Brussels, 20/07/2006 (Agence Europe) - On 17 July the European Commission gave its approval to 110 new university cooperation projects and 61 structural measures under the Tempus programme, which supports the modernisation of higher education and enhancing understanding between cultures in 27 countries in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, the Western Balkans and the Mediterranean region.
The Tempus programme supports higher education reform in the EU's neighbouring countries. The university cooperation projects and structural measures under Tempus are the EU's contribution to the modernisation of the higher education systems of the partner countries surrounding Europe. Tempus develops and upgrades curricula and university management practices, promotes higher education reform, opens universities to the outside world and encourages mobility of academic and administrative staff. The 110 projects will receive an EC contribution totalling € 46 million. They cover a broad range of disciplines highly relevant to the reform processes in partner countries: business, management, engineering, agriculture and environmental studies to modern languages, social and European studies. The 61 Structural and Complementary Measures benefit from an EU contribution of € 7½ million. These measures are mainly used to accompany the partner countries in their efforts to align their higher education systems with the principles of the “Bologna process”, to create a European higher education area. Jan Figel', European Commissioner for Education and Training, said: “Tempus…has become a major gateway to international contacts. It is based on the understanding that higher education institutions are a vital part of any process for social and economic transition in our neighbouring countries, and that they are a privileged vehicle to ensure better prospects for future generations.” Since 1990, the Tempus programme has financed more than 1000 projects in its partner countries.