Charles Sturt University (CSU) is the lead Australian institution in a new project which will give undergraduate students the opportunity to study philosophy and ethics in Australia and Europe.

 

The $800 000 project which is jointly funded by the Australian Government and the European Commission, will bring together four Australian universities and four European universities to create an integrated network of eight undergraduate philosophy degrees involving applied ethics, human rights and institutions.

 

The Australian project leader is Professor Tom Campbell, Program Manager, Business and Professional Ethics in the Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics (CAPPE) at Charles Sturt University, Canberra. Professor Campbell also teaches in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at CSU in Wagga Wagga.

 

“This project is a first for CSU and a wonderful opportunity for our honours students to study philosophy and applied ethics in Europe,” Professor Campbell said.

 

“It’s the most significant international collaboration to develop and promote the study of practical ethics and the philosophy of human rights which has ever been available, both in Europe and Australia,” Professor Campbell stressed.

 

The three other Australian partner universities are the University of Melbourne; Australian National University (ANU) and the University of Adelaide. The four European Union (EU) partner institutions are University of Lancaster, UK; Luiss University, Rome, Italy; University of Bielefeld, Germany and the University of Helsinki, Finland.

Starting in 2008, 40 students from the partner Australian universities and 40 from Europe will complete a semester at their chosen university in Europe or Australia in a two-way exchange.

 

“We hope this agreement will attract European students to study at CSU Campuses and encourage more Australian undergraduate students to study philosophy and ethics,” Professor Campbell said. “We also expect joint research projects to be developed by those teaching in the integrated network.

 

“There is increasing public and political concern about ethical and human rights issues in Australia and the European Union. These issues include corporate corruption; privacy and new technology; environmental degradation; poverty; human rights and the war on terrorism.

 

“It is in the interest of both Australia and EU member states that public debate and government policy be better informed by international research in ethics, human rights and institutions,” Professor Campbell added.

 

The project is one of four recently funded through the EU-Australia Education Cooperation in Higher Education and Vocational Education and Training Projects which are aimed at creating greater links and understanding between Australia and the EU.