The Jean Monnet Programme, also known as the Jean Monnet Project or Jean Monnet Actions, is a European Union initiative to encourage teaching, research and reflection in the field of European integration studies in higher education institutions. It is named for Jean Monnet, regarded by many as a chief architect of European Unity. It is part of the European Union's education, youth and sports programme Erasmus+.[1] There are additional funds to increase the participation of higher education institutions from countries outside the European Union as part of the EU partnership instrument,[2] which is specifically designed to promote the Union's strategic interests worldwide by reinforcing its external strategies, policies and actions.[3]