Description
Erasmus Mundus (EM) is a co-operation and mobility programme in the field of higher education for:
The enhancement of quality in European higher education
The promotion of European Union as a centre of excellence in learning around the world
The promotion of intercultural understanding through co-operation with Third-countries as well as for the development of the Third Countries in the field of higher education
The programme continues and extends the scope of the activities already launched during its first phase (2004-2008) and includes the EM External Cooperation Window.
The European Union will thus continue to support joint programmes in Europe with grants to the most highly-talented students and professors from third countries, but will also extend the scope of the programme to the doctoral level and give more financial support to European students.
Context The Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Erasmus Mundus 2009-2013 action programme has been taken on 16 December 2008 and has been published in the Official Journal on 19 December 2008 (Decision N° 1298/2008/EC).The programme provides a response to the challenges of globalisation faced by European higher education today, in particular the need to adapt education systems to the demands of the knowledge society, to enhance the attractiveness and visibility of European higher education world-wide and to stimulate the process of convergence of degree structures across Europe. These themes are central to national reform processes in higher education going on in Member States.
Erasmus Mundus II will have a budget of about € 950M (€493.69M for Actions 1 and 3 and around €460 M available for Action 2) four times more than the available budget for the first phase of the programme (€ 230 million for 2004 – 2008).
New aspects of Erasmus Mundus (2009-2013)
Extends the coverage to include doctoral level studies. Erasmus Mundus (2004-2008) scheme was aimed at Master's level only.
Provides higher grants to European students so they are ensured fair treatment vis-a-vis third-country students.
Integrates the so-called "Erasmus Mundus External Cooperation Window" (EM ECW) under the "Erasmus Mundus" umbrella in order to offer a more homogeneous and visible image of European higher education to the world. The aim of this action is to promote understanding and mutual enrichment between the European Union and third countries in the field of higher education by promoting the exchange of persons, knowledge and skills at higher education level, and particularly 'Erasmus'-style mobility (a study period abroad which forms part of a degree at home).
Encourages third-country higher education institutions to participate as full members in the consortia and eventually to deliver the joint degree course at home.
Programme Objectives The aims of the programme are to promote European higher education, to help improve and enhance the career prospects of students and to promote intercultural understanding through cooperation with third countries, in accordance with EU external policy objectives in order to contribute to the sustainable development of third countries in the field of higher education.
The programme’s specific objectives are:
To promote structured cooperation between higher education institutions and to promote an offer of high quality in higher education with a distinct European added value, attractive both within the European Union and beyond its borders, with a view to creating centres of excellence
To contribute to the mutual enrichment of societies by developing the qualifications of men and women so that they posses appropriate skills, particularly as regards the labour market, and internationally experienced, through promoting mobility both for the most talented students and academics from third countries to obtain qualifications and/or experience in the European Union and for the most talented European students and academics towards third countries.
To contribute towards the development of human resources and the international cooperation capacity of higher education institutions in third countries through increased mobility streams between European Union and third countries.
Tï improve accessibility and enhance the profile and visibility of European higher education in the world as well as its attractiveness for third country and European nationals.
Summary Description of the Programme Actions Action 1 This Action supports EM joint programmes (masters and doctoral
programmes) of outstanding academic quality, including a scholarship
scheme.
Action 2 This Action supports EM partnerships between European and third
country higher education institutions as a basis for structured
cooperation, exchange and mobility at all levels of higher education,
including a scholarship scheme.
Action 3 This Action supports the promotion of European higher education
through measures enhancing the attractiveness of Europe as an
educational destination and a centre of excellence at world level.
ACTION 1: EM Joint Programmes
Through this Action the Community supports the implementation of Joint Programmes at Masters (Action 1 A) and Doctorate (Action 1 B) levels and award of individual scholarships/fellowships to participate in these programmes.
A. EM Masters programmes
These are master’s programmes of outstanding academic quality which are selected by the Community and comply to certain academic criteria. The most important criteria are:
they shall involve HE institutions from a minimum of three different eligible applicant countries, at least one of which must be an EU Member State
they may involve HE institutions or other relevant partners, such as research centres, from third countries
they should involve a period of study in at least two of the participating HE institutions
where appropriate, they shall encourage placements as part of the programme,
they shall have built-in mechanisms for the recognition of study periods based on, or compatible with ECTS
they shall result in the awarding of joint and/or double or multiple degrees, recognized or accredited by the European countries, from the participating institutions.
EM Master’s programmes shall be selected for a five year period, subject to an annual renewal procedure based on progress reporting.
