King's College London

Over the next few months, the department will host a series of talks, seminars and special events with staff and students to celebrate its past and look forward to the future.

The department can trace its roots back to the launch of the European Studies programme in 1992, which was then part of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at King’s.

It was internationally-renowned as a dynamic and challenging programme focussed on the study of modern Europe and, from 2010, the study of the international political economy. In 2011, its remit was expanded to officially form the Department of European and International Studies (EIS).

The first head of the newly-formed department was Professor Alex Callinicos, who managed the initial transition from programme to department before handing over to Professor Christoph Meyer in 2012. Professors Magnus Ryner and Johnna Montgomerie later headed the department as well.

The department is now part of the School of Politics and Economics, within the Faculty of Social Science and Public Policy, and is headed by Professor Ramon Pacheco Pardo.

Together with the Centre of European Law and the Department of Political Economy, EIS was designated by the European Commission as a Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence in European Law and Governance.

Prof Pacheco Pardo said: “I am enormously privileged to be able to lead the celebrations for the thirtieth anniversary of European and International Studies, a tremendous department which continues to build on its reputation for dynamic and insightful research and academic excellence.

“We have a busy schedule of events planned over the coming weeks and months to mark the occasion and I would encourage everyone to join us and experience some of what we have to offer.”

Professor Peter John, head of the School of Politics and Economics, said: “European and International Studies is a vibrant area of academia that is ever-changing and responsive to the world around us as well as cognisant of the events and ideas that have shaped the past.

“From its inception as European Studies 30 years ago, the department has championed these values and continues today to push the boundaries into new and emerging areas of scholarship. I am very much looking forward to the upcoming celebrations.”