Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing an action programme for the enhancement of quality in higher education and the promotion of intercultural understanding through co-operation with third countries (Erasmus Mundus) (2009-2013) [SEC(2007) 949] [SEC(2007) 950]
Date: 2007-07-12
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: action programme, cooperation in the field of education, cultural policy, higher education, teaching quality, third country, youth exchange scheme

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 12.7.2007 
COM(2007) 395 final 

2007/0145 (COD) 

Proposal for a 

DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL 

establishing an action programme for the enhancement of quality in higher education 
and the promotion of intercultural understanding through co-operation with third 
countries (Erasmus Mundus) (2009-2013) 

(presented by the Commission) 

[SEC(2007) 949] 
[SEC(2007) 950] 

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EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

1)  CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL 

110 

•  Grounds for and objectives of the proposal 

Higher education is subject to growing internationalisation in response to the process 
of  globalisation.  The  Community  and  its  Member  States  should  therefore  seek  to 
prepare its citizens for a global environment by including an international dimension in 
their higher education systems.  

The overall aim of the new Erasmus Mundus programme is to enhance the quality of 
European  higher  education,  to  promote  dialogue  between  and  understanding  for 
different  societies  and  cultures  through  co-operation  among  higher  education 
institutions  and  people-to-people  contacts,  as  well  as  to  promote  EU  external  policy 
objectives and contribute to the sustainable development of third countries in the field 
of  higher  education.  In  that  sense  this  proposal  represents  a  new  approach  and  has  a 
wider  scope  in  terms  of  policy,  objectives  and  types  of  activities  than  the  current 
Erasmus Mundus programme. 

Higher  education  institutions  (HEIs)  are  also  arenas  for  inter-cultural  dialogue  and 
exchange.  An  education  and  mobility  programme  based  on  international  links  and 
exchanges of individuals can enhance the political, cultural, educational and economic 
ties between the European Union and third countries.  

The  Commission  has  previously  outlined  its  views  on  the  issues  which  higher 
education  systems  and  institutions  need  to  address,  notably  in  its  Communication 
"Delivering  on  the  Modernisation  Agenda  for  Universities:  education,  research  and 
innovation" (COM(2006) 208 final) of May 2006. As part of these efforts, HEIs see the 
need to establish international links with institutions located elsewhere in the world and 
to try to attract a large share of internationally mobile students and researchers to their 
institutions. What is more, Community action in this field has to take due account of 
the broader context of EU external policy and its cooperation with third countries, in 
line  with  the  Commission  Communication  “Europe  in  the  world  -  some  practical 
proposals for greater coherence, effectiveness and visibility” (COM(2006) 278 final). 

HEIs and students from the whole world will be able to benefit from the new Erasmus 
Mundus  programme.  The  current  Erasmus  Mundus  programme  comes  to  an  end  in 
2008.  According  to  Article  12  of  the  programme  Decision,  the  Commission  has  to 
submit a communication on the continuation of the programme by 31 December 2007. 

120 

•  General context 

The number of internationally mobile students seeking an education abroad continues 
to  rise:  1.8  million  in  2001,  2.5  million  in  2004  and  a  projected  7.2  million  in  2025, 
70% of whom will be Asian.  

Recent data suggest that competition to attract the "brightest and the best" has become 
more intense and that some European countries have become major players in the field. 

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In 2004, six countries hosted 67% of the world’s mobile students: the US (23%), the 
UK  (12%),  Germany  (11%),  France  (10%),  Australia  (7%)  and  Japan  (5%).  Europe1 
hosted 44% of all international students (or 1.1 million students). International student 
enrolment rates between 1999 and 2004 grew by 109% for Japan, 81% for France, 45% 
for Germany, 42% for Australia, 29% for the UK and 17% for the US. 

However, Europe lags behind the US on certain crucial academic indicators. In terms 
of  the  number  of  new  PhDs  awarded  annually,  the  figures  for  2003  were  1 167 000 
(EU-25)  and  1 335 000  (US).  The  US  and  Japan  are  also  ahead  of  Europe  when  it 
comes to the employment of researchers. The numbers of researchers per 1000 persons 
in the labour force in 2003 were 5.5 (EU-25), 9.1 (US) and 10.1 (Japan). 

