The three-year module, New challenges and opportunities in a transforming Europe (NECOTE), has been financially backed by the European Commission via the Jean Monnet Actions programme, which promotes research and teaching in the field of EU studies around the world.
NECOTE is the first Jean Monnet-funded module at Te Herenga Waka—it started in 2024 and will run until the end of 2026. Dr Arkilic, who was shoulder-tapped by the EU delegation in New Zealand to apply for the funding, says NECOTE provides some unique learning opportunities for students and the wider public.
“The EU’s ambassador to New Zealand gives lectures in my classes, meets students and shares information about scholarship or internship opportunities at the European Commission or within the EU’s delegation here—we are also planning some study trips to the EU delegation in Wellington. We have good relationships with diplomats from various embassies, including France and the Netherlands, who are regular contributors to the module,” she explains. “NECOTE also includes some lectures on EU-New Zealand relations, as well as guest lectures on climate change, Brexit, and migration, so there’s a big range of subjects covered.
“I have also organised numerous public talks, as it’s really important that this kind of information goes beyond academia—lecturers need to build a bridge between students, the public and diplomats so that everyone has a good understanding of what Europe is doing and what New Zealand’s role is in all of it.”
NECOTE’s most valuable aspects are the way it creates an atmosphere for dialogue and enables opportunities for students and the public to receive firsthand information from diplomats on important topics, according to Dr Arkilic. In 2024, the students who took the module’s two courses, ‘The New Europe’ and ‘Borders, Migrants, and States’ rated them very highly, citing the variety of the topics covered and external speakers as factors that made these courses remarkable.
“There are so many major issues going on, including trade wars, China, the rise of far right parties, and EU-New Zealand relations. And of course the developing situation with Ukraine and Russia, and their relationship with the United States will have an enormous impact on the EU and the rest of the world, the extent of which is only just starting to be understood,” says Dr Arkilic. “It’s more important than ever that we all understand what is happening in Europe, so it feels very timely to be delivering this module and being able to extend this information to public talks beyond the classroom.”
Last year there were two public talks that covered Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and Anglo-New Zealand relations. In May this year, Dr Matthew Castle, a senior lecturer in International Relations at Te Herenga Waka, will give a public talk about navigating global trade disorder and how Europe will respond to Trump’s trade war.
Dr Arkilic says she would be happy to guide her colleagues who wish to apply for a Jean Monnet grant. To be eligible, course providers need to offer at least 40 hours per academic year of teaching material related to EU studies, which can be across multiple papers. The grant provides €30,000, which can be used to support teaching, research, and public engagement activities.
“It’s a very generous opportunity and one which I hope is taken up by more of my colleagues at Te Herenga Waka, especially right now when national social science funding has been cut,” she says. “We have so many scholars working on European studies, be it literature, cinema, elections, media, or democracy—it is a real strength of Te Herenga Waka.”