Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence for Digital Transformations

The Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence for Digital Transformations advances public diplomacy, facilitates research and promotes educational activities focussed on the European Union and its member states. The Centre also develops linkages, networks and partnerships between Australian and European institutions, academics, politicians and policy practitioners in areas ranging from artificial intelligence to creative industries. In undertaking these activities, the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence for Digital Transformations works closely with cultural and community groups, and a variety of international partners to create a dynamic network of European Union focused research, thinking, policy and ideas driving solutions and pathways to successfully generate new thinking and policy directions, in response to the key issues impacting Australian and European populations.

Research facilitated by the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence for Digital Transformations is focussed on subject areas of importance to European Union integration and European Union - Australia relations. For example, Centre Executive Director, Distinguished Professor Anthony Elliott, leads a team studying the social impacts of Gen AI with past outcomes including published books, journal articles, keynotes and media presentations. Additionally, Professor Susan Luckman, Leader of the European Union - Australia Creative Industries Research Platform, leads an European Union Jean Monnet research project that aims to develop a set of guidelines, for how European Union-relevant business skills and personal competencies can be better embedded into university creative industries courses and programs within the European Union and Australia. Other research is undertaken by Dr Eric Hsu and Dr Louis Everuss under the Digital Regulation, Governance and Ethics: the challenge of GenAI research strand.

The Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence for Digital Transformations advances public diplomacy by promoting the European Union and European Union - Australian relations across research, business and civic networks. To this end, the Centre hosts events ranging from large public lectures and policy workshops to film screenings and exhibitions. The Centre’s Public Events Program provides the basis for engagement with representatives of the European Union Delegation and specific European States, including European Ambassadors and local Consuls. These events are capitalised on through the production of multimedia materials, such as the ‘Europe Now’ Video Series, in which European Ambassadors are asked about the global challenges and opportunities facing Australia and Europe.

Educational activities undertaken by the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence for Digital Transformations, provides opportunities for Australian students to engage with leading European scholars and learn about European theoretical and methodological developments. The Centre achieves this by convening masterclasses and seminars that facilitate Australian research students and early career researchers, to learn about cutting edge European methodologies and discuss their research with senior European academics. Alongside masterclasses, the Centre organises for visiting European scholars to visit Adelaide University and meet with researchers from the University’s schools.