In 1998, the City of Venice generously conceded use of this architectural and historical monument, as the seat of E.MA.

In 2002, with the establishment of EIUC, the Monastery became the leading European centre of excellence for human rights and democratisation. The Monastery of San Nicolò has proven to be an ideal site for EIUC and today features a broad range of rooms and facilities which contribute to maximizing the many activities organised there.

The rooms on the ground floor include the bright and spacious Aula Magna where E.MA students follow most of their classes and present working group results in plenary sessions, the specialised multi-disciplinary human rights Library with its Reading Room, and several Seminar and Meeting Rooms providing a conducive venue for workshops, group activities, and extra-curricular events.

On the first floor, the Global Civil Society Room is a particularly attractive venue especially designed for meetings of the EIUC Governing Bodies. Next to it is the Human Development Room (also called Chimney Room). Both rooms are increasingly being used for meetings and seminars. The northern wing of the Monastery’s first floor instead hosts the computer room and the wireless study room  which allows for wireless internet access for students and meeting participants working on their own notebook computers. Wireless access is also available from the reading room next to the Library and part of the cloister.

Not only are these venues appreciated by the E.MA students, but their welcoming atmosphere and ease of access are equally conducive to diplomatic and academic conferences as well as a variety of specialised training activities as those being increasingly organised by EIUC.