Many international relations students at Izmir University of Economics (IUE) have a negative image of the EU. Due to the slow progress of the accession talks, a broad majority has become skeptical about the EU ever accepting Turkey as a member state. In addition, the Euro-crisis has negatively affected the image of the EU and its influence as an international actor. Therefore, this project aims at contributing to a more differentiated view on the EU and its achievements. To this end, a series of round-tables will address current challenges of EU governance, and the potential benefits of cooperation for both the EU and Turkey (e.g. global responses to radical Islamism, migration management, and sustainable development). The round-tables will be integrated into the courses, but also be open to other IUE students/faculty, and the general public. The round-table contributions of national/international researchers and occasionally public administrators and civil society representatives will be published on the IUE’s European Union Research Center website and in the Izmir Review of Social Sciences. In addition, a new elective course EU Environmental Policy, a new EU basic course available for all IUE students and a new certificate programme in European Studies will be opened. Finally, a research project will be conducted on the EU’s promotion of sustainable development. The project envisages the following impacts: Students will deepen their understanding of EU governance, acquire knowledge in fields that are of increasing importance for improving employment prospects and benefit from the opening of new courses and a new certificate programme. Consequently, IUE will raise its profile in European Union studies, and benefit from the networks established between the round-table participants and the project team, leading to further cooperation in teaching, research and debating activities