The JM Chair SEEinEU aims to bridge knowledge gaps between the objectives of the newly adopted EU WB Enlargement Strategy, relevant EU policies, programmes and instruments in the fields of enlargement and the actual professional practice of approximation of the WB countries on the ground by means of implementation of the cutting edge policy research conducted by the Chair into BA, MA and PhD curriculum offered by the University of Graz. This project focuses on the Europeanization of the Western Balkans looking not only at the instruments and the degree of EU impact on domestic politics and policies, but also analyses how this impact takes place and how compliance with the EU norms can (not) be induced. The project SEEinEU will therefore take a wider perspective and mirror the EU policies relevant for this field against an on-going policy research conducted within the Balkans in Europe Policy Advisory Group (BiEPAG). Deep insight knowledge and extensive networking opportunities gained through policy research conducted by the Chair, offer a unique opportunity to create series of EU enlargement related studies at the University of Graz. In addition, over the past decades, due to its geographical proximity to the Balkans, the University of Graz has had a strong academic interest in the region manifested in establishment of the Centre for Southeast European Studies (CSEES). This Chair will create a new educational environment addressing primarily students coming from law, economics, history and political science, while students of related disciplines will be encouraged to join in based on their interest in the Balkans. The main outputs will be: (1) a tested, evaluated and optimized course structure (2) a network of relevant experts covering the subject areas addressed together with the university’s key staff, (3) at least three scientific publications (4) competence development of young instructor which will be assessed by post- surveys, (5) open educational resources in the format of lecture recordings, course materials and reference lists which will be permanently available on an open course website, (6) transposition of knowledge to local community via regular brown-bag series aiming at the scientific public, and annual events organized in cooperation with regional Government of the Province of Styria aiming at the broader public. Participants of this Chair will develop an enhanced understanding of their professional role as future agents of change at the local, regional, national and EU scale. And at the same time, they will learn what the European Union has already to offer in terms of strategic goals, policies and instruments that can help implementing sustainable and democratic change on the ground. Focus areas will be democracy, rule of law and enlargement policies and specifically the cross-fertilization potential between those policies. The Chair will follow the format of a highly interactive series of lectures/seminars, whereby lectures and debates with international experts will be combined with student-centred teamwork in international and interdisciplinary groups. The Chair will be integrated into the already existing Joint Degree MA programme in Southeast European Studies and PhD programme in Law and politics offered at the University of Graz. Thanks to the web-based delivery mode it will further be offered to professionals and students across Europe and beyond with interest in EU integration and the WB. This wide outreach will be achieved by strategic cooperation with relevant dissemination partners such as the BiEPAG, European Fund for the Balkans (EFB) and partner universities in the Western Balkan countries in which the applicant regularly teaches.