rn1 Iran, Iraq, Yemen - Lot 7/8 Erasmus Mundus - External Cooperation Window as a Framework for Higher Education Cooperation in the Middle East Region: Opportunities and Challenges Erasmus Mundus External Cooperation Window (EM ECW) for Iran, Iraq and Yemen www.erasmusmundus8.net Andrew Skidmore, Ali Abkar, Lyande Eelderink Raymond Nijmeijer, Angelique Holtkamp
Slide 1 rn1 The title according to ISPRS programme is: 'Erasmus Mundus - External Cooperation Window as a Framework for Higher Education Cooperation in the Middle East Region: Opportunities and Challenges' nijmeijer, 31-05-2010
Overview Background: Facts Partners Statistics (Lot 8) Visibility strategy Challenges Solutions: learning from experience Ongoing issues rn3 Other Erasmus window lots involvement of University of Twente 2
Slide 2 rn3 Maybe you need to adjust this entry nijmeijer, 31-05-2010
Erasmus Mundus Phase II (2009-2013) Action 1: Joint programmes at masters (Action 1 A) and doctoral (Action 1 B) levels including scholarships/fellowships to participate in these programmes Action 2: Action 3: Budget: Partnerships between European and Third Country higher education institutions including scholarships for mobility at all academic levels 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 2010 = 950 million Euro Contract duration: 42 months 3
rn2 EM External Cooperation Window Lots 7/8 The main objective is to create an energetic and vibrant exchange programme. Excellence To enhance the medium term political, cultural, educational and economical links between the European Union and Third-countries by focusing on strengthening third country institutions, building human resources capacity, building infrastructure capacity, and improving knowledge, curricula and quality of the educational content and processes. 4
Slide 4 rn2 EM instead of EU nijmeijer, 31-05-2010
Types of Scholarships Five Academic Levels Undergraduate Master Doctorate Post doctorate Staff Three Target Groups TG1 : Partner Universities (at least 50% of the scholarships) TG2 : All others TG3 : Refugees 5
6 Background: Partners
Statistics - Number of Applications Year 2009 7
8 Statistics Origin of the Applicants
Statistics - Target Group Total Iran Iraq Yemen 9
Statistics Gender Iran Total Iraq Yemen 10
Statistics Applications per Host Lund University Middle East Technical University Freie Universität Berlin University of Bordeaux I University of Deusto Total Erasmus University of Rotterdam University of Algarve ITC University of Warsaw University of Southampton 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 11
12 Visibility Web Presence
Visibility Strategy Contacting alumni networks (for university graduates from the Lot 7/8 countries) Publishing bulletins in university newsletters Briefing professional organisations and associate partners (mainly for Target Groups 2 and 3) Contacting Ministries of Education and EU Embassies and Delegations in the Lot 7/8 countries The United Nation High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has assisted in promoting the programme (Target Group 3) 13
Challenges Target Group 3 (refugees) Challenging group with whom to create visibility Challenge to validate the academic background; required documents are not always complete or available Challenge to obtain the documents to travel to the EU Support of UNHCR Female applications Culture Low numbers Critical point for the EU Language Strict selection criteria enforced by some partners and national laws skews application numbers Potential mobility flows of L8C universities demand for higher education and internationalization of higher education in the region is growing Drop Outs High number Ensure suitable candidates Selection is critical Selection Equal distribution across EU partners Equal mobility types per Lot 8 countries 14
Challenges (continued) Many parameters to be optimized: Parameter 1- EU boundary conditions (respect EU criteria and rules) minimum number of mobility flows, Target groups percentages (at least 50% TG1), incoming & outgoing percentages, cover all academic levels (Undergraduate, Master, PhD, PostDoc, Staff), geographic diversity, gender balance, excellence, Parameter 2 - the EU universities Parameter 3 - individual interests Parameter 4 - the 3 rd country university needs 15
Solutions: Learning from Experience Most important factors are: Continuing the collegial atmosphere and respect within the partnership Flexibility Taking responsibility A partnership of cooperation Building sustainable relationships 16
Ongoing Issues Bologna Agreement and its implementation in third countries Bilateral arrangements for double/multiple/joint degrees Degree recognition Recognition of study period ECTS Brain drain & incentives to return Impact of programme on employability of mobilities 17
Action 2: Lot 10 (ACP Countries) (# 1) 2008 Two Academic Levels: Master (from ACP to EU) Staff Three Target Groups 12 TG1 partners in ACP Africa: Buea Cameroon, Cape Verde, Mekelle, KNUST Ghana, Polytechnic Namibia, NUR Rwanda, Makerere Uganda, Ardhi Tanzania Caribbean: Belize, UWI Trinidad Pacific: East-Timor, USP Fiji 6 TG1 partners in Europe Bordeaux, Berlin, Algarve, Deusto, Lund 180 Scholarships Budget: 5 million Euro 18
Action 2: Partner Lots Currently: Lot 2: Egypt coordinated by University of Wales Institute, Cardiff Lot 13 (now 15): India (no renewal) coordinated by Lund University Lot 14: China (no renewal) coordinated by Lund University Lot 11/12: Regional Asia (EMMA) coordinated by University of Nice 19
Action 2: ITC s Involvement Future UT-ITC as Lead: Lot 8: Iran, Iraq, Yemen (proposal submitted) Lot 15: ACP Countries (proposal submitted) UT-ITC as Partner: Lot 2: Egypt (proposal submitted) Lot 5: Gulf (proposal submitted) Lot 11: Regional Asia EMMA- West (2 nd proposal rejected, 3 rd proposal submitted) Lot 14: South Africa (proposal submitted) 20
Thank you for your attention! Andrew Skidmore skidmore@itc.nl Ali Abkar abkar@itc.nl Lyande Eelderink eelderink@itc.nl Raymond Nijmeijer nijmeijer@itc.nl Angelique Holtkamp holtkamp@itc.nl 21
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