Professor Michael Osborne, Co-director of PASCAL will be the guest of the University of Catania on 19 March when he will deliver a lecture entitled "Lifelong Learning in British Universities - not for adults and not for the poor?" within the auspices of the Jean Monnet Programme activity within the university.

The Jean Monnet Programme: understanding European integration

The Jean Monnet Programme is part of the EU's Lifelong Learning Programme and includes three "key activities":

1. The Jean Monnet Action stimulates teaching, research and reflection on European integration in higher education institutions worldwide. It includes the creation of Jean Monnet Chairs, Centres of Excellence, Modules, information and research activities as well as support for academic associations of professors and researchers in European integration.
   
   Jean Monnet projects are selected on the basis of their academic merits and following a process of rigorous and independent peer review. Jean Monnet projects are run with strict respect for the principle of academic autonomy and freedom.
   
   Originally launched in 1989, these projects are present in 68 countries across the five continents. Between 1990 and 2010, the Action has helped to set up 150 Jean Monnet European Centres of Excellence, 825 Jean Monnet Chairs and more than 1.000 Jean Monnet Modules and permanent courses. These projects bring together 1.500 professors, and reach approximatively 500.000 students every year.
   
   
2. Support for six specific academic institutions: the College of Europe (with campuses in Bruges [BE] and Natolin [PL]), the European University Institute, the European Institute of Public Administration, the Academy of European Law, the International Centre for European Training, and the European Agency for Development in Special Needs Education.
   
   
3. Support for European-wide associations active in education and training and/or European integration and present in several EU Member States. There is a specific annual call for proposals for the selection of these associations.