EU komt met studieprogramma voor zuidelijke buurlanden (en)

The Communication on “A new response to a changing Neighbourhood”1 - the culmination of a comprehensive review of the European Neighbourhood Policy, (ENP) launched in 2010, outlines a new approach towards EU’s neighbours to the East and South, based on mutual accountability and a shared commitment to respecting universal values, international human rights standards, democracy and the rule of law.

A strengthened engagement in the area of education is a crucial element of the new approach towards the ENP countries. In the context of the recent developments in the South, particular attention needs to be given to supporting actions in favour of young people in the southern ENP countries, who play an important role in the current democratisation process of the region.

Furthermore, most European Neighbourhood Policy countries continue to be on a transition towards establishing fully-fledged market economies. In this context, partner country institutions, including higher education institutions, are under strong pressure to provide the skills required by these new economic conditions.

Support for partner country institutions in their reform efforts and in establishing people-to-people cooperation, especially in the field of higher education, is therefore needed and can contribute to mutual understanding between people, countries and cultures in the EU's Neighbouring countries.

Erasmus Mundus

The Erasmus Mundus II (2009-2013) programme provides support to: (i) universities that wish to implement joint programmes at postgraduate level (Action 1) or to set-up partnerships between universities from Europe and targeted partner countries (Action 2); (ii) individual students, researchers and university staff who wish to spend a study / research / teaching period in the context of one of the above mentioned joint programmes or cooperation partnerships; (iii) any organisation active in the field of higher education that wishes to develop projects aiming at improving the attractiveness, profile, visibility and image of European higher education worldwide (Action 3).

The Erasmus Mundus II (Action 2 Partnerships, Strand 1) seeks to extend to the ENPI region the best practices of the internal Erasmus Programme and to expand mobility opportunities to include all levels of higher education. The programme provides support for the establishment of cooperation partnerships between European higher education institutions and higher education institutions from neighbourhood countries.

Scholarships of various lengths can be awarded to interested students who fulfil the application criteria. The exchange programme is open to undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral and post-doctoral students from partner countries and will allow for student and teaching staff exchanges. Since 2007, more than 4000 students from Neighbourhood countries and Russia have already benefited from this exchange programme.

Funds

Amount: €66 million

Budget Source: European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI)

Duration: 2011 - 2015

For more information:

http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/erasmus_mundus/programme/action2_en.php

1 :

COM(2011)303