While some European countries have started attracting large numbers of international 
students,  Europe's  status  as  a  centre  of  excellence  in  learning  is  not  always  fully 
appreciated or understood by third-country universities, nor by students looking for a 
high-quality  international  education.  Moreover,  the  vast  majority  of  international 
students studying in Europe are concentrated in just a few European countries. 

A  2006  study  on  "Perceptions  of  European  Higher  Education  in  Third  Countries" 
shows  that  students  rank  the  US  first  in  terms  of  innovation,  dynamism  and 
competition (both in higher education and society in general). This contrasts with the 
perception  of  a  "traditional"  Europe,  lagging  in  terms  of  modernity,  capacity  for 
innovation  and  tolerance.  Asian  students,  who  make  up  the  most  important  market 
segment,  rank  the  US  above  Europe  in  all  of  the  following  academic  and  labour 
market-related categories: quality of laboratories, libraries and other facilities; quality 
of education; most prestigious universities; reputation of degrees; chances of getting a 
job and staying on after graduation; work opportunities during studies. 

Europe's cultural and linguistic diversity is also regarded as a challenge by many third-
country  students.  From  abroad,  European  higher  education  is  seen  as  confusing  and 
fragmented, comprising many different national systems and languages of tuition. The 
lack of coherent information about opportunities for studying in Europe reinforces this 
impression. 

At the same time, Europe is rated highly in terms of the quality of education on offer, 
even if the US scores better in this respect; Europe also comes out ahead of the US for 
culture, safety, and accessibility and affordability of education. 

The  current  Erasmus  Mundus  programme  provides  a  response  to  the  challenges  of 
internationalisation faced by European higher education. Enhancing the attractiveness 
and  visibility  of  European  higher  education  worldwide  and  promoting  mobility 
between  Europe  and  third  countries  can  contribute  to  the  broader  need  to  adapt 
education  systems  to  the  demands  of  the  knowledge  society  and  to  the  process  of 
modernising  higher  education  as  addressed 
the  Commission's  May  2006 
Communication mentioned above.  

in 

The  present  Erasmus  Mundus  programme  has  led  European  HEIs  to  start  combining 
their  individual  strengths  and  educational  diversity  to  try  to  attract  the  best 

1 

Statistics refer to the 27 EU Member States, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey. 

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internationally mobile students to world-class European programmes. Simultaneously, 
under its External Cooperation Window, Erasmus Mundus also tries to strengthen HEIs 
in  certain  regions  of  the  world  by  providing  a  stimulus  to  their  international  co-
operation capacity and by boosting mobility between Europe and these regions. 

The  impact  assessment  found  that  discontinuing  the  programme  (i.e.  doing  nothing) 
could  have  serious  implications  in  terms  of  the  quality  of  students  and  academics 
attracted  to  Europe  from  third  countries,  the  accessibility  and  visibility  of  European 
higher  education  in  the  world,  and  the  fostering  of  intercultural  dialogue  and 
understanding.  

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•  Existing provisions in the area of the proposal 

The  current  Erasmus  Mundus  programme  (2004-2008)  was  adopted  by  the  European 
Parliament  and  the  Council  on  5  December  2003  (Decision  No.  2317/2003/EC).  Its 
External  Cooperation  Window  is  based  on  various  Council  regulations,  the  revised 
Cotonou Agreement and the Internal Agreement for the period 2008 to 2013, which are 
the  funding  instruments  in  the  field  of  external  co-operation  with  specific  world 
regions. 

It is proposed that the second phase of the Erasmus Mundus programme (2009-2013) 
would continue the activities of the first Erasmus Mundus programme, incorporate its 
External  Cooperation  Window  more  directly,  extend  its  scope  to  all  levels  of  higher 
education,  improve  funding  opportunities  for  European  students  and  offer  enhanced 
possibilities for co-operation with HEIs located in third countries. 

