Master classes Brussels for Europe
Brussels’ universities, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), in collaboration with the Brussels-Europe Liaison Office, are organising a masterclass about Brussels for European civil servants. The primary aim of the project is to give them a broader insight into Brussels and its socio-geographic, economic and political cultures and structures. In this way, European civil servants will be encouraged to widen their perspectives and to obtain a view of the city in which they live and work.
It is now around 50 years since the European Institutions were established in Brussels. In 2001, the then President of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, and Belgium’s Prime Minister, Guy Verhofstadt, launched a debate about “Brussels, Capital of Europe”. They made reference to the responsibility of the Institutions to close the gap between Europe and Brussels. That requires the members of the European Institutions to be better informed about the city’s urban dynamics. “Brussels for Europe” aims to help that progression to take place.
Under the name “Brussels for Europe”, the city’s universities, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) developed a series of post-academic masterclasses about Brussels for European civil servants. The primary aim of the project is to give them a broader insight into Brussels and its socio-geographic, economic and political cultures and structures. This encourages European civil servants to widen their perspectives and to obtain a view of the city in which they live and work. As well as being employees of the Union, European civil servants are excellent examples of a European integration project. As representatives of Europe, they are viewed as crucial players in implementing the integration project in the Union’s Member States. As citizens of Brussels they are best placed to connect this European project with a Brussels urban project.
The “Brussels for Europe” masterclasses are aimed at European civil servants with responsibilities in the various European Institutions who already have some experience of Brussels. The programme consists of 10 modules, composed of lectures, excursions and walks, moderated panels and cultural visits. These will give the “ex-pats” an in-depth insight into various topics and issues relating to Brussels. As well as subject-specific explanations and visits to various places in the city, the participants will meet Brussels’ associations and bodies and are exposed to the artistic and cultural life of this cosmopolitan city.
The programme is offered alternately in English and in French. In October 2010, the fifth edition of the masterclasses will start, this time, once again, in French.
More information can be found at www.brusselsforeurope.eu. Those interested can put themselves forward as candidates via info@brusselsforeurope.eu.
The project is supported by the Brussels-Europe Liaison Office and the Brussels Capital Region.
