03/12/2008 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has consolidated the longstanding cooperation with the US and Canada with the launch of a new round of 24 innovative projects involving universities and training institutions on both sides of the Atlantic. In addition, this year 11 joint curriculum development and student mobility projects were agreed and launched with Australia, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand. All these projects are jointly funded and supervised by the European Commission and the governments in the partner countries. The aim is to promote mutual understanding, transparency and quality in higher education and training, by setting up long-term institutional cooperation at bachelor's and master's level, allowing students from Europe and from the partner countries to have a unique experience studying abroad. The 35 projects launched this year involve 189 institutions and more than 2,000 student exchanges. (I.L./transl.rt)