Decision No 2317/2003/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 December 2003 establishing a programme for the enhancement of quality in higher education and the promotion of intercultural understanding through cooperation with third countries (Erasmus Mundus) (2004 to 2008)
Date: 2003-12-05
Institutions: Council of the European Union, European Parliament
Subjects: EU programme, cooperation policy, higher education, teaching quality, third country

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I

(Acts whose publication is obligatory)

DECISION No 2317/2003/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

of 5 December 2003

establishing a programme for the enhancement of quality in higher education and the promotion
of intercultural understanding through cooperation with third countries (Erasmus Mundus) (2004
to 2008)

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE
EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Com-
munity, and in particular Article 149 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),

Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and
Social Committee (2),

Having regard to the opinion of
Regions (3),

the Committee of

the

(4)

(5)

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article
251 of the Treaty (4),

(6)

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

The European Community should contribute to the
development of quality education,
through
cooperation with third countries.

inter alia,

The conclusions of the Lisbon European Council (23 and
24 March 2000) emphasised that if Europe is to meet
the challenge of globalisation, Member States need to
adapt their education and vocational training systems to
the demands of the knowledge society.

(23 and 24 March
The Stockholm European Council
2001) indicated that work on the follow-up to the objec-
tives of education and training systems
should be
assessed in the context of a worldwide perspective. The
Barcelona European Council (15 and 16 March 2002)
confirmed that opening-up to the wider world is one of
the three basic principles of the work programme for
2010 for education and training systems.

(1) OJ C 331 E, 31.12.2002, p. 25.
(2) OJ C 95, 23.4.2003, p. 35.
(3) OJ C 244, 10.10.2003, p. 14.
(4) Opinion of the European Parliament of 8 April 2003 (not yet
published in the Official Journal), Council Common Position of 16
June 2003 (OJ C 240 E, 7.10.2003, p. 1) and Position of the Euro-
pean Parliament of 21 October 2003 (not yet published in the Offi-
cial Journal).

(7)

(8)

The European Ministers of Education, meeting in
Bologna (19 June 1999), stated in their joint declaration
that it is necessary to ensure that the European higher
education system acquires a worldwide degree of attrac-
tiveness appropriate to Europe's major cultural and
scientific achievements.

The European Ministers in charge of higher education
meeting in Prague (19 May 2001) further emphasised,
inter alia, the importance of enhancing the attractiveness
of European higher education to students from Europe
and other parts of the world.

In its communication on reinforcing cooperation with
third countries in the field of higher education,
the
Commission argued that greater internationalisation of
higher education is necessary to respond to the chal-
lenges of the process of globalisation, identified overall
objectives for a third-country cooperation strategy in this
field and suggested concrete measures for achieving
these objectives.

The Council resolution of 14 February 2002 on the
promotion of linguistic diversity and language learning
in the framework of the implementation of the objec-
tives of the European year of languages 2001 (5) under-
lines the need for the European Union to take into
account the principle of linguistic diversity in its rela-
tions with third countries.

The academic institutions in the European Union aim to
internationally mobile students.
increase the share of
There is wide recognition of the great potential repre-
sented by the combined individual strengths of European
higher education institutions, by their educational diver-
sity and their wide experience in networking and in
cooperation with third countries, which enable them to
offer courses of great quality unique to Europe and allow
the benefits of international mobility to be shared more
widely within the Community and its partner countries.

(5) OJ C 50, 23.2.2002, p. 1.

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(9)

(10)

(11)

European higher education institutions must remain at
the leading edge of developments. To this end they
should encourage cooperation with third-country institu-
tions that have achieved a level of development compar-
able to that of higher education institutions in the Com-
munity. Higher education must be understood as a
whole, of which higher vocational training forms an
integral part, taking account of specific pathways such
as training courses for engineers or higher technicians.

is

to contribute

this programme

to
The aim of
improving the quality of higher education in Europe and
at the same time to have an impact on the visibility and
perception of the European Union around the world, as
well as building a capital of goodwill among those who
have participated in the programme.

This programme provides for the establishment of an
‘Erasmus Mundus masters course’ which will enable
students
to travel around Europe attending several
different universities. This new European dimension to
higher education should be taken into account in the
such as Socrates
review of
(Erasmus),
to
for European
promote
students.

existing programmes
in order

to take adequate measures

to this programme

access

(12)

The Community action should be managed in a way that
is transparent, user-friendly, open and comprehensible.

(15)

(16)

(17)

In order to reinforce the added value of Community
action it is necessary to ensure coherence and comple-
mentarity between the actions
implemented in the
framework of this Decision and other relevant Com-
munity policies,
in particular
the sixth framework programme for research established
by Decision No 1513/2002/EC (1) and external coopera-
tion programmes in the higher education sector.

instruments and actions,

The Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA
Agreement) provides for greater cooperation in the field
of education, training and youth between the European
Community and its Member States, on the one hand,
and the countries of the European Free Trade Associa-
tion participating in the European Economic Area (EEA-
EFTA States), on the other;
the conditions and the
detailed rules for the participation of the above countries
in this programme should be established in accordance
with the relevant provisions of the EEA Agreement.

The conditions and the detailed rules for the participa-
tion of the associated central and east European coun-
tries (CEECs) in this programme should be established in
accordance with the provisions laid down in the Euro-
pean agreements, in their additional Protocols and in the
decisions of the respective Association Councils. With
regard to Cyprus, participation should be funded by
additional appropriations in accordance with the proce-
dures to be agreed with that country. With regard to
Malta and Turkey, participation should be funded by
additional appropriations in accordance with the provi-
sions of the Treaty.

(18)

This programme should be regularly monitored and
evaluated in cooperation between the Commission and
the Member States in order to allow for readjustments,
particularly as regards the priorities for implementing
the measures; the evaluation should include an external
and independent evaluation.

(13)

In promoting international mobility,
should be mindful of
known as ‘the brain drain’.

the Community
the phenomenon commonly

(19)

(14)

for human rights,

There is a need to step up Community efforts to
promote dialogue and understanding between cultures
world-wide, bearing in mind the social dimension of
higher education as well as the ideals of democracy and
respect
including gender equality,
especially as mobility fosters the discovery of new
cultural and social environments and facilitates under-
standing thereof, and in so doing to ensure that no
group of citizens or of
is
excluded or disadvantaged as mentioned in Article 21(1)
of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European
Union.

third-country nationals

Since the objectives of the proposed action concerning
the contribution of European cooperation to quality
education cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member
States, inter alia, because of the need for multilateral part-
nerships and multilateral mobility and exchanges of
information between the Community and third countries
and can therefore be better achieved at Community level
owing to the transnational dimension of Community
actions and measures,
the Community may adopt
measures in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity
as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty. In accordance with
the principle of proportionality as set out in that Article,
this Decision does not go beyond what is necessary in
order to achieve those objectives.

(1) Decision No 1513/2002/EC of the European Parliament and of the
Council of 27 June 2002 concerning the
sixth framework
programme of the European Community for research, technological
development and demonstration activities, contribution to the crea-
tion of the European Research Area and to innovation (2002 to
2006) (OJ L 232, 29.8.2002, p. 1).

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(20)

This Decision lays down for the entire duration of the
programme a financial framework constituting the prime
reference, within the meaning of point 33 of the Interin-
stitutional Agreement of 6 May 1999 between the Euro-
pean Parliament, the Council and the Commission on
budgetary discipline and improvement of the budgetary
procedure (1),
for the budgetary authority during the
annual budgetary procedure.

(21)

The measures necessary for the implementation of this
Decision should be adopted in accordance with Council
Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down
the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers
conferred on the Commission (2),

HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

Establishment of the programme

This Decision establishes a programme — ‘Erasmus
1.
Mundus’ (hereinafter ‘the programme’) — for the enhancement
of quality in higher education within the European Union and
the promotion of intercultural understanding through coopera-
tion with third countries.

