Brussels, 09/06/2008 (Agence Europe) -More than 2000 students and 450 teachers from third countries will receive Erasmus Mundus bursaries for the university year 2008-2009. These students will have the opportunity to study in Europe for one or two years and earn a master's degree on one of 103 "Erasmus Mundus" courses offered by consortiums of European higher education establishments. 17 new partnerships with educational establishments of third countries have been retained for these two years; the programme will cover 62 universities from 23rd countries. At the same time, these partnerships will allow 477 students and 192 European teachers to spend time in these countries under the programme.
The second phase of the Erasmus Mundus programme (2009-2013) will have a provisional budget of 950 million euros in total. It will introduce a new system of including joint doctorates, increasing the number of bursaries for European students and stepping up structural cooperation with the higher educational establishments in third countries. It also provides a mobility programme for all levels of higher education. Erasmus Mundus will be honoured on 6 and 7 June: the University of Perugia in Italy will host the fourth seminar of Erasmus Mundus students and the second general meeting of the association of students and alumni of the programme. For more information, see: http: //http://www.em-a.eu (I.L./trans/fl)