140 

•  Consistency with the other policies and objectives of the Union 

Given  the  central  role  of  higher  education  in  social,  cultural  and  economic  policies, 
there  are  many  connections  between  this  programme  proposal  and  other  Community 
policies. Due account has therefore been taken of related Community programmes and 
objectives, such as the Lifelong Learning Programme, the Marie Curie programme, the 
initiative  to  create  a  European  Institute  of  Technology,  the  Tempus  programme,  the 
Atlantis  programme,  the  higher  education  agreement  with  Canada,  as  well  as  other 
external co-operation programmes such as Alßan, Alfa, Edulink or Asia-Link. 

There is continuity between the current and the future phase of Erasmus Mundus. The 
innovative  and  wider  coverage  gives  the  future  Erasmus  Mundus  programme  the 
architecture  of  a  global  programme  linking  internal  and  external  EU  policies.  It 
reinforces EU policy coherence, visibility and presence abroad. Close cooperation with 
the  Commission  Delegations  in  third  countries  is  essential  for  the  success  and  the 
visibility of these programmes as well as for the visibility of the external EU policies, 
in general. 

The objectives of the future Erasmus Mundus programme appear to be consistent with 
and  often  highly  complementary  to  those  of  existing  initiatives  in  similar  areas, 
creating strong synergies between the various programmes. Furthermore, the objectives 
of the proposed programme are consistent with the wider political aims of the Lisbon 
Strategy and the Bologna Process, as well as with recent Commission Communications 
in the field of higher education. 

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As  recent  surveys  amongst  Erasmus  Mundus  students  coming  from  third  countries 
have  shown  that  there  continue  to  exist  problems  as  regards  the  issuing  of  visas  to 
third-country students,  the Commission will monitor very closely the implementation 
of Council Directive (EC) No 114/2004 on the conditions of admission of third-country 
nationals  for  the  purpose  of  studies,  pupil  exchange,  unremunerated  training  or 
voluntary service. 

2)  CONSULTATION OF INTERESTED PARTIES AND IMPACT ASSESSMENT 

•  Consultation of interested parties 

211 

Consultation methods, main sectors targeted and general profile of respondents 

The Commission consulted the Erasmus Mundus programme participants and relevant 
stakeholders  (HEIs,  organisations  active  in  the  field  of  higher  education,  students, 
academics,  Erasmus  Mundus  national  information  and  contact  points,  national 
authorities)  on  the  future  of  the  programme  by  the  following  means:  a  seminar  of 
European  and  third-country  Erasmus  Mundus  students  in  June  2006;  an  informal 
reflection meeting of the Erasmus Mundus programme committee (national authorities) 
in November 2006; a conference on "attractiveness" bringing together a wide range of 
programme  participants  from  Europe  and  third  countries  in  November  2006;  a 
conference of Erasmus Mundus Masters Courses (European HEIs) in December 2006; 
and  a  meeting  of  Erasmus  Mundus  national  information  and  contact  points  in 
December 2006. 

212 

Summary of responses and how they have been taken into account 

The  feedback  provided  by  the  stakeholders  was  overwhelmingly  positive.  The  main 
messages  can  be  summarised  as  follows:  continue  high-quality  integrated  masters 
programmes  and  full-study  scholarships  for  third-country  students,  thus  keeping  the 
programme  focus  on  promoting  excellence  in  higher  education;  provide  grants  for 
European students to participate in these programmes, thereby ensuring the credibility 
of  such  programmes;  extend  the  programme  to  the  third  cycle  (doctorate);  establish 
collaborative partnerships with third-country HEIs. 

These  responses  have  been  taken  into  account  in  the  drafting  of  the  future  Erasmus 
Mundus programme. 

213 

An open consultation was conducted over the internet from 05/02/2007 to 09/03/2007. 
The  Commission 
results  are  available  at 
http://ec.europa.eu/erasmus-mundus as of June 2007. 

response(s).  The 

received  417 

•  Collection and use of expertise 

229 

There was no need for external expertise. 

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230 

•  Impact assessment 

The  impact  assessment  report,  based  on  expertise  provided  to  the  Commission  by 
external consultants between January and April 2007, considered three options: 

in 

their  current 

form.  This  option  would  continue 

Option 1: Continuing the Erasmus Mundus programme and the External Cooperation 
Window 
to  promote 
internationalisation,  excellence and the identity of European higher education as they 
are  currently.  The  "core"  programme  would  continue  to  focus  on  attracting  the  best 
international students and academics to world-class integrated masters programmes in 
Europe.  The  External  Cooperation  Window  would  remain  outside  the  "core" 
programme. This would have the advantage of continuity and of maintaining the focus 
on a limited number of precisely defined activities. However, it would ignore lessons 
learned from the current programme and feedback received from stakeholders, as well 
as  missing  the  opportunity  of  integrating  two  strongly-related  activities  into  one 
coherent programme.  

Option  2:  Modifying  and  extending  the  Erasmus  Mundus  programme.  This  option 
would  widen  the  scope  of  the  current  Erasmus  Mundus  programme.  World-class 
integrated  masters  programmes  in  Europe  and  scholarships  for  the  best  international 
students  and  academics  would  stay  as  one  strand  of  the  programme,  but  would  be 
extended  to  incorporate  the  doctoral  level  and  scholarships  for  European  students. 
Another strand, the External Cooperation Window, widening the scope of the current 
programme  to  all  other  levels  of  higher  education  (bachelor,  doctoral  and  post-
doctoral)  and  to  other  forms  of  co-operation  with  third-country  HEIs,  including 
increased mobility flows between Europe and third countries, would be integrated into 
the programme. This would have the advantage of taking into account lessons learned 
and feedback received from stakeholders, as well as making Community action in the 
field of higher education relating to third countries more coherent and understandable. 
However,  the  programme  would  risk  losing  focus  through  the  development  of  a 
programme that was too large and disparate. 

the  Erasmus  Mundus  programme.  The 

Option  3:  Discontinuing 
issues  of 
internationalisation,  excellence  and  visibility  of  European  higher  education  would  no 
longer  be  addressed  through  a  specific  Community  programme,  but  through  national 
initiatives  and  other  existing  Community  programmes  or  actions.  This  option  would 
have  hardly  any  advantages,  as  the  impetus  created  by  the  current  programme,  and  a 
key  stimulus  for  co-operation  between  European  and  third-country  HEIs,  would  be 
lost. 

The impact assessment report proposed that the future Erasmus Mundus programme be 
based on Option 2. 

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The  Commission  carried  out  an  impact  assessment;  the  report  on  that  assessment  is 
accessible at http://ec.europa.eu/erasmus-mundus as of June 2007. 

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3)  LEGAL ELEMENTS OF THE PROPOSAL 

305 

•  Summary of the proposed action 

Action 1 (joint programmes including scholarships)  provides  support for  high-quality 
joint  master  and  doctoral  programmes  offered  by  a  group  of  European  and  possibly 
third-country  higher  education  institutions.  It  also  provides  full-study  scholarships  to 
the  most  talented  European  and  third-country  students  to  follow  these  joint 
programmes, and short-term scholarships to European and third-country academics of 
outstanding  quality  to  carry  out  research  or  teaching  assignments  as  part  of  the  joint 
programmes.  This  Action  will  foster  co-operation  between  higher  education 
institutions  and  academic  staff  in  Europe  and  third  countries  with  a  view  to  creating 
poles of excellence and providing highly trained human resources. 

Action  2  (partnerships  with  third-country  higher  education  institutions  including 
scholarships)  provides  support  for  broad  co-operative  partnerships  between  European 
and third-country higher education institutions as a basis for structural co-operation in 
order  to  facilitate  transfer  of  know-how  to  third-country  institutions  and  for  short-  or 
long-term exchange of students and academics at all levels of higher education with a 
view  to  developing  human  resources  and  the  international  co-operation  capacity  of 
higher education institutions in third countries in line with the EU external policy with 
the  countries  concerned.  It  is  an  external  cooperation  action  benefiting  all  partners 
involved  and  avoiding  brain  drain.  It  is  thus  fully  in  line  with  EU  external  policy 
towards  the  partner  countries  concerned  with  the  objective  of  promoting  their 
sustainable development. 

