This Institute offers area secondary school French teachers an opportunity to maintain or improve their language skills, to develop deeper understanding of French culture and its global influence, and to share relevant teaching strategies. The French Immersion Institute hosts three Saturday workshops through the year and an intensive, weeklong workshop beginning in the summer of 2016.

The undergraduate Model European Union is an annual event that gives students a chance to learn about the workings of the European Union through preparation for and participation in a hands-on two day simulation. Model EU enhances students’ understanding of the issues and challenges facing the 28 member nations of the EU. Awards are given to the most effective delegations and best individual position papers.

This year's competition will host universities from across Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Illinois and will take place at the University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg campus.

The European Studies Center's Europe Day Contest is a multimedia contest for students in grades K-12. Students participating in the Europe Day Contest can submit projects using different forms of media related to each year's theme as an individual participant or as a member of a group of two to four students based on the type of project. Selected student winners will be awarded prizes and the opportunity to display their work at the first annual Europe Day Festival on Saturday, May 7, 2016 on the University of Pittsburgh campus.

ALL MAJORS WELCOME!

The European Treaties were drafted for a navigation in good weather conditions, not for what we are living through. This simple image summarizes a general perception in Europe: financial tensions among members, dramatic security threats, immigration out of control, nationalism, Brexit... Are those only huge political concerns, or existential challenges for the EU? Is the European Project in danger?

Welfare systems are going through a process of major change. These changes risk undermining the very nature of and philosophy behind the welfare systems of all developed countries. Every country has developed a specific social security system linked to its economic system. Recent important changes have reopened the debate about the classification of welfare regimes and researchers have explored the differences between the philosophies undergirding policies throughout Europe. In most of the European countries, policy-making has followed autonomous and independent paths.

Please join K&L Gates and co-sponsors, the Dick Thornburgh Forum for Law and Public Policy, the University of Pittsburgh European Studies Center, and the German American Chambers of Commerce as former European Parliament member and current Brussels K&L Gates partner, Ignasi Guardans discusses the state of U.S. and EU economic and commercial ties. The likely impact of the pending Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP) negotiations on economic growth, trade and consumer privacy also will be addressed.

The UN Climate Change Conference (COP 21 / CMP 11) taking place in Paris November 30-December 11, 2015 seeks to achieve a legally binding and universal agreement on climate, with the aim of keeping global warming below 2⁰C. This will not be an easy goal to reach, as many scientists say the gases we have already emitted into the atmosphere will inevitably lead to a 2 degree increase. Expectations are high on all sides – with optimists and pessimists alike touting this as our last chance to avert catastrophe.

During this session Professor Zito will be available to discuss the range of opportunities available to Pitt people and institutions under the EU’s Erasmus+ program for student and faculty mobility to Newcastle and Great Britain. He will also discuss the recently signed exchange agreement between Pitt and Newcastle University.

Germany has retained its industrial base. The U.S. is now reinvigorating manufacturing. China is experiencing an economic slowdown, after years of rapid growth. Herr Nidermark will discuss how this will impact Europe and North America. Light refreshments will be provided. Please RSVP to Lizz Schellin (eds35@pitt.edu).