea of security is changing all the time,” said Professor Christian Kaunert, Director of the EISJ. “Right now we see issues of health security in West Africa and the ebola crisis, of energy security in Europe with tensions with Russia, and of course the continuing situation across the Middle East with armed conflict and threats of terrorism.
“In recent years we have also issues emerging such as the global food price crisis of 2007/08. If we are to look at issues of security and justice, we need to consider the wider picture and how it shapes the decisions of policymakers and organisations around the world.
“This is the only centre in Europe that will take this broad approach and it is fitting it is based here in Dundee, where we have the requisite blend of experience across a wide range of disciplines and excellence in research and teaching that will give us the base to carry out this work.”
The Institute has been designated a Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence by the European Commission. The University of Dundee will receive €100,000.00 for various research, teaching and public engagement activities over the next three years.
Dundee is the only university in the UK to have received such an accolade in 2014.
Jean Monnet is widely regarded as one of the “founding fathers” of the European Union. To honour his memory, the Jean Monnet programme aims to stimulate teaching, research and reflection in the field of European integration studies at the level of higher education institutions within and outside the European Union. A Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence is a focal point of competence and knowledge on European Union subjects.
Professor Kaunert, who already holds a Jean Monnet Chair, said, “It is a tremendous boost to get this support from the European Commission and testifies to the University’s strength of expertise in European studies. The funding will allow us to further develop our interdisciplinary teaching and research activities and our international partnerships in the fields of security and justice. We are also planning a series of public engagement events, so that we can disseminate the knowledge we produce as widely as possible.”
The activity of the EISJ will include various research seminars and workshops, public lectures and a PhD summer school. Members of the EISJ will also be highly involved in the delivery of undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
The Institute will also be launching a new, open-source, publication – the European Journal for Security and Justice.
The University of Dundee has recently launched an exciting suite of new taught postgraduate programmes that will prepare graduates to tackle some of the major challenges facing the world. The MLitt in International Security and the MLitt and LLM in International Law & Security will provide an in-depth understanding of international relations and legislation pertaining to contemporary security challenges, such as responses to terrorism, aggression and threats to environmental security.
Roddy Isles
Head of Press
TEL: 01382 384910
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E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk