MORE AUSTRALIAN STUDENTS AND SCHOLARS BOUND FOR EUROPE

More Australian students and scholars are enjoying study, teaching and research opportunities in the European Union thanks to the European Commission's Erasmus Mundus program.
For the 2008/2009 academic year, 24 Australian students and 25 Australian scholars have been selected to participate in the Erasmus Mundus Scheme.

Erasmus Mundus is a global scheme which aims to enhance the quality of European higher education through continuous worldwide dialogue and cooperation with third countries. It supports the international mobility of scholars and students, through offering scholarships to students to study, and scholars to teach in, selected European Masters Programs. Currently there are 103 Masters Courses to choose from, ranging across all academic disciplines. Australian Institutions are partners in 13 of these courses.

Students have been awarded more than A$34,500 per academic year for a maximum of two years, and scholars have been awarded more than A$21,300 for a maximum period of three months

Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Commission to Australia and New Zealand, Bruno Julien, congratulated all scholarship recipients and said Erasmus Mundus is the opportunity of a lifetime for students and scholars alike to lean more about European cultures, languages and academic systems.

“Last year Australia and the European Commission signed a Declaration of Intent to further improve collaboration on education. Initiatives such as the Joint Mobility Projects, co-funded with the Department of Education Employment & Workplace Relations, the Europe Centres and Erasmus Mundus will continue to build and foster relationships in order to uphold strong bonds between the EU and Australia for many years to come,” Ambassador Julien said.

He was also pleased to learn that among the many talented recipients this year there are some whose Universities are part of the Europe Centres Network including Macquarie University, Griffith University, Monash University, University of Melbourne, James Cook University, Australian National University, La Trobe University, Murdoch University and University of Newcastle.

For the 2008-2009 academic year, 1957 students and 459 scholars were selected for Erasmus Mundus scholarships worldwide. To date, more than 6000 students and more than 1000 teaching staff from across the globe have received an Erasmus Mundus scholarship.

This latest selection completes the first phase of Erasmus Mundus. The second phase of Erasmus Mundus (2009-13) is expected to start in 2009. The new phase will include doctoral programmes, increased scholarships for European students and promote further cooperation with higher education institutions worldwide. In addition, the new phase will integrate a mobility scheme for all levels of higher education.

For more information on Erasmus Mundus and EU education initiatives visit www.delaus.ec.europa.eu/education