European Union (EU) Centre at RMIT University

Funded in 2010 through a Grant from the External Relations Directorate of the European Commission, the European Union Centre is one of only six such EU Centres in the Southern Hemisphere. 

The work programme for the Centre focuses on three key objectives and five key components (PDF 69KB): Academic and research activities; Outreach and policy debate; Cultural outreach; Media engagement; and Coordination and joint activities with other EU Centres in Australia and New Zealand.

RMIT University and the Centre

strategic vision

Established in 1887 as the Working Man’s College, the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology has an international reputation for excellent professional and vocational education, producing some of Australia’s most employable graduates and high quality outcome-oriented research. Read more about the history of RMIT University.

Situated at the Melbourne City campus, the Centre operates as an independent unit within RMIT University. This central, highly accessible location allows for prominent branding and provides a high degree of visibility to students, staff, international visitors and the public. Through its academic programme and outreach activities, the Centre links to the University’s existing infrastructure including research institutes, academic colleges and schools, business services and networks.

The Centre sits in the College of Design and Social Context overseen by the Pro Vice Chancellor of the College, Professor Paul Gough and has academic contacts in the other two Colleges to ensure visibility across the entire university.

Industry Engagement and Research

RMIT has an international reputation for excellence in work-relevant education and high quality research, and engagement with the needs of industry and community.

RMIT University also collaborates closely with both industry groups and individual businesses to develop new products and processes and to drive quality improvements in existing operations. It is through these partnerships that staff and student exchanges, secondments, training and long-term collaborative industry group associations are developed. European organisations partnered with RMIT include Airbus Deutschland GmbH, Daimler Chrysler, BMW, Volkswagen, Robert Bosch and Siemens.

It is through these links that the Centre will enhance the visibility of the EU, its research agenda, policies and partnership framework and further establish and consolidate links into existing Industry Network Groups.