Jean Monnet Module “The EU’s Treaty Reforms and External Policies” 欧盟文化教育总司让·莫内课程项目“欧盟条约改革与对外政策”
Jean Monnet Module
“The EU’s Treaty Reforms and External Policies”
(101085452 — ETREP — ERASMUS-JMO-2022-HEI-TCH-RSCH ) （2022.10 - 2025.10）
让·莫内课程项目“欧盟条约改革与对外政策”
Summary: The applicant of the project offered two tailor-made courses in the field of European Studies at Sichuan University (SCU) in China for the targeted students with the aim to:
1. introduce the historical development of the European Union (EU) by focusing on various treaties to targeted students who do not automatically have access to EU knowledge. The project will enable the students to know how European integration was promoted by various treaty reforms;
2. introduce the EU’s foreign policies and neighborhood policies, which can help the targeted students to know the important role played by the EU in the world of globalization;
3. contribute to the sustainable development of the Centre for European Studies of Sichuan University, a “Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence”, so that it will further enhance the visibility of the EU at Sichuan University;
Project Coordinator: Dr. Tianqin YAN
Implemented activities in the duration of the project:
The following activities have been successfully carried out to enhance EU visibility among the targeted students so as to equip them with necessary skills to thrive in their future academic and professional careers, especially in cross-border and cross-cultural communication scenarios.
Two courses have been offered in three consecutive years in the duration of the project.
*Course one, “Treaties and Treaty Reforms Promoting European Integration” comprises 12 chapters delivered through weekly lectures and classroom discussions, with content covering explicitly core EU treaties (e.g., the Treaty of Rome, the Maastricht Treaty, and the Lisbon Treaty) , reform drivers, and their impact on EU integration.
*Course two, “The Foreign Policies and Neighborhood Policies of the European Union”, is structured into 12 chapters. The curriculum explores how the EU’s foreign policy principles (e.g., multilateralism, rule of law) and neighborhood policy mechanisms (such as the European Neighbourhood Policy, ENP) have evolved alongside European integration, covering topics like the historical origins of the EU’s external engagement, the institutional coordination of its foreign affairs, and the implementation of neighborhood cooperation initiatives with regions like Eastern Europe and the Southern Mediterranean.
In addition, some special activities of celebration were held to celebrate EU Day, for instance, students got chances to attend some lectures delivered by some Jean Monnet Chair professors and young scholars of CES-SCU, and they also took part in an award-winning quiz centered on EU-related knowledge.The quiz motivated them to consolidate EU-related knowledge.
The applicant of the project also encouraged targeted students to study in the universities in EU member states. The grant holder invited SCU’s International Office introduced EU exchange programs and application procedures. The grand holder also encouraged a large number of targeted students to sign up as volunteers for “2025 European Culture Street” gala at Chengdu Dongjiao Memory on April 12, 2025, with pre-event training deepening EU cultural understanding. Furthermore, Model United Nations activities (e.g., EU representing in Ukraine-Russia dispute) were held to help students to practice EU diplomatic strategies.
The grant holder also shared “Jean Monnet Module” management experience at EU-related conferences, inspiring others to apply. While for evaluation, a QQ group gathered student feedback (e.g., teaching pace), and a final questionnaire assessed course relevance and structure optimization.
5. At the same time, the grant holder published some EU-related academic papers during this period.
*YAN Tianqin (2025) “The Structural Rifts in the Atlantic Partnership”, Global Times, Sept. 2, 2025.
*YAN Tianqin (2025) “Can Military Schengen Facilitate the EU’s Establishment of a Rapid Reaction Force?”, Global Times, Nov. 25, 2025.
