Outreach Activities

 

OUTREACH NEWS

WAFLT (Wisconsin Association For Language Teachers) Fall Conference
Go Global: Communicate, Collaborate, Participate
Preparing teachers and students for the globally interconnected world of today and tomorrow
November 1-3, 2012 Radisson Paper Valley Hotel, Appleton, WI

Stop by the Center for European Studies table in the Exhibition Hall to learn of K-12 resources and programming offered through European Studies and its partner centers (Wisconsin International Outreach Consortium)


World Languages Day at UW-Madison

Wednesday November 7, 2012
Internationalize Your Curriculum: A Toolbox from UW-Madison
Presenters: Csanád Siklós and David Dettmann
Department/Program: Wisconsin International Outreach Consortium (WIOC)
Time: 9:55am-10:35am
Location: Union South: Alumni (2nd Floor) Session
Description: Meet with representatives from the Centers for European Studies and East Asian Studies to explore international resources available to K-12 teachers of foreign languages, social studies, geography, economics, and other disciplines. A broad range of resources from different world regions will be showcased in addition to resources related more specifically to the study of Europe and East Asia. The Center for European Studies and the Center for East Asian Studies are part of the Wisconsin International Outreach Consortium which is comprised of eight federally funded (Title VI) area studies centers on campus.

The European Union: Boundaries and Barriers (High School Event) Date and Time: 8:30-2:00 pm on Friday, November 16th
Location: UW-Milwaukee Golda Meir Library, 2311 E. Hartford Avenue, Milwaukee, WI

Description: A FREE workshop for high school students. Bring your students to UW-Milwaukee for an interactive workshop examining stereotypes and obstacles to global understanding. Through an exploration of current and historical divisions within the European Union, we'll discuss the challenges in overcoming barriers between communities here at home and around the world.

There are a limited number of travel grants available! Each school is limited to 30 students and space is limited. Registration forms must be submitted by October 29th, but can be submitted by October 22nd for priority consideration to secure a place. To request a registration form, please e-mail Dina Wolf at wolfd@uwm.edu

Sponsors: Institute of World Affairs in collaboration with the European Union Center of Excellence and the Center for European Studies, World Affairs Councils of America, and European Union Delegation to the USA Contact and web info: Dina Wolf, wolfd@uwm.edu or 414-229-3312.

Open Registration for Euro Challenge 2013 High School Competition

Registration is now open for the Euro Challenge 2013 High School Competition To register your team for the Competition please go to http://www.euro-challenge.org/registration.html

Description: The Euro Challenge is an exciting educational opportunity for 9th and 10th graders to learn about the European Union (EU) and the euro.
The Euro Challenge is a program launched and supported by the Delegation of the European Union to the United States in Washington, D.C Student teams of three to five students are asked to make presentations answering specific questions about the European economy and the single currency, the euro. They are also asked to pick one member country of the "euro area" (the
17 EU member countries that have adopted the euro so far), to examine an economic problem at the country level, and to identify policies for responding to that problem.

Competition Dates and Locations:
Teams compete in the Midwest Regional Rounds in Chicago which is hosted by the Chicago Federal Reserve.
This year the Regional Round will be held on Friday March 22, 2013.
Winners will then proceed to the National semi-finals/finals in New York in April.

If you are interested in learning more about the Euro Challenge competition, please see the Euro Challenge website at:
http://www.euro-challenge.org/about.html or contact Csanád Siklós, Assistant Director, European Union Center of Excellence, UW-Madison siklos@wisc.edu / (608) 265 4766.

Lesson Plan on the History of European Integration is Available for Download

A lesson plan entitled The Origins of European Economic Cooperation and Integration is available for download. In this lesson students will read primary and secondary source materials to learn about the arguments made in favor of European economic cooperation and integration after World War II. The lesson was created by Jason Knoll of Verona High School who was a participant on the EU Brussels Study Trip in 2011.
Grades: 9-12
Duration: 2-3 days
Educational Content Standards (Wisconsin Model Academic Standards): History B.12.2; History B.12.8


Madison East Team is the 2012 Euro Challenge Midwest Regional Round Winner

For the second year running a team of sophomores from Madison East High School has won the Midwest Regional Round of the EU-sponsored Euro Challenge Competition. Held at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago on March 28, the Euro Challenge requires student teams to research and present on the current economic conditions in the euro area, explore a particular economic challenge and apply it to one of the 17 EU member states that currently use the euro. Teams then propose a country-based policy to address the economic challenge.