2.
The programme shall be implemented over a period
starting on 1 January 2004 and ending on 31 December 2008.

The programme shall support and supplement action
3.
taken by and in the Member States while fully respecting their
responsibility for the content of education and the organisation
of education and training systems, and their cultural and
linguistic diversity.

Article 2

Definitions

For the purpose of this Decision:

1.

2.

‘higher education institution’ means any institution which
according to national legislation or practice offers qualifica-
tions or degrees at that level, whatever such establishments
may be called;

‘third-country graduate student’ means a national of a third
country other than those from EEA-EFTA States and candi-
date countries for accession to the European Union, who
has already obtained a first higher education degree, who is
not a resident of any of the Member States or the partici-

(1) OJ C 172, 18.6.1999, p. 1; Agreement as amended by Decision
2003/429/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L
147, 14.6.2003, p. 25).
(2) OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23.

pating countries as provided for in Article 11, who has not
carried out his or her main activity (studies, work, etc.) for
more than a total of 12 months over the last five years in
any of the Member States or the participating countries; and
who has been accepted to register or is registered in an
Erasmus Mundus Masters Course as described in the Annex;

3.

‘third-country scholar’ means a national of a third country
other than those from EEA-EFTA States and candidate coun-
tries for accession to the European Union, who is not a resi-
dent of any of the Member States or the participating coun-
tries as provided for in Article 11, who has not carried out
his or her main activity (studies, work, etc.) for more than a
total of 12 months over the last five years in any of the
Member States or the participating countries, and who has
outstanding academic and/or professional experience;

4.

‘graduate or postgraduate studies’ means courses of higher
education study that follow a first degree lasting a minimum
of three years and lead to a second or further degree.

Article 3

Objectives of the programme

The programme's overall aim is to enhance the quality of
1.
European higher education by fostering cooperation with third
countries in order to improve the development of human
resources and to promote dialogue and understanding between
peoples and cultures.

2.

The programme's specific objectives are:

(a) to promote a quality offer in higher education with a
distinct European added value, attractive both within the
European Union and beyond its borders;

(b) to encourage and enable highly qualified graduates and
scholars from all over the world, to obtain qualifications
and/or experience in the European Union;

(c) to develop more structured cooperation between European
Union and third-country institutions and greater European
Union outgoing mobility as part of European study
programmes;

(d) to improve accessibility and enhance the profile and visibi-

lity of higher education in the European Union.

3.
The Commission shall, when pursuing the objectives of
the programme, observe the Community's general policy on
equal opportunities for men and women. The Commission
shall also ensure that no group of citizens or third-country
nationals is excluded or disadvantaged.

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Article 4

Programme actions

The objectives of the programme as set out in Article 3

1.
shall be pursued by means of the following actions:

(a) Erasmus Mundus masters courses selected on the basis of
the proposed training and hosting of

the quality of
students;

(b) a scholarship scheme;

(c) partnerships with third-country higher education institu-

tions;

(d) measures enhancing the attractiveness of Europe as an

educational destination;

(e) technical support measures.

2.
These actions shall be realised using the procedures
described in the Annex, and through the following types of
approaches, which may be combined where appropriate:

(a) support

for

the

development

of

programmes and cooperation networks
exchange of experience and good practice;

joint

educational
facilitating the

(b) enhanced support for mobility, between the Community
and third countries, of people in the field of higher educa-
tion;

(c) promotion of language skills, preferably providing students
with the possibility of learning at least two of the languages
spoken in the countries in which the higher education insti-
tutions involved in the Erasmus Mundus masters course are
situated, and promotion of the understanding of different
cultures;

(d) support for pilot projects based on transnational partner-
ships designed to develop innovation and quality in higher
education;

(e) support for the analysis and follow-up of trends in, and
evolution of, higher education in an international perspec-
tive.

Article 5

Access to the programme

Under the conditions and arrangements for implementation
specified in the Annex and bearing in mind the definitions in
Article 2, the programme is aimed in particular at:

(a) higher education institutions;

(b) students having obtained a first degree awarded by a higher

education institution;

(c) scholars or professionals who lecture or conduct research;

(d) staff directly involved in higher education;

(e) other public or private bodies active in the field of higher
education which may take part only in actions 4 and 5 in
the Annex.

Article 6

Implementation of the programme and cooperation with
the Member States

1.

The Commission shall:

(a) ensure the effective implementation of

the Community
actions covered by the programme in conformity with the
Annex;

(b) take account of bilateral cooperation with third countries

undertaken by Member States;

(c) consult the relevant associations and organisations in the
field of higher education at European level and shall inform
the Committee referred to in Article 8 of their opinions;

(d) seek synergies and develop joint actions with other Com-
munity programmes and actions in the field of higher
education and research.

2.

The Member States shall:

(a) take the necessary steps to ensure the efficient running of
the programme at Member State level
involving all the
parties concerned in education in accordance with national
practice including endeavours to adopt such measures as
may be deemed appropriate to remove legal and adminis-
trative barriers;

(b) designate appropriate structures to cooperate closely with

the Commission;

(c) encourage potential

synergies with other Community
programmes and possible similar national initiatives taken
at Member State level.

The Commission, in cooperation with the Member States,

3.
shall ensure:

(a) appropriate information, publicity and follow-up with

regard to actions supported by the programme;

(b) the dissemination of the results of the actions undertaken

within the framework of the programme.

Article 7

Implementing measures

The following measures necessary for the implementation
this Decision shall be adopted in accordance with the

1.
of
management procedure referred to in Article 8(2):

(a) the annual plan of work, including priorities;

(b) the selection criteria and procedures, including the compo-
sition and internal rules of procedure of the selection board,
and the results of selections for Action 1, with due regard
to the provisions set out in the Annex;

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(c) the general guidelines for implementing the programme;

Article 11

(d) the annual budget, the breakdown of funds among the
different actions of the programme and indicative grant
amounts;

(e) the arrangements

for monitoring and evaluating the
programme and for the dissemination and transfer of
results.

2.
Proposals for decisions concerning the results of selec-
tions, except selections for Action 1, and all other measures
necessary for the implementation of this Decision shall be
adopted in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to
in Article 8(3).

Article 8

Committee

1.

The Commission shall be assisted by a Committee.

2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 4 and
7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the
provisions of Article 8 thereof.

The period laid down in Article 4(3) of Decision 1999/468/EC
shall be set at two months.

3. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 3 and
7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the
provisions of Article 8 thereof.

4.

The Committee shall adopt its Rules of Procedure.

Article 9

Funding

1.
The financial framework for the implementation of the
programme for the period specified in Article 1 is hereby set at
EUR 230 million. For the period following 31 December
2006, this amount shall be deemed to be confirmed if it is
consistent for this phase with the financial perspectives in force
for the period commencing in 2007.

2.
The annual appropriations shall be authorised by the
budgetary authority within the limits of the financial perspec-
tive.

Article 10

Consistency and complementarity

1.
The Commission shall, in cooperation with the Member
States, ensure overall consistency and complementarity with
other relevant Community policies, instruments and actions, in
particular with the sixth framework programme for research
and with external cooperation programmes in the field of
higher education.

2.
The Commission shall keep the Committee referred to in
Article 8(1) regularly informed about Community initiatives
taken in relevant fields, ensure efficient linkage and, where
appropriate,
joint actions between the programme and the
programmes and actions in the area of education undertaken
within the framework of the Community's cooperation with
third countries, including bilateral agreements, and the compe-
tent international organisations.

Participation of EEA-EFTA States and candidate countries
for accession to the European Union

The conditions and detailed rules on the participation of EEA-
EFTA States and candidate countries for accession to the Euro-
pean Union in the programme shall be established in accord-
ance with the relevant provisions of the instruments governing
the relations between the European Community and these
countries.

Article 12

Monitoring and evaluation

1.
The Commission shall regularly monitor the programme
in cooperation with the Member States. The results of the
monitoring and evaluation process shall be utilised when
implementing the programme.

This monitoring shall include the reports referred to in para-
graph 3 and specific activities.

2.
The programme shall be evaluated regularly by the
Commission having regard to the objectives referred to in
Article 3, the impact of the programme as a whole and the
complementarity between action under the programme and
that pursued under other relevant Community policies, instru-
ments and actions.

3.
The Commission shall submit to the European Parliament,
the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and
the Committee of the Regions:

repercussions of

(a) on the accession of new Member States, a report on the
accessions on the
financial
programme, followed, if appropriate, by proposals to deal
with those repercussions. The European Parliament and the
Council shall take a decision on such proposals as soon as
possible;

these

(b) an interim evaluation report on the results achieved and on
the

the implementation of

the qualitative aspects of
programme by 30 June 2007;

(c) a communication on the continuation of the programme

by 31 December 2007;

(d) an ex post evaluation report by 31 December 2009.

Article 13

Entry into force

This Decision shall enter into force on the 20th day following
that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European
Union.

Done at Brussels, 5 December 2003.

For the European Parliament

The President

P. COX

For the Council

The President

P. LUNARDI

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ANNEX

COMMUNITY ACTIONS AND SELECTION PROCEDURES

ACTION 1:

ERASMUS MUNDUS MASTERS COURSES

ACTION 2:

SCHOLARSHIPS

ACTION 3:

PARTNERSHIPS WITH THIRD-COUNTRY HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

ACTION 4:

ENHANCING ATTRACTIVENESS

ACTION 5:

TECHNICAL SUPPORT MEASURES

SELECTION PROCEDURES

ACTION 1: ERASMUS MUNDUS MASTERS COURSES

1. The Community will select European postgraduate courses which, for the purposes of the programme, will be called
‘Erasmus Mundus masters courses’ and will be selected on the basis of the quality of the courses offered and hosting
of students, as provided for under ‘Selection procedures’ in this Annex.

2. For the purpose of the programme, Erasmus Mundus masters courses shall:

(a) involve a minimum of three higher education institutions from three different Member States;

(b) implement a study programme which involves a period of study in at least two of the three institutions under

point (a);

(c) have built-in mechanisms for the recognition of periods of study undertaken in partner institutions based on, or

compatible with, the European credit transfer system;

(d) result in the awarding of joint, double or multiple degrees, recognised or accredited by the Member States, from

the participating institutions;

(e) reserve a minimum of places for, and host, third-country students who have been granted financial support under

the programme;

(f) establish transparent conditions for admissions which pay due regard,

inter alia, to gender issues and equity

issues;

(g) agree to respect the rules applicable to the selection procedure of grantees (students and scholars);

(h) put in place appropriate arrangements to facilitate access for, and hosting of, third-country students (information

facilities, accommodation, etc.);

(i) without prejudice to the language of instruction, provide for the use of at least two European languages spoken
in the Member States where the higher education institutions involved in the Erasmus Mundus masters course are
situated and, as appropriate, for language preparation and assistance for students, in particular by means of
courses organised by the institutions in question.

3. Erasmus Mundus masters courses will be selected for a five-year period, subject to a lightweight annual renewal
procedure based on progress reporting, which period could include a year's preparatory activities before the actual
course begins to run. Balanced representation of different fields of study will be sought over the duration of the
programme. The Community may provide financial support for Erasmus Mundus masters courses and funding would
be subject to the annual renewal procedure.

ACTION 2: SCHOLARSHIPS

1. The Community will establish a single, global scholarship scheme targeted at the third-country graduate students and

scholars.

(a) The Community may provide financial support to third-country students who have been admitted, through a

competitive process, to Erasmus Mundus masters courses.

(b) The Community may provide financial support to third-country scholars visiting the Erasmus Mundus masters
courses, with a view to carrying out teaching and research assignments and scholarly work in the institutions
participating in Erasmus Mundus masters courses.

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2. Scholarships will be open to third-country graduate students and scholars as defined in Article 2, without any precon-
dition for participation other than the existence of relations between the European Union and the country of origin
of the students and scholars in question.

3. The Commission shall take steps to ensure that no student or scholar receives financial support for the same purpose

under more than one Community programme.

ACTION 3: PARTNERSHIPS WITH THIRD-COUNTRY HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

1. The Community may support structured relations between Erasmus Mundus masters courses and third-country
higher education institutions. While having regard to the overarching criteria of quality, a varied geographical distri-
bution among the third-country institutions participating in the programme should also be taken into consideration.
Partnerships will provide the framework for outgoing mobility of European Union students and scholars involved in
the Erasmus Mundus masters courses.

2. Partnerships will:

— involve an Erasmus Mundus masters course and at least one higher education institution from a third country,

— be supported for periods of up to three years,

— provide a framework for outgoing mobility for students enrolled in the Erasmus Mundus masters courses and the
courses' teachers; eligible students and scholars must be citizens of the European Union or third-country nationals
who had been legal residents in the European Union for at least three years (and for purposes other than study)
before the start of the outgoing mobility,

— ensure recognition of study periods at the host (i.e., non-European) institution.

3. Partnership project activities may also include:

— teaching assignments at a partner institution supporting the project's curriculum development,

— exchanges of teachers, trainers, administrators, and other relevant specialists,

— development and dissemination of new methodologies in higher education, including the use of information and

communication technologies, e-learning, and open and distance learning,

— development of cooperation schemes with third-country higher education institutions with a view to offering a

course in the country in question.

ACTION 4: ENHANCING ATTRACTIVENESS

1. Through this action, the Community may support activities aimed at enhancing the profile and visibility of, and
accessibility to, European education. The Community shall also support complementary activities that contribute to
the objectives of the programme including activities dealing with the international dimension of quality assurance,
credit recognition, recognition of European qualifications abroad and mutual recognition of qualifications with third
countries, curriculum development and mobility.

2. Eligible institutions may include public or private organisations active in the field of higher education domestically or
at international level. Activities shall be conducted within networks involving a minimum of three organisations from
three different Member States and may involve organisations from third countries. Activities (which may include
seminars, conferences, workshops, development of ICT tools, production of material for publication, etc.) may take
place in the Member States or in third countries.

3. Promotional activities shall seek to establish links between higher education and research, and exploit whenever

possible potential synergies.

4. Through this action the Community may support international thematic networks to deal with these issues.

5. The Community may support as appropriate pilot projects with third countries with a view to developing further

cooperation in the field of higher education with the countries in question.

6. The Community shall support an alumni association of all students (third-country and Europeans) graduating from

Erasmus Mundus masters courses.

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ACTION 5: TECHNICAL SUPPORT MEASURES

In carrying out the programme, the Commission may have recourse to experts, to an executive agency, to existing
competent agencies in Member States and, if necessary, to other forms of technical assistance, the financing of which
may be provided from within the overall financial framework of the programme.

SELECTION PROCEDURES

The selection procedures will be laid down as provided for in Article 7(1). These procedures should respect the following
provisions:

(a) the selection of proposals under action 1 and under action 3 shall be carried out by a selection board presided over
by a person whom it elects, composed of personalities of high standing from the academic world who are represen-
tative of the diversity of higher education in the European Union. The selection board shall ensure that Erasmus
Mundus masters courses and partnerships correspond to the highest academic quality;

(b) each Erasmus Mundus masters course will be allocated a specific number of grants under action 2. The selection of
third-country students will be carried out by the institutions participating in the Erasmus Mundus masters courses.
Selection procedures shall provide for a clearing mechanism at European level, in order to prevent serious imbal-
ances across fields of study and students' and scholars' regions of provenance and Member State of destination;

(c) proposals under action 4 will be selected by the Commission;

(d) selection procedures shall involve consultation with the structures designated in accordance with Article 6(2)(b).