The EU-funded programme Erasmus Mundus has announced the coming launch of a call for applications for undergraduates, administrative and academic staff mobility programmes for applicants from Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and Libya under the Fatima Al Fihri project.
The call for applications will be launched from 29 October 2013 midnight (CET) to 15 January 2014 midnight (CET).
The Erasmus Mundus programme Al Fihri is a partnership established between 11 North African Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in five targeted countries (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and Libya) and 9 European HEIs from 8 different countries (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal and Spain).
The project’s objectives are:
- To contribute to the mutual enrichment of societies by developing the qualifications of men and women so that they possess appropriate skills, particularly as regards the labour market, and are open-minded and internationally experienced;
- To promote mobility both for students, researchers, academics and administrative staff from North Africa, especially from vulnerable groups, selected on the basis of academic excellence, to obtain qualifications and/or experience in the European Union;
- To contribute towards the development of human resources and the international co-operation capacity of higher education institutions in third-countries through increased mobility streams between the EU and third-countries in accordance with the principles of equal opportunities and non-discrimination.
Erasmus Mundus aims to enhance quality in higher education through scholarships and academic cooperation between Europe and the rest of the world. The programme offers financial support for institutions and scholarships for individuals.
The EU also funds Tempus programme which promotes institutional cooperation for reform and modernisation of higher education systems in the Neighbouring Countries, including those in the Southern Mediterranean.
Funding for both Erasmus Mundus and Tempus was greatly increased in the aftermath of the Arab Spring. In 2011, an additional €20 million for Tempus supported the creation of four new university partnerships and nearly 560 extra scholarships on top of the 525 initially planned for Southern Mediterranean candidates. In 2012, the Erasmus Mundus budget was doubled which meant that more than €35 million was available to fund 10 partnerships.
(Source: EU Neighbourhood Info)
