Brussels, 19/07/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 19 July, the European Commission announced that it was to put aside €30.4 million to support higher education projects in the countries under the European neighbourhood policy and Russia. The amounts granted under the Tempus programme will be used to support some 50 multilateral partnerships designed to modernise programmes and higher education methods in the neighbour countries. More than 350 institutions from these countries will have the opportunity to work together in a structured way with a similar number of institutions from the European Union, in the framework of projects over 2 to 3 years, to kick off in 2011. Public and private enterprises and NGOs will be involved in the projects and thousands of university students will enjoy new career prospects. Lastly, the university infrastructures will be improved and updated by new investments. Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan Füle welcomes this new initiative, which will “boost exchanges of knowledge, experience and ideas”. Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou, who is responsible for the education portfolio, said that this cooperation would make the European area of teaching “more visible and attractive in the world, whilst helping the countries of our European neighbourhood to modernise their universities and improve their knowledge in the field of teaching”. (I.L./transl.fl)