Dr Benjamin Leruth awarded Jean Monnet Chair in Public Policy

Dr Benjamin Leruth, Senior Lecturer in Public Policy at the University of Melbourne’s School of Social and Political Sciences, has been awarded a Jean Monnet Chair in Public Policy for his project, Long-Term Policy-Making in Europe and Beyond.

Awarded by the European Commission through its Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency following a competitive selection process, the Chair recognises excellence in teaching and research in European Union studies.

Jean Monnet Chairs are specialised teaching posts that support course development, research and outreach on European integration. They are funded for three years, with grants of up to €60,000, and require recipients to teach on EU-related topics.

Dr Leruth’s project will compare policymaking approaches in Australia and the European Union to understand how institutions respond to major long-term challenges, including climate change, demographic change and artificial intelligence. It will examine how short-term political pressures shape decision-making and identify ways governments can better embed long-term thinking in public policy.

Three streams of activity are planned under Dr Leruth’s Chair: Teaching undergraduate and graduate students about what it takes to think long-term in policy-making, conducting research to understand what drives elected representatives to favour long-termism over short-termism, and organising outreach activities to inform the public about what the European Union and Australia do to promote future-oriented policies.

“It is an honour to be awarded this Jean Monnet Chair,” Dr Leruth said. “Having studied the politics of the European Union for over a decade, I am excited to bridge the knowledge gap between Australia and Europe and think about solutions to overcome short-termism for the benefit of future generations.

“There is strong momentum in Australia–EU relations through ongoing free trade agreement negotiations. Yet the EU is a complex set of institutions, and people often misunderstand what they can and cannot do. The Jean Monnet Chair will help inform the public and contribute to more future-oriented policymaking.”