Registration is open for the European Union Center’s 2025 summer curriculum workshop, "The EU Today: Policy, Trade, and Geopolitics," which will be held on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus on July 29 - August 1.

There is a nonrefundable $125 workshop fee associated with the workshop. On-campus housing, parking, and most meals are covered. For more information, please see the FAQ and the schedule below. Please note that the schedule is still subject to change.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the workshop begin and end?

The workshop will begin on Tuesday, July 29 with a keynote talk at 5pm. We recommend that you check in at Newman Hall by 4pm and arrive at Coble Hall by 4:30pm for registration. The workshop will end on Friday, August 1 at 10:30am, with optional activities afterwards.

How do I register for the workshop?

Please fill out this application. We will review your application and then be in touch with you regarding payment. Once you have submitted your $125 workshop fee, your spot in the workshop will be confirmed.

Where will the workshop be held?

The majority of the workshop sessions will be held in 306 Coble Hall (801 S. Wright St., Champaign, IL).

What does the $125 workshop fee cover?

The fee covers workshop enrollment, on-campus housing for three nights, parking, and most meals for the duration of the workshop (breakfasts on July 29-Aug. 1; lunch on July 31; and dinners on July 29 and 30). Participants will be responsible for lunch on Wednesday, July 30 and dinner on Thursday, July 31.

Where will I stay on campus?

Workshop participants will be housed in single rooms in Newman Hall (604 E. Armory Ave., Champaign, IL), an 8-min walk from Coble Hall. Bathrooms will be shared with others of the same gender.

Will there be parking available?

Yes, we will reserve a parking spot for you.

Are Professional Development Hours or certificates offered for this workshop?

Illinois teachers can receive 12 PDHs for attending this workshop, and all workshop participants will receive an electronic certificate of attendance.

How many workshop spots are there?

To facilitate discussion and ensure that each participant has ample opportunity to engage with presenters and with fellow participants, we will cap workshop registration at 15.

What is the best way to travel to Champaign-Urbana?

Champaign-Urbana is located approximately 140 miles (225 km) south of Chicago. The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign can be reached via I-72, I-74, or I-57 by car. You may also travel by train (Amtrak) or bus (Peoria Charter or Greyhound) to Illinois Terminal, which is approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) from campus. If you are flying, you can fly into O'Hare International Airport or Midway International Airport and travel by train, bus, or shuttle to Champaign, or you can fly into Willard Airport, which is located 5 miles (8 km) from campus.

Will there be any excursions and social activities planned?

We hope to offer some optional excursions. Please stay tuned for more information!

Workshop Schedule

Tuesday, July 29

2:30-4:30 P.M.Check in to Newman Hall
4:30-5:00 P.M.Check in at 306 Coble Hall
5:00-6:15 P.M.

The Downfall of Transatlantic Relations? Defense, Immigration, and Trade

David Cleeton, Professor of Economics, Illinois State University

6:30-7:30 P.M.Dinner in Newman Hall

Wednesday, July 30

7:00-8:45 A.M.Breakfast in Newman Hall
9:00-10:15 A.M.

The EU within a Hobbesian Global Security Disorder

Edward Kolodziej, Emeritus Research Professor of Political Science, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 

10:15-10:30 A.M.Coffee break
10:30-11:45 A.M.Lecture topic TBA
12:00-1:15 P.M.Lunch on your own
1:30-2:45 P.M.

The European Union’s Soft Power

Kostas Kourtikakis, Teaching Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

2:45-3:00 P.M.Coffee break
3:00-4:15 P.M.

Impact of U.S. Tariffs on the EU 

Presenter(s) TBA

6:00-7:20 P.M.Dinner in Newman Hall
7:30-9:00 P.M.Film screening: "Omen" (2023)

Thursday, July 31

7:00-8:45 A.M.Breakfast in Newman Hall
9:00-10:15 A.M.

Rise of the Far Right in Europe and Impact on EU Policy-Making

Magda Giurcanu, Assistant Professor, Department of Social Sciences and Humanities, National Louis University

10:15-10:30 A.M.Coffee break
10:30-11:45 A.M.

Promises in the European Parliament in relation to 2024 EP Elections

Petia Kostadinova, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Illinois Chicago

12:00-1:15 P.M.Lunch in Newman Hall
1:30-2:45 P.M.Lecture - topic TBA
2:45-3:00 P.M.Coffee break
3:00-4:15 P.M.Lecture or museum tour
EveningFree time and dinner on your own

Friday, August 1

7:00-9:00 A.M.Breakfast in Newman Hall
9:30-10:30 A.M.Tour of Spurlock Museum
9:30 A.M.Optional excursions

About the Summer Curriculum Workshop

Since 2005, the European Union Center has organized in-person and virtual summer curriculum workshops designed for K-12 and community college educators to develop a more effective curriculum on the European Union. These materials may be incorporated into a variety of courses, such as foreign language, world geography, world cultures, world/US history, politics, economics, science, and business. While all K-16 educators are welcome, the curriculum materials are geared mainly towards high school and community college education.

Our summer curriculum workshops include a mix of lectures and active sessions presented by university faculty, experienced K-12 teachers, and museum staff. Illinois K-12 teachers are eligible to receive ISBE Professional Development Hours (PDH). All participants receive a certificate of completion indicating the number of workshop hours. 

Funded in part by the U.S. Department of Education Title VI grant

To learn more about the type of sessions and content that these workshops offer, please see previous years' workshop schedules below.

Past Workshops
If you want additional information on a specific workshop or are interested in seeing the schedules of workshops prior to 2009, please contact the EUC at eucenter@illinois.edu.

2024 Workshop: "Understanding Contemporary Europe: Spotlighting the Peripheries"
2023 Workshop: "Teaching about Sustainability in Europe through Smart Cities"
2022 Workshop: "War, Peace, and the EU"
2021 Workshop: "Teaching the European Green Deal: Science, Economics, Policy"
2020 Workshop: "From Conflict to Peace: The EU Explained"
2013 Workshop: “The Timeless Mediterranean and the New European Union: Transnational Spaces and Integration”
2012 Workshop: “Food & Energy Security and Sustainability”
2011 Workshop: “Immigration and European Integration”
2010 Workshop: “Islam in Europe”
2009 Workshop: “How Does the European Union Work?”