The global proliferation of regional integration is one of the most fascinating aspects of the age of globalization. Europe has begun to reinvent itself after a terrible century of warfare and self-destruction. Today, the European Union has become a trade mark for the peaceful resolution of conflicts and for pooled sovereignty in order to build a union of states and a union of citizens. Parallel to our European efforts, other regions around the globe are engaged in their genuinely own efforts to build their region.

The leading idea behind the “ZEI Academy in Comparative Regional Integration” is the creation of a sustainable platform for discussion and mutual learning on issues of regional integration worldwide. The objective of this distinctive initiative is to strengthen young academics’ knowledge in regional integration with a comparative focus on the European Union, to estimate the European Union’s capacity to serve as a model for other regions, to discuss the impact of bi-regional trade agreements and to enable participants to develop problem oriented approaches for deeper integration in their own region. The Academy attempts to critically assess regional integration from a broader perspective by encouraging participants and experts to exchange experiences. This not only allows for participants to acquire special expertise and research skills but also to enhance intercultural competences. After the great success of the first three ZEI Academies in 2007, 2008 and 2009, ZEI is proud to announce that it will offer this unique program again in July 2010, sponsored by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) with funds of the German Federal Foreign Office.

ZEI offers young academics working on matters of regional integration from regional groupings across the world the opportunity to investigate the genuine contribution of the EU to region-building and to analyze the efforts of regional integration outside Europe that have begun to change the face of the earth. A distinguished and very competent faculty of international experts will be waiting for them, along with most extraordinary new experiences and contacts, including excursions to the European Central Bank in Frankfurt and to Brussels, the seat of the institutions of the European Union.

I believe that we can learn a lot from each other and therefore invite you cordially to join the ”ZEI Academy in Comparative Regional Integration” at ZEI. Our Center is part of the distinguished University of Bonn and located in the heart of the most recent European seat of the United Nations in the former capital of the Federal Republic of Germany, with one of the most open-minded and relaxed atmospheres of any European city.

Learn about the European Union, learn about region-building, learn at Bonn, come and join us at ZEI.

Yours cordially

Prof. Dr. Ludger Kühnhardt

Director, Center for European Integration Studies (ZEI)
University of Bonn, Germany
Academic Director of the ZEI Academy