DIMES – Diversity, Inclusion and Multidisciplinarity in European Studies
DIMES – Diversity, Inclusion and Multidisciplinarity in European Studies
UACES and the European Studies Association of Sub-Saharan Africa (ESA-SSA) are excited to embark upon this joint initiative generously funded by the EU’s Erasmus+ Jean Monnet Projects.
Our aim is to broaden the disciplinary and geographic scope of voices represented in European studies, and to reinforce the visibility of BIPOC researchers in our field. The funding will support workshops in Africa and Europe and will showcase the work of researchers involved at the UACES 2020 Annual Conference in Belfast- so watch out for the DIMES panels!
Given the emphasis on new voices rather than dictate the themes, UACES is putting out an open call for BIPOC, Global South researchers and those from disciplines under-represented in UACES to join the project and help us to organise around themes and topics that have not been given sufficient salience in European studies and in our journals.
We have just released a call for participants and presenters for the inaugural workshop taking place in Leiden (March 2020). issued by workshop organisers in the coming months. Keep an eye on the mailing list, website and Twitter for more opportunities. Participants will also put together a special issue as a first towards improving diversity of voices in our discipline.
DIMES will enable UACES to provide services to groups that for geographic or other reasons, it has perhaps been less accessible to in the past. The locations of the workshops will enable us to introduce European studies to new audiences, as they will all include a public session open to general students, enthusing future generations about European Studies. In particular, one workshop will be hosted by the ESA-SSA in Pretoria, South Africa. The location and the existing network of ESA-SSA will facilitate the participation of scholars based in Africa working on the EU or EU-Africa relations. They will also increase the involvement of students from nearby South African universities that usually offer at least one or two EU-related classes, but no European Studies programme.
Crucially, by seeking out and welcoming diverse voices, our discussions, understanding of Europe, and European policies and their effects across the world will be far more nuanced and relevant, and we will collectively further the development of European Studies.
Maria Garcia, University of Bath
Frank Mattheis, Université libre de Bruxelles & University of Pretoria
The contents of the Jean Monnet DIMES project website and publications are the sole responsibility of the DIMES project. Views presented do not reflect those of the European Commission, who cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