B. EM Doctoral Programme These are doctoral programmes of outstanding academic quality which are selected by the Community for a five year period and are subject to an annual renewal procedure based on progress reporting. Some of the criteria for selecting these programmes are:
they shall involve HE institutions from a minimum of three different eligible applicant countries, at least one of which must be an EU Member State,
and where appropriate, other relevant partners to ensure innovation and employability
they may involve HE institutions or other relevant partners, such as research centres, from third countries
they should involve a period of study and research in at least two of the participating HE institutions
where appropriate, they shall encourage placements as part of the doctoral programme as well as partnerships between academic and economic actors
they shall have built-in mechanisms for the recognition of periods and research undertaken in the partner institutions
they shall result in the awarding of joint and/or double or multiple degrees, recognized or accredited by the European countries, from the participating institutions.
C. Scholarships These include full study scholarships to third-country and European master’s students and doctoral candidates, who have been admitted to EM master’s and doctoral programmes, The amount of the full study scholarships for third country nationals is higher (Category A) than for European nationals (Category B). Those scholarships are for study at the HE institutions involved at the EM master’s or doctoral programmes
The scholarship scheme also provides for short-term scholarships to third country and European academics visiting the EM master’s programmes, with a view to carrying out teaching and research assignments and scholarly work in the European HE institutions participating in the programme (for third country nationals) and in the third country HE institutions participating in the programme (for European nationals). Persons having received a scholarship for EM master’s programmes are also eligible to receive a scholarship for EM doctoral programmes.
ACTION 2: EM Partnerships Through this Action the Community may support structured cooperation partnerships targeted at specific non-European countries/regions and composed of European and Third-Country HEIs form the geographical area concerned, with the purpose of offering full and short-term scholarships to students, scholars and professionals from the Third Countries and, if eligible, European countries concerned.
These are high academic quality partnerships that involve a minimum of five HE institutions from a minimum of three European countries and at least one HEI from each of the third countries covered by the targeted geographical area and which are not participating in the Lifelong Learning Programme. Maximum 20 HEIs.
These partnerships provide for mobility periods of variable length, including the possibility of placement periods and they shall organize exchanges of:
students at all levels of HE
academics
HE staff
They should include built-in mechanisms for the mutual recognition of periods of study and research undertaken in partner institutions, based on or compatible with the ECTS as well as on compatible systems in third countries.
They should also include the use of mobility instruments developed under the Erasmus programme, such as:
recognition of previous study periods
learning agreement
transcript records.
EM partnerships shall be selected for a three year period, subject to an annual renewal procedure based on progress report.
ACTION 3: Promotion of the European Higher Education Through this Action the Community may support activities aimed at enhancing the attractiveness, profile and visibility of, and accessibility to, European higher education.
The activities should contribute to the objectives of the programme and relate to the international dimension of all aspects of higher education, such as
promotion
accessibility
quality assurance
credit recognition
recognition of European qualifications abroad
and mutual recognition of qualifications with third countries
curriculum development
mobility
quality of services, etc.
Activities may include the promotion of the programme and its output.
Eligible institutions:
public or private bodies, active in the field of higher education.
Activities shall be conducted within projects involving organizations from third countries. Activities can take place anywhere in the world may take various forms such as:
seminars
conferences
workshops
studies
analyses
pilot projects
international networks, etc
Activities shall seek to establish links between higher education and research and higher education and the private sector in European and third countries, and exploit synergies whenever possible.
Participating Countries
The 27 EU Member States
European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries which are members of the European Economic Area (EEA)
The candidate countries which have a pre-accession strategy
The countries of the Western Balkans
The Swiss Confederation, provided that a bilateral agreement foreseeing its participation is concluded with that country
All the other countries of the world (third-countries)
Who can Benefit
Higher education institutions
Students in higher education, at all levels, including doctoral candidates
Post-doctoral researchers
Academics
Higher education staff
Other public or private bodies active in the field of higher education under national law and practice
Enterprises
Research centres
Implementation
Higher Education Institutions will submit proposals to the European Commission in response to calls published in the Official Journal and the webside.
Students and scholars who wish to participate in an Erasmus Mundus Masters Course (with or without a scholarship) must apply directly to the selected Erasmus Mundus Masters Consortia
The Erasmus Mundus programme will be implemented as of the academic year 2009-2010.
Information about the Action 2 (former External Cooperation Window): http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/extcoop/call/index.htm
Contact Information
Dr Despina Martidou Forcier Representative of Cyprus National Structure for ERASMUS MUNDUS
Department of Higher and Tertiary Education
Ministry of Education and Culture
Corner of Kimonos and Thucydides, 1434 Nicosia
