Brussels, 12/07/2007 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has unveiled a new Erasmus Mundi programme to increase the visibility of the EU's universities in the world and help extend the EU's reputation as a pole of excellence in higher education. On Thursday 12 July the Commission adopted a proposal to launch a new generation of the Erasmus Mundus programme for the period 2009-13, consolidating it and extending its scope. The new programme is based on a very positive external assessment report on the current Erasmus programme, an impact study ahead of publication of the new programme, and the results of a vast consultation of stakeholders.
Over the last three academic years (2004-2006), more than 2,300 students from 100 countries and 323 universities have participated in the programme and over 1,800 have just been selected to start their studies in Europe in September this year. The new Erasmus Mundus II programme builds on this by aiming to become the EU reference programme for cooperation with third countries in this area. The Commission is proposing to quadruple the funding available. Over a period of five years, just over €950 million will be available for European and third-country universities to join forces in joint programmes or collaborative partnerships, and to grant scholarships to European and third-country students for an international study experience. This new approach translates into a whole range of new programme activities which cover joint doctoral programmes (the previous Erasmus programme was limited to Masters degree level), increased financial support for European students, as well as collaborative partnerships with specific world regions to the benefit of all partners involved.
"The current Erasmus Mundus programme has been successfully running since its launch in 2004, encouraging the creation of high-quality Masters courses in Europe and attracting high-calibre students from third countries to European universities", explained EU Education, Training, Culture and Youth Commissioner Ján Figel. EU External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said that Erasmus would emulate the Fulbright Program in the US, adding: "While we must consolidate the encouraging achievements of the current programme, we also feel that it is necessary to go a step further and widen the scope of the programme so that Erasmus Mundus becomes the trademark for EU cooperation with third countries in the field of higher education... The new programme will extend its scope of activities in terms of participants, higher education programmes on offer and scholarships. It will enhance the quality of European higher education, promote EU external policy objectives, support the sustainable development of third countries in the field of higher education, as well as further dialogue and understanding between peoples and cultures."
At a press conference following the presentation of the new programme, a reporter expressed concern that Erasmus might lead to a brain drain. Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner replied that the Commission was concerned about this and had included a special provision whereby Erasmus students had to sign a document promising to return to their countries of origin, adding that the Commission wanted the students to return to their country of origin at least at the beginning, and institutions failing to respect this clause might be thrown out of the programme.
Asked about students' problems with obtaining a visa, the commissioner said that deals had been made with some countries already and the Commission was working with member states' embassies to facilitate visa procedures as long as students applied on time. Commissioner Figel said that DG Education had looked into the actual conditions of the programme and drawn up a best practices manual for the issuing of visas. The Commission will now be negotiating with the Council and the European Parliament to ensure the new Erasmus programme is adopted in 2008 so it can come into force in 2009. (il)