Action 3 (enhancing the attractiveness of European higher education) provides support 
to  transnational  initiatives,  studies,  projects,  events  and  other  activities  aiming  at 
enhancing  the  attractiveness,  accessibility,  profile  and  visibility  of  European  higher 
education in the world. 

310 

•  Legal basis 

The  Erasmus  Mundus  programme  will  be  based  on  Article  149  of  the  Treaty.  It  will 
take the form of a Decision of the European Parliament and the Council, with reference 
to  the  various  Council  regulations  which  constitute  the  Community's  financing 
instruments in the field of external co-operation with specific world regions. 

320 

•  Subsidiarity principle 

The  subsidiarity  principle  applies  insofar  as  the  proposal  does  not  fall  under  the 
exclusive competence of the Community. 

The  objectives  of  the  proposal  cannot  be sufficiently  achieved  by  the  Member  States 
for the following reason(s). 

321 

There  are  marked  differences  in  the  approach  of  European  countries  towards  the 
stimulation  of  mobility  from  third-country  students.  Some  EU  Member  States  have 
established  programmes  for  mobility,  whereas others  are  less  active  in  this  area.  The 
objectives  of  existing  national  programmes  vary  and  are  not  fully  consistent  or 
integrated. Furthermore, national schemes do not contribute to strengthening the profile 

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323 

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331 

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342 

of  a  European  higher  education  area  that  goes  beyond  the  sum  of  its  individual 
components.  

Individual  initiatives  by  single  HEIs  or  Member  States,  though  highly  beneficial  in 
themselves  and  complementary  to  any  Community  action,  would  often  remain  at 
bilateral  level  and  would  not  have  the  same  Europe-wide  effect  as  a  European  co-
operation instrument. The visibility of European higher education in the global context 
would continue to be confined to a small number of Member States and the advantages 
of Europe as a whole as a study destination would remain unadvertised.  

Community action will better achieve the objectives of the proposal for the following 
reason(s). 

The nature of the challenge that Europe is facing in this area means that co-ordinated 
action at European level is likely to be more effective than action at national, regional 
and local level, as it allows for identification of excellence, a pooling of resources in an 
international partnership, greater geographical coverage and mobility that encompasses 
more than one European country. 

The  proposal  stimulates  European  and  international  co-operation  between  HEIs, 
encourages  international  mobility  of  students  and  academics  and  tries  to  create  a 
profile and brand image of European higher education in the world. By the very nature 
of the activities proposed, the Community is better placed to achieve these aims than 
Member States acting at national level. 

The key qualitative indicator for determining where greater co-operation at European 
level could improve the current situation is that Europe should become perceived as the 
most attractive study destination for internationally mobile students and researchers. 

The proposal therefore complies with the subsidiarity principle. 

•  Proportionality principle 

The proposal complies with the proportionality principle for the following reason(s). 

This  proposal  conforms  to  the  principle  of  proportionality  because  it  can  be 
implemented within the higher education framework existing in the Member States. It 
encourages new approaches which - as the interim evaluation of the current programme 
has shown - are considered feasible by HEIs. 

The programme will use lump sums and unit costs as much as possible as the basis for 
calculating  grant  awards  in  order  to  minimise  the  administrative  burden  for 
beneficiaries. 

•  Choice of instruments 

A Community action programme is the only possible legal instrument for stimulating 
co-operation in higher education. Article 149, on which the programme is based, would 
not allow for alternative instruments. 

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4)  BUDGETARY IMPLICATION 

401 

The  overall  budget  for  the  entire  programming  period  (2009-2013)  for  Action  1  and 
Action  3  (joint  masters  and  doctoral  programmes,  including  scholarships,  and 
attractiveness  projects)  amounts  to  493.69  million  euros.  Action  2  (co-operative 
partnerships  with  HEIs  in  specific  third  countries,  including  mobility)  is  funded 
through  external  co-operation  instruments  according  to  the  rules  and  procedures 
provided by these instruments. 

