2005 Media Releases
Wednesday, 10 August 2005
New EU awards recognise European Studies at La Trobe
La Trobe University’s contribution to studies of the European Union in Australia will be recognised by the Delegation of the European Commission to Australia and New Zealand with the award of two new student prizes this Friday, 12 August.
The prizes, valued at $250 each, will be presented at 12.30 pm in the Nancy Millis Room, Union Building, on La Trobe University’s main Melbourne campus at Bundoora.
The winners are Mr Patrick Boyd, a third year Law-Arts student from Eltham, and Ms Karen Zipkas from Brunswick West, in the second year of her International Relations degree. Mr Boyd wrote his principal essay on the European Court of Justice, while Ms Zipkas’ work was on the significance of agricultural issues in the negotiations for admission of central and eastern European countries to the EU.
The prizes will be awarded by the European Union Ambassador to Australia, Mr Piergiorgio Mazzocchi, and the presentation will also be attended by the Counsellor at the Embassy, Mr Paul Strickland.
Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences, Professor Roger Wales, said the La Trobe University second and third year subject The European Union was introduced two years ago as a core component for the new degree course, Bachelor of Arts in Contemporary European Studies – and was one of very few of its kind in Australian universities.
‘And it’s possibly the only one which anchors the contemporary development of the European Union so strongly in an historical framework. It has attracted between 60 and 80 students of above average ability and commitment. This year, for example, 21 students achieved A-grade results.’
Another feature of the course is an emphasis on guest lecturers who have first-hand experience of the European Union – such as diplomats, business people, and visiting academics.
The European Union subject is also taken by large numbers of students in the Bachelor of International Relations course as well as by students majoring in History and Politics for the Bachelor of Arts degree.
Acknowledging the generous contribution of the European Commission to the development of the course, Professor Wales said the University looked forward to continuing its strong relationship with the EU in responding to the popularity amongst students of its European course offerings.