The Madison East team chose to explore the challenges facing Germany of living with a single monetary policy. The team competed against nine other high school teams from Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Wisconsin. They will now attend the National Semi-Finals/Finals at the New York Federal Reserve on April 30th where they will be competing against regional champions from across the United States.

Brookfield Academy also from Wisconsin was participating in the Euro Challenge for the first time. The Brookfield team presented on the challenge of inflation and chose Portugal as its case study. The team gave a strong presentation but were unable to qualify for the National Semi-Finals and Finals in New York City.

 

European Union Centers of Excellence Educational Trip to Brussels for Teachers

Since the summer of 2009 the Delegation of the European Commission to the U.S. has been running an annual educational trip for K-12 teachers to Brussels. The UW-Madison’s European Union Center of Excellence has participated in this outstanding educational opportunity each year by inviting Wisconsin high school teachers to travel to Belgium. Each year our Wisconsin teachers join a group of secondary school teachers, university students, and other EUCE network staff from across the U.S. for the week long program which includes visits to the European Commission, the European Parliament, the US Mission and NATO. You can read about their experiences and the ways in which the study trip enriches their teaching in the testimonials below:

June 2012 Elsa Banks (McFarland High School)
June 2011 Jason Knoll (Verona High School)
June 2010 Michele Koper (Kettle Moraine High School, Wales WI)
June 2009 Bill Gibson (Madison East High School)
June 2009 Brigitte Musallam (Lincoln High School, Wisconsin Rapids)

EURO CHALLENGE

The Euro Challenge is an exciting educational opportunity for high school students to learn about the European Union (EU) and the euro. Student teams of three to five students are asked to make presentations answering specific questions about the European economy and the single currency, the euro. They are also asked to pick one member country of the "euro area" (the 17 EU member countries that have adopted the euro so far), to examine an economic problem at the country level, and to identify policies for responding to that problem.

Read more about Euro Challenge and past competitions.

K-12 OUTREACH

Annual K-12 Teacher Workshops

25 April 2012: "The Global Marketplace II: A One-Day K-12 Teacher Workshop"

The Pyle Center Room 309

The Center for European Studies sponsors various seminars and workshops devoted to the professional development of teachers. CES programs emphasize curriculum development and ongoing teacher training at the K-12 and post-secondary level. Past workshop topics have included Europe and the environment, international organizations, marginalized groups, democracy, and religion.

PAST WORKSHOPS:

20-24 June 2011: "Europe and the Developing World"

This workshop explored the history of Europe’s relationship with the developing world, exploring both policy and public attitudes, exploitation and assistance, from the height of colonialism, through the uncertainties of the immediate post-colonial period to current global issues that unite as well as separate the nations of Europe from the developing world. To what extent has current European policy been shaped by the colonial past? How do attitudes to the developing world differ from EU member state to member state? And how has the recent economic crisis affected current development aid, development policy and long term development goals?

For more information, please visit the workshop website.

 

20 April 2011: "The Global Marketplace: A One-Day K-12 Teacher Workshop"

The current global economic crisis has done much to highlight the significance of the study of international economics and the interconnectedness of regional and national economies worldwide. UW-Madison international business faculty and regional outreach specialists along with guest speakers from the community explored the global marketplace, provided a survey of international business relations, promoted an awareness and knowledge of cultural influences on business, and presented resources and opportunities available for the study and teaching of international economics, national economies, and business practices.

Workshop schedule and presentations are available here.

 

28 June-2 July 2010: "Europe and the Mediterranean"

This workshop explores the history and culture of the Euro-Mediterranean region and discuss a range of issues (social, economic, environmental, and political) that affect this vital transnational area. How, for example, has Europe responded to the need and challenges of closer cooperation and integration with Southern Mediterranean and Middle Eastern states? And does the recent (2008) Union for the Mediterranean serve as a blueprint for resolving a wide range of cross-regional issues including security, pollution, and migration?