The  Commission  will  endeavour  to  devote  for  the  entire  programming  period  (2009-
2013) a global indicative amount of up to 460 million euros for Action 2 of Erasmus 
Mundus II. The indicative contributions from the different external instruments and the 
European Development Fund are as follows: 

-  ENPI: 140 million euros 

-  DCI: 240 million euros 

- 

- 

ICI: 20 million euros 

IPA: 30 million euros 

-  10th EDF: 30 million euros 

Detailed  programming  and  yearly  allocations  for  each  envelop  contributing  to  the 
global  indicative  amount  of  460  million  euros  will  be  established  at  a  later  stage 
according  to  the  rules  and  procedures  of  each  instrument  and  the  European 
Development  Fund,  but  not  later  than  1st  July  2008  for  the  period  2009-2010  and  1st 
July 2010 for the period 2011-2013. 

5)  ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 

560 

•  European Economic Area 

The proposed act concerns an EEA matter and should therefore extend to the European 
Economic Area. 

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2007/0145 (COD) 

Proposal for a 

DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL 

establishing an action programme for the enhancement of quality in higher education 
and the promotion of intercultural understanding through co-operation with third 
countries (Erasmus Mundus) (2009-2013) 

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 
149 (4) thereof, 

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission2, 

Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee3, 

Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions4, 

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

Whereas: 

(1) 

(2) 

Decision  No  2317/2003/EC  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council5 
established a programme for the enhancement of quality in higher education and the 
promotion  of  intercultural  understanding  through  co-operation  with  third  countries 
(Erasmus Mundus) (2004-2008). 

Regulation  (EC)  No  1085/2006  of  the  Council6  established  an  Instrument  for  Pre-
Accession,  Regulation  (EC)  No  1638/2006  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the 
Council7  established  a  European  Neighbourhood  and  Partnership  Instrument, 
Regulation  (EC)  No  1905/2006  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council8 
established a financing instrument for development cooperation, Regulation (EC) No 
1934/2006  of  the  Council9  established  a  financing  instrument  for  cooperation  with 
industrialised  and  other  high-income  countries  and  territories,  the  Partnership 
Agreement  between  the  members  of  the  African,  Caribbean  and  Pacific  Group  of 
States and the European Community and its Member States, signed in Cotonou on 23 

2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 

OJ C , , p. 
OJ C , , p. 
OJ C , , p. 
OJ L 345, 31.12.2003, p.1 
OJ L 210, 31.7.2006, p.82 
OJ L 310, 9.11.2006, p.1 
OJ L 378, 27.12.2006, p.41 
OJ L 405, 30.12.2006, p.41 

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June  2000,  as  amended  by  the  Agreement  signed  in  Luxembourg  on  25  June  2005 
(Council  Decision  2005/599/EC)10,  and  the  Internal  Agreement  establishing  the 
financing of Community aid under the multiannual financial framework for the period 
2008  to  2013  in  accordance  with  the  ACP-EC  Partnership  Agreement  (Decision  No 
1/2006  of  the  ACP-EC  Council  of  Ministers,  2006/608/EC)11,  govern  the  European 
Development Fund. 

The  Bologna  Declaration,  signed  by  the  Ministers  for  Education  of  29  European 
countries on 19 June 1999, established an intergovernmental process aimed at creating 
a ‘European Higher Education Area’ by 2010, a process which is actively supported at 
Community level. In their meeting in London on 17-18 May 2007, the 45 Ministers of 
Higher  Education  of  the  countries  participating  in  the  Bologna  process  adopted  the 
strategy  “The  European  Higher  Education  Area  in  a  Global  Setting”  and,  in  this 
context,  identified  as  priorities  for  2009  improved  information  about  the  European 
Higher  Education  Area  and  improved  recognition  of  higher  education  qualifications 
with other parts of the world. 

