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+. 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, which is specifically designed to promote the Union's strategic interests worldwide by reinforcing its external strategies, policies and actions.