About Erasmus Mundus
Introduction
Erasmus Mundus is a cooperation and mobility programme in the field of higher education that aims to enhance the quality of European higher education and to promote dialogue and understanding between people and cultures through cooperation with Third-Countries. In addition, it contributes to the development of human resources and the international cooperation capacity of Higher education institutions in Third Countries by increasing mobility between the European Union and these countries.
The Erasmus Mundus programme provides support to:
- higher education institutions that wish to implement joint programmes at postgraduate level (Action 1) or to set-up inter-institutional cooperation partnerships between universities from Europe and targeted Third-Countries (Action 2);
- individual students, researchers and university staff who wish to spend a study / research / teaching period in the context of one of the above mentioned joint programmes or cooperation partnerships (Action 1 and Action 2);
- any organisation active in the field of higher education that wishes to develop projects aimed at enhancing the attractiveness, profile, visibility and image of European higher education worldwide (Action 3).
Objectives
Erasmus Mundus 2009-2013 is a cooperation and mobility programme in the field of higher education for:
- the enhancement of quality in European higher education;
- the promotion of the European Union as a centre of excellence in learning around the world;
- the promotion of intercultural understanding through cooperation with Third Countries as well as for the development of Third Countries in the field of higher education.
Erasmus Mundus 2009-2013 (Decision N° 1298/2008/EC) continues and extends the scope of the activities already launched during the first phase (2004-2008)of the programme. It now includes the Erasmus Mundus External Cooperation Window scheme, which was launched in 2006 as a complement to the original programme. In addition, the Programme integrates cooperation activities with Industrialised Countries.
Actions
Erasmus Mundus 2009-2013 is implemented through of the following actions:
- Action 1: Erasmus Mundus joint programmes of outstanding quality at masters (Action 1 A) and doctoral (Action 1 B) levels including scholarships/fellowships to participate in these programmes;
- Action 2: Erasmus Mundus Partnerships between European and Third Country higher education institutions including scholarships and fellowships for mobility at all academic levels;
- Action 3: Promotion of European higher education through projects to enhance the attractiveness of Europe as an educational destination and a centre of excellence at world level.
The Programme Guide contains all the general information and the conditions on how to apply for funding. In addition, regular Calls for Proposals are published for the specific actions.
Programme management
The European Commission is responsible for the running of the Erasmus Mundus Programme 2009-2013. It manages the budget and sets priorities, targets and criteria for the Programme. Furthermore, it guides and monitors the general implementation, follow-up and evaluation of the Programme at European level.
The Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) is responsible for the implementation of the Erasmus Mundus Programme.