About the Project
Project Context
ERA Chair
The ERA Chair scheme supports outstanding researchers to implement institutional reforms and build research capacity at host institutions.
Horizon Europe
The EU’s flagship research and innovation programme, supporting excellence and collaboration across Europe and beyond.
FF UK
The Faculty of Arts at Charles University, a leading humanities institution with a rich tradition of scholarly excellence.
ERA-AREAS is embedded within the Faculty of Arts at Charles University, one of Europe’s oldest and most prestigious universities. The project leverages the Faculty’s strong humanities tradition while introducing innovative approaches to area studies research. Through Horizon Europe funding, we are creating lasting institutional change and strengthening the university’s position in the European Research Area.
Goals and Benefits
The ERA-AREAS project pursues multiple interconnected objectives that together advance the field of area studies while strengthening institutional capacity at Charles University.
Research Excellence
- Develop cutting-edge research methodologies
- Foster interdisciplinary collaboration
- Enhance publication output and impact
Capacity Building
- Recruit and train outstanding researchers
- Establish sustainable research infrastructure
- Create the Centre for Multidisciplinary Area Studies
- Establish sustainable research infrastructure
- Create the Centre for Multidisciplinary Area Studies
International Collaboration
- Build networks with leading institutions
- Facilitate researcher mobility and exchange
- Organize international conferences and workshops
Societal Impact
- Contribute to evidence-based policymaking
- Enhance public understanding of global regions
- Train future experts in area studies
What the Project Does
ERA-AREAS implements a comprehensive programme of activities designed to transform area studies research at Charles University and contribute to the broader field:
Research Activities
Conducting innovative research projects that advance theoretical and methodological frameworks in area studies, with a focus on interdisciplinary approaches and contemporary challenges.
Training and Development
Providing structured training programmes for early-career researchers, including methodological workshops, research seminars, and professional development opportunities.
Knowledge Dissemination
Organizing conferences, workshops, and public lectures; publishing research findings in high-impact journals; and engaging with policy communities and civil society.
Institutional Development
Implementing structural reforms to support research excellence, including new governance mechanisms, quality assurance processes, and resource allocation strategies.
Key Activities and Work Packages
Project Management and Coordination
Overall project governance, administration, and reporting to the European Commission.
Research Excellence and Innovation
Core research activities, methodological development, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Capacity Building and Training
Recruitment, training programmes, and researcher development activities.
Centre Development
Establishment of CenMAS infrastructure, governance, and operational frameworks.
International Networking
Building partnerships, mobility schemes, and collaborative research initiatives.
Dissemination and Communication
Publications, conferences, public engagement, and stakeholder communication.
What is Area Studies?
Area studies is an interdisciplinary field that focuses on the comprehensive study of specific geographic regions, combining insights from multiple disciplines including history, politics, economics, anthropology, sociology, languages, and cultural studies.
Rather than viewing regions through a single disciplinary lens, area studies scholars integrate diverse perspectives to develop holistic understandings of complex regional dynamics. This approach is particularly valuable in our interconnected world, where regional developments have global implications.
The field emerged in the mid-20th century and has evolved to address contemporary challenges such as globalization, transnational connections, migration, climate change, and geopolitical shifts. Modern area studies emphasizes comparative approaches, theoretical sophistication, and methodological innovation while maintaining deep regional expertise.
European Union Funding
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. [NUMBER]. The ERA Chair scheme provides support for [DURATION] with a total budget of [AMOUNT], enabling comprehensive research activities, personnel recruitment, infrastructure development, and international collaboration.