The IES 2006 Activity Report
Its interdisciplinarity is reflected by its projects that are active in a growing number of disciplines ranging from Law over Political Science to Communication Science. All research at IES focuses on the EU as an internationat actor, or deals with Europe’s external relations as has been described in the Institute’s Research Strategy. The strenghtening of the research clusters and the overall oversight of research at the Institute has led to a respectable output, both in terms of quantity and quality.
Its involvement in three European-funded networks (GARNET, REFGOV and EPIGOV) and in numerous smaller externally-sponsored projects is proof of its growing importance and its acceptance as an excellence centre in an international environment. As the institute becomes more and more known to the outside (academic) world, it is also becoming an attraction pole for foreign scholars. In 2006, the IES hosted five visiting fellows and accepted accepted (or prolongated) seven senior and junior associated researchers.
It comes as no surprise that the many hours and days spent in 2006 on future planning resulted in a strategic plan for the next five years that is both ambitious and realistic. In its first year of implementation, all benchmarks for 2006 were met.
Yet let me not be too euphoric. These times are difficult times for universities. A new financing decree may result in less future funding for our alma mater, and for specialised Master programmes (the so-called Master-na-Master programmes) in particular. Against this background, the IES-run PILC programme faces restructuring, as its main sponsor, the VUB, may look for synergies with other programmes. The renowned PILC programme went through an external (and as far as we can judge today also positive) evaluation, and the Institute remains vigilent to see to a qualitative implementation of possible changes.
I am, however, optimistic: the quality of our research and the performance of our staff has already proven that the Institute for European Studies can deliver, both in terms of quality and in terms of quantity. I see no reason why this should not continue in 2007 and beyond.
Prof. Dr. Bart De Schutter
President IES
After a turbulent 2005 where a lot of changes in premises and structure took place, 2006 was a time for enhancement of the IES Research pillar. With seven new researchers in 2006, the Institute continued its expansion and its deepening of its research clusters that were put in place in the previous years. The IES also wrote a new strategic plan for 2006-2010 in which it outlined the benchmarks for research, education and services. All of the benchmarks laid down in this plan were met in 2006.
In the area of education, the IES continued its efforts with regard to the Programme on International Legal Cooperation (PILC). As in previous years, the PILC programme was organised under the auspices of the Law Faculty of the VUB. In accordance with the decision of the Flemish government of 17 May 2002, the Programme leads to the diploma of Master in International and Comparative Law – a diploma that was awarded to 32 students in the past academic year. Although the content of the PILC programme did not change in 2006, many discussions were held as to the future content of the programme. As the programme was subject to an in-depth external evaluation (visitatie) at the end of 2006, a self-evaluation report - commissioned by the evaluators - was drafted in which elements of possible change were presented. In the light of new financial rules for universities imposed by the Flemish Government, this Master-after-Master programme will no longer enable university to receive government-funding for its students. Against this background, Rectorate and Faculty requested re-organisation measures.
Although the curriculum of the programme remained the same, PILC replaced two lecturers. The lecture series organised by the IES in the fall of 2006 under the auspices of the PILC director was part of the student programme.
The IES also organised its third Summer School on the European Decision-Making Process, in which 29 students from 18 different countries participated. In analogy with previous years the summer school was organised for one week in Brussels and one week in Vienna in cooperation with the Universität Wien and the Diplomatische Akademie Wien. It took place in July.
In the area of research, the IES started four new research projects on its own budget. Following a call for projects in 2005, three PhD-researchers started on two different projects: one in the research cluster “EU and China”, and two in the cluster “Information Society”. A new call for projects for 2006 that was, unlike other calls, geared towards (external) students was also successful and resulted in the engagement at the end of the year of two more PhD-students: one in the field of European Foreign and Security Policy, and one in the field of Migration, Diversity and Asylum.
The IES continued its Research Colloquia, that took place 13 times in 2006. The Research Colloqiua are organised to enable IES researchers to present their findings and/or to obtain information on research methodology and PhD-writing.
A few figures:
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Research activities in the past also led to a large number of publications in 2006. In the course of the year, no less than six new books were published, while the number of journal articles amounts to 33.
In the scientific services area, the IES continued its efforts to organise lecture series and colloquia. In 2006, the IES launched a lecture series on EU-WTO relations, while it collaborated with Faculty to organise the “VUB Chair” on the European Court of Human Rights (which extends to 2007).
Academic services were also rendered in the form of the IES Policy Forum, which took place three times in 2006. The policy fora were mainly focused on environmental law.
In total, the IES organised 32 scientific events in 2006. In addition it collaborated in the organisation of two colloquia in cooperation with other institutions.
A total of 6 externally financed projects were carried out by the IES. The IES had been successful in the past in joining the EC 6th framework European networks “GARNET”, “REVGOV” and “EPIGOV”, while it carried out research activities for the Brussels Region, two international NGOs and one law firm.
Financially speaking, the expenses of the IES remained within budget and the Institute was able to round off the year with a limited surplus.
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