On 9 and 10 October 2024, the ‘35 Years of Jean Monnet Actions’ Anniversary Conference took place in Brussels, Belgium. The Jean Monnet actions have been providing funding to support education and training research in the European Union (EU) since 1989. The Agency has been a beneficiary since 2007, when it became one of six Jean Monnet initiative institutions to receive an operating grant.
The conference marked a milestone in the history of the Jean Monnet actions. It provided a platform for participants to co-operate and exchange on EU matters. Participants included academics, researchers and organisations from around the world.
Notable speakers included Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen, Director-General of Education, Youth, Sport and Culture at the European Commission, who opened the event. There were also presentations and discussions between researchers and professors from various European and international institutions, who provided research insights into key EU priorities. A series of parallel workshops explored topics including the role of active European citizenship education and how the EU can continue to evolve following challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Stefaan Hermans, Director of Policy Strategy and Evaluation at the Directorate-General of Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, closed the event.
The conference also highlighted the expansion of Jean Monnet actions under the new Erasmus+ programme. This covers the European dimension of teaching across the educational landscape, including in schools and vocational education and training institutes.
More information and video recordings of the conference are available on the European Commission event page.