Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence on European Politics and
  European-Russian Relations

The new Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence on European Politics and European-Russian Relations started its activities in August 2011 in the School of Management at the University of Tampere, supported by a grant from the European Commission to bolster the University’s own re-structuration and new strategy. In line with the University’s new strategy the Centre has set public-private partnerships as a key principle in the organisation of its activities. The new Centre focuses in particular on European politics and European-Russian relations broadly defined, areas in which the University of Tampere has notable and long-standing expertise.

At the same time the Centre continues the wider Jean Monnet activities within the University that were initiated in August 1995 with the establishment of Finland’s first ever Jean Monnet professorship to the then Faculty of Social Sciences. The first holder of the post was Burkhard Aufferman. From autumn 1998 to summer 2007 Dr Jyrki Käkönen held the chair, and since 1 August 2007 Dr. Pami Aalto is the Jean Monnet Professor (with a special focus on European integration and regional cooperation). In February 2000 a Centre for European Studies was established. It was converted into a Jean Monnet Centre already in May the same year when the European Commission granted the University the status of Jean Monnet European Centre of Excellence. Jean Monnet Professor is the director of the Centre.

The main task of the Jean Monnet Centre is to coordinate the cooperation of different departments in teaching and research in the field of European Studies. The Centre organizes seminars and courses within the field of European Studies and publishes research on Europe both in its web pages and on paper form. In addition, the Centre aims at developing cooperation between the University and other regional actors in European issues. The Centre is part of the School of Management, where Planning Officer, Ms. Minna Höijer is in charge of its administrative functions.