Download a copy of the workshop reader!

 

22-26 June 2009: "Looking Forward, Looking Back: Causes and Consequences of the Fall of the Berlin Wall"

To commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Center for European Studies and the Center for Russia, East Europe and Central Asia offered a week long K-12 teacher workshop from Monday, June 22 to Friday, June 26, 2009. The Workshop looked at both the Cold War and the post-Cold War period, identifying themes and events that led to the dismantling of the Iron Curtain, evaluating the monumental changes in Europe in the last twenty years and highlighting both their regional and global significance.

Click here for a full schedule, a list of workshop speakers, and speaker presentations.

 

23-27 June 2008: "New and Emerging Migrations"

This year's workshop- run in collaboration with the UW's Global Studies program - had the title of, "New and Emerging Migrations" and provided a timely discussion of a wide variety of issues surrounding migration in Europe and placed these issues in a broader, global context. Fourteen teachers from Wisconsin and one from Illinois attended five days of informative and thought provoking presentations, panel discussions, film showings and UW-Madison campus resource site visits.\

Download the workshop agenda here.

For information about this and other Europe-related workshops for K-12 teachers, see the website of the Center for European Studies

EU Simulation Modules

These modules, created by the UW-Madison EUCE, are intended for use in grades 6-12. On each simulation website you will find materials for holding an in-class simulation of the EU policy-making process. Material is geared towards middle and high-school levels, but may well be used at the college level as a general introduction to the EU. Two modules have been developed so far:

- The EU Chocolate Directive

The chocolate simulation is a novel way to teach students about the European Union and some of the important issues its members must deal with as the EU becomes increasingly integrated. Student teams represent a member country, develop a position regarding chocolate regulation and scheme to reach the best outcome for their country.

- Parental Leave Policy in the European Union

For more information about either of these modules, please contact the Outreach Coordinator.

K-12 Teaching Resources.

Our K-12 Teaching Resources page lists more links that may be useful.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Graduate Student Speakers Bureau. An important EUCE community outreach initiative sends graduate students out to public libraries, high schools, and regional educational conferences and other community forums for public discussions of current events in the EU. Topics have included the history and structure of the EU; EU/U.S. relations; and Turkey’s potential entrance into the EU. Please contact the Outreach Coordinator if your group is interested in this service!

Collaboration with Business, Service, and Interest Groups. EUCE affiliates regularly transmit information about current and emerging transatlantic foreign policy and other significant international issues to a broad community audience. Among our most important partners is the Chicago Council on Global Affairs , one of the largest independent, non-profit international affairs organizations in the Midwest with a membership of over 7,000. We also collaborate with a wide variety of local and regional governmental and business associations, including the Madison Committee on Foreign Relations, the Madison International Trade Association, and various local chapters of Rotary International. Outreach events feature prominent policy makers and allow local participants the opportunity to engage in candid discussion of important business, foreign policy, and international topics.

OMCNET

Understanding the evolving architecture of EU governance is especially significant for US scholars, policymakers, businesses, and citizens in light of the growing influence on transatlantic relations of the EU’s internal governance structures and regulatory practices.

Innovative forms of EU governance such as the Open Method of Coordination [OMC] have begun to attract widespread attention from academics and policymakers in other parts of the world as a promising tool for enhancing implementation of national commitments within international organizations, deepening policy coordination within regional trading blocs, and improving multi-level governance within federal systems like that of the United States.

The EUCE maintains and continuously updates the online OMC Bibliography, a resource which is widely consulted and cited by scholars, students, policymakers, and practitioners across both Europe and the United States.

As part of the Center's ongoing mission to promote academic and policy dialogue about EU issues, and in pursuit of the EUCE theme The New Architecture of EU Governance, this forum makes available recent published and forthcoming work on the OMC to researchers, policy makers, and other qualified users. The forum is password protected; those interested in subscribing are welcome to contact the editor.