"I am truly excited to be taking on the directorship of CCGES, which is both a privilege and a challenge,” says McIsaac. “My sense is that CCGES has begun to establish itself as a nexus of crucial research into a variety of important questions, but we have not begun to exhaust the possibilities of the 91��ɫ community. While Germany retains a central place in the centre's research agenda, we need to welcome the intellectual curiosity of colleagues working on other European questions under the CCGES umbrella. The European Union Centre of Excellence project, housed at CCGES, provides a perfect example of what is possible.”

Right: Peter McIsaac

McIsaac holds a PhD in Germanic languages and literatures from Harvard University and a bachelor of science in physics and German from the University of Michigan. In addition to numerous articles, book chapters and book reviews, McIsaac is the author of and has served as guest editor for the journals , and . He came to 91��ɫ in 2007 from Duke University, where he was an assistant professor. During the past year, McIsaac was a visiting associate professor at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

fosters and disseminates critical knowledge about Germany in its European context while examining Europe as a geographical, political, social, cultural and economic entity. Promoting new research into these core lines of inquiry is at the heart of McIsaac’s plans for the centre.

McIsaac succeeds Professor Roger Keil, director of the City Institute at 91��ɫ and professor in the Faculty of Environmental Studies, who has served as interim director for the past year.

"CCGES’ focus on European Union studies and affairs reflects the complexity and diversity of meanings attached to Europe in the modern world,” says David Dewitt, associate vice-president research (social sciences & humanities). “Its research supports 91��ɫ’s international focus while its student exchanges provide valuable opportunities for students from 91��ɫ and European countries to enhance their student and research experience through travel.

“I commend Professor Keil for his great service over the past year and am pleased to welcome Professor McIsaac into this new role.”

Submitted by Elizabeth Monier-Williams, research communications officer

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91��ɫ has been awarded a grant to establish a European Union Centre of Excellence(EUCE). Recognized for the excellence, breadth and depth of its European Union (EU) studies and scholarly activities, 91��ɫ will receive funding of $480,000 over three years to integrate the University’s existing research, teaching, outreach and networking activities on Europe and the European Union (EU), and introduce and facilitate new activities on the EU and EU-Canada relations.

91��ɫ is recognized as a leader in European studies and has been actively building its concentration in EU studies. Over the past few years, 91��ɫ has attracted numerous new European-focused faculty appointments across a variety of disciplines, including law, political science, business, public administration and humanities. The hub of this activity has been the Canadian Centre for German & European Studies (CCGES), whose affiliated faculty and staff form a natural constituency and administrative backbone for the activities planned by the new EUCE.

“We are tremendously proud of 91��ɫ’s leadership and research excellence in European studies,” said Stan Shapson, vice-president research & innovation. “The activities of the EUCE will promote understanding and knowledge of the European Union as a major player in the global political and economic system, and will be key in promoting the importance of the EU-Canada relationship, its political, economic, security and cultural dimensions, and the widening range of global and regional issues jointly addressed by the EU and Canada.”

With this award, 91��ɫ joins a network of two dozen EUCEs worldwide. 91��ɫ’s EUCE will be hosted by CCGES and directed by Willem Maas (right), Jean Monnet Chair in European Integration and professor of political science and public & international affairs at Glendon College.

The EUCE’s multidisciplinary team also includes:

• Burkard Eberlein, policy professor in the Schulich School of Business;
• Roger Keil, director of the CITY Institute and CCGES, and a professor in the Faculty of Environmental Studies;
• Heather MacRae, professor in the Department of Political Science, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS);
• Peter McIsaac, professor in the Department of Languages, Literatures & Linguistics, (LA&PS);
• Ian Roberge, professor of political science and public & international affairs at Glendon College;
• Karen Robson, sociology professor in the Department of Sociology, (LA&PS);
• Craig Scott, director of the , and professor in Osgoode Hall Law School;
• Dagmar Soennecken, professor in the School of Public Policy & Administration, (LA&PS);
• Leah Vosko, Canada Research Chair in Feminist Political Economy and professor in the Department of Political Science, (LA&PS);
• Robert Wai, professor in Osgoode Hall Law School;
• Peer Zumbansen, Canada Research Chair in the Transnational & Comparative Law of Corporate Governance and professor in Osgoode Hall Law School.

About the European Union Centres of Excellence

Established in 1998 by the European Union, the network of European Union Centres of Excellence in universities provides information and education about the European Union. In Canada, the objectives of the EU Centres are to increase awareness about the political, economic and cultural importance of the EU-Canada relationship, to promote greater understanding in Canada of the European Union and its policies, and to disseminate information and publicize EU views on issues of interest within regional communities.

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