About the Program

Good Governance entails several principles of decision-making that apply to all levels of government, whether global, national, regional, or local. They also have implications for policy substance. Students in the Good Governance program will study political processes and policy outcomes in Europe and the United States, examining adherence to principles of good governance while comparing best practices in both the US and Europe.

To facilitate this process the Good Governance Consortium, an alliance of European and American universities in conjunction with US Department of Education and the European Commission's Directorate-General for Education and Culture, invites students to apply to the Good Governance study abroad and certification program. Students combine general-purpose courses in the area of good governance with specialized courses on a focus of their choosing.

In their first semester, students participate in a web-assisted introductory course in Good Governance, interacting with students at all eight GCC campuses. During that semester, students complete area-studies or language preparation courses necessary for study abroad. Students spend their second semester at one of the transatlantic GCC partner institutions. They continue to interact online via a multi-site course on the European Union, which include modules on US governance for EU students. While abroad, students complete courses in their area of focus.

Participating students can choose to focus on one of several areas of good governance, including, but not limited to, Participatory Democracy, Governance and Business, Environmental Policy and Sustainable Growth, Social Policy, Public Finance, and Transatlantic Finance. Students may also design their own course of study.

Certification

Students enrolled in the program must complete three required courses and 2 - 4 elective courses, depending upon their degree of language preparation. Upon completion of the Good Governance program, students receive a Certificate of Achievement from their home university.

Application

Applications are available at the UIUC European Union Center, or you can download an application in Word format. Please contact your local GGC representative, Robert Pahre (pahre@uiuc.edu) and/or the EU Center (eucenter@uiuc.edu) for more information.

Scholarships

Scholarships of $300-$500 are available on a competitive basis.