UCL European Institute: Building Bridges Between UCL and Europe
Photo Courtesy: Kristen Holst via the UCL European Institute
Last academic year, a large map of London took over the floor of the South Cloisters, with panels lining the hall's walls. The public exhibition that outlined some of the interactions between London and European authors over the years was curated by the UCL European Institute. Pi Media sat down with Dr. Uta Staiger, Executive Director of the Institute, to uncover more about this dynamic interfaculty hub housed within the Faculty of Laws.
The temporary exhibition was part of the “Lost & Found: Mapping European Literary London” project, undertaken by the Institute. The project gained momentum having started as a project to map European authors' interactions with the city of London over the decades on an online platform during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has aimed to outline the relationship of “mutual transformation” between London and the wider continent, according to Dr. Staiger.
Today, the ever-growing platform has over 80 entries in 26 languages and is eyeing improvements to its software, conducted by Dr. Duncan Hay at the UCL Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis. Despite the end of the Cloisters display, pop-up versions of the Map have been displayed in British Embassies in Brussels, Madrid and Berlin, with thanks to the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Challenge Fund.
Though this might have been the most visible project to students, the Institute has been shaping the way UCL interacts with the wider European continent since 2010. Born out of the goal of pooling UCL’s European expertise and building an image outside the university, it has four main pillars of activity as outlined by Dr. Staiger: “providing institutional leadership, enhancing the research environment, offering innovative teaching and student experience, and furthering UCL’s reach through public and policy engagement”.
Within UCL, the Institute has helped the provost on Brexit mitigation, advised the university on relations with European institutions, and provided a platform for UCL scholars to build on current academic literature.
‘[Black Europe]’ is one of the Institute’s featured projects, aimed at reconstructing the way the EU is studied and views itself. By challenging academics and research within UCL, it aims to tackle the presumption of whiteness in the study of Europe, within EU literature and academics. The Institute has organised workshops, podcasts, a reading group and more to convey this message.
The Institute has also built a strong image outside of the university, working in association with Horizon Europe, giving briefings to the FCDO’s Europe Team and collaborating with European Embassies in the UK.
One recent achievement highlighted by Dr. Staiger was the organisation of the Night of Ideas, hosted by the French Institute on the 6th of February. Along with chairing the “Activism: by all means” panel, the partnership yielded a segment hosted by the UCL Debating Society during the event, where UCL students debated direct democracy.
Within the teaching pillar, the Institute has hosted modules and educational programmes, including a course providing skills sessions and engagement with diplomats, lobbyists and bureaucrats in Brussels. However, the collaboration with the Debating Society highlights the European Institute’s newly founded approach to the student body that began three years ago, increasingly investing in its relations with university societies and students across all faculties. Recently, the Institute hosted a Q&A with His Excellency Ambassador Serrano, where multiple societies were invited to question the EU ambassador himself.
The Institute also hosts several events, including with external speakers, bringing the realities of the European Union closer to students. In 2023/24, the Institute hosted 94 external speakers, including Heather Grabbe, Senior Fellow at Bruegel, for one of their masterclasses, former French prime minister François Hollande, and an engaged talk with Nicolas Schmit, the former European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights. The UCL Europe Blog is also managed by the Institute.
One main asset that the UCL European Institute values is the diversity of backgrounds among the UCL student body, and the interest among students about issues relevant to the Institute, Dr. Staiger said. In the aim of gathering input from students, the Institute employs three student interns, and a team of student ambassadors each year. Dr. Staiger highlighted her wish to extend the discussion with the student body outside of class, and for a dialogue with students on what more the UCL European Institute could do with and for students.
While the Lost & Found exhibition continues its voyage around Europe, the European Institute’s activities on campus continue. Dr. Staiger invites students to interact with the Institute’s activities and events, in the spirit of “London’s Global University”.