Recently, with the confirmation of the Directorate General for Education and Culture of the European Union, head of the European Studies Center of Wuhan University and EMS professor Qi Shaozhou was awarded the honorary title of "Jean Monnet Chair Professor".

Professor Qi Shaozhou has long been engaged in European studies. His main research areas are economic and monetary integration of the European Union, climate change, and energy economics and policy. As a leading professor, professor Qi Shaozhou has led major projects in philosophy and social science of the Ministry of Education, the 973 Project of the Ministry of Science and Technology, the "Twelfth Five-Year Plan" Technology Support Project of the Ministry of Science and Technology, China Clean Development Mechanism Fund project, National Natural Science Fund project, and Humanities and Social Science Fund project of Ministry of Education, as well as China-European Union Higher Education Cooperation Project, China-European Union Research Center Project, and UK-China Prosperity Strategic Program Fund Project, and has made contributions to the mutual exchange and cooperation and talents training between Wuhan University and first-class universities in Europe.

The title of "Jean Monnet Chair Professor" was named after a late famous European statesman with French nationality, the "General Designer" of the European Integration Movement Jean Monnet known as the "Father of Europe". The title of "Jean Monnet Chair Professor" is awarded to excellent teachers and researchers in and out of Europe who are engaged in European studies and teaching, which is the highest academic acknowledgement for scholars engaged in teaching and research on European integration all over the world given by the European Union. The Jean Monnet Program was initiated by the European Union in 1989, with the aim to drive the teaching and research on European integration through higher education and to enhance understanding and recognition of researches on European integration around the world. Professor Qi Shaozhou is the third "Jean Monnet Chair Professor" of Wuhan University. Earlier, the former head of the European Studies Center of Wuhan University professor Zeng Lingliang from School of Law and Professor Luo Zhigang from School of Political Science and Public Administration were also awarded as "Jean Monnet Chair Professor".

(Edited by Bettina)