Erasmus Mundus Scholarship

 

The overall objective of Erasmus Mundus scholarship is to improve the quality of higher education in Europe by strengthening co-operation with third world countries. The programme is aimed at developing human resources and increasing the dialogue and understanding between nations and cultures.

 

The specific objectives of the programme include providing the people living inside and outside EU high-quality courses of European attractive education and added value; encouraging post graduates and scholars of the world to study and live in EU; developing co-operation between training institutions of EU and third world countries to promote the training outside EU as part of European research programme and upgrading European higher education and improving its image in the world.

 

The programme consists of four component parts:

 

Part 1 - Higher education training courses: These training courses are the central part of Erasmus Mundus programme. They include higher education research programmes conducted by a consortium of universities (at least three universities from three European countries). The students must study in at least two of the three universities and receive master degrees in two or more universities.

 

Part 2 - Erasmus Mundus: A scholarship programme for post graduates and scholars of third world countries is closely associated with Erasmus Mundus master degree training courses

 

Part 3 - Partnership: The Erasmus Mundus training courses provide opportunities to establish partnerships with education institutions of third world countries. EU post graduates and scholars participating in Erasmus Mundus programme can study and work at universities in third world countries.

 

Part 4 - Stronger attraction: The Erasmus Mundus programme supports projects increasing the attraction of EU higher education in the world, improving the image and

prestige and increasing the access to EU higher education.

 

So far 57 courses have been planned and by the end of the programme in 2008, some 110 courses will have been organised. The courses will focus on various fields for example: forestry and agriculture, management science and business studies, information and communication, teacher training and education development, technology and assembly, geography, environment and earth study, philosophy, languages, law, mathematics, computer, medicine, natural and social sciences, and culture.

 

In the 2004-2005 school-year, three students and a scholar from Vietnam were selected for the programme. In the next school-year, the number of students will increase to 16 (14 selected by “Asia window”) and a scholar. The percentage of Vietnamese students is low, for example, India has 137, China 85 and Thailand 32.

 

The main reason is due to the fact that Erasmus Mundus programmes is little known in Vietnam. Therefore, the EU Mission has decided to launch a series of meetings to introduce the programme in Vietnam.

 

A limited number of scholars are reserved for excellent students from third world countries. The applications for Erasmus Mundus scholars must be approved by a group of concerned universities. The applicants must apply directly to concerned group of universities for scholarship. The universities will provide them information on application forms and time-limit. There is no common application form or time-limit for all courses.