The  special  meeting  of  the  European  Council  in  Lisbon  on  23-24  March  2000  set  a 
strategic  goal  for  the  European  Union  to  become  the  most  competitive  and  dynamic 
knowledge-based  economy  in  the  world  and  invited  the  Education  Council  to 
undertake a general reflection on the concrete future objectives of education systems, 
focusing on common concerns and priorities while respecting national diversity. On 12 
February  2001  the  Council  adopted  a  report  on  the  concrete  future  objectives  of 
education  and  training  systems.  On  14  June  2002  it  subsequently  adopted  a  detailed 
work  programme  on  the  follow-up  of  these  objectives,  requiring  support  at 
Community level. The meeting of the European Council in Barcelona on 15-16 March 
2002 set the objective of making the European's Union education and training systems 
a world quality reference by 2010. 

The  Commission  Communications  “Mobilising  the  Brainpower  of  Europe”12  and 
“Delivering on the Modernisation Agenda for Universities”13, and the  proposal for a 
Regulation establishing the European Institute of Technology14 underline the need for 
European higher education institutions to overcome their fragmentation and join forces 
in  a  quest  for  increased  quality  in  teaching  and  research  as  well  as  for  a  better 
correspondence with the changing needs of the labour market. The European Council 
of June 2006 endorsed the need for modernising European higher education. 

The  interim  evaluation  report  of  the  existing  Erasmus  Mundus  programme  and  the 
open public consultation on the future of the programme underlined the relevance of 
the  objectives  and  actions  of  the  current  programme  and  expressed  a  wish  for 
continuity, with certain adaptations such as extending the programme to the doctoral 
level,  integrating  higher  education  institutions  located  in  third  countries  and  their 
needs  more  strongly  in  the  programme  and  providing  more  funds  to  European 
participants in the programme. 

(3) 

(4) 

(5) 

(6) 

10 
11 
12 
13 
14 

OJ L 209, 11.8.2005, p.26 
OJ L 247, 9.9.2006, p.22 
COM(2005) 152 final 
COM(2006) 208 final 
COM(2006) 604 final/2 

EN 

11 

   EN 

 
                                                 
(7) 

(8) 

Enhancing  the  quality  of  European  higher  education,  promoting  understanding 
between  peoples  as  well  as  contributing  to  the  sustainable  development  of  third 
countries  in  the  field  of  higher  education  avoiding  brain-drain  whilst  favouring 
vulnerable  groups  are  the  core  objectives  of  a  higher  education  cooperation 
programme aimed at third countries. The most effective means to achieve these aims 
in a programme of excellence are highly integrated study programmes at postgraduate 
level, collaborative partnerships with third countries, scholarships for the most talented 
students  and  projects  to  enhance  the  worldwide  attractiveness  of  European  higher 
education. 

There is a need to step up the fight against exclusion in all its forms, including racism 
and  xenophobia,  and  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  for  human  rights, 
especially as mobility fosters the exchange with new cultural and social environments 
and facilitates understanding thereof, and in so doing to ensure that no group of citizens 
or of third-country nationals is excluded or disadvantaged as mentioned in Article 21(1) 
of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. 

(9) 

Promoting the teaching and learning of languages and linguistic diversity should be a 
priority  of  Community  action  in  the  field  of  higher  education.  The  teaching  and 
learning of languages is of special relevance in relation to third countries. 

(10)  The Commission Communication “Europe in the world – some practical proposals for 
greater  coherence,  effectiveness  and  visibility”15  addresses  the  external  challenges 
which Europe faces, including how to use available internal and external policies more 
coherently  and  effectively.  Moreover,  within  the  context  of  the  Commission 
Communication "The Western Balkans on the road to the EU: consolidating stability 
and  raising  prosperity"16,  the  Commission  has  recommended  expanding  mobility 
opportunities  for  academics  and  students  at  all  levels  of  higher  education  from  that 
region. 

(11) 

In the period 2004-2008, country-specific scholarships funded from the Commission's 
external cooperation instruments complemented the Erasmus Mundus scholarships in 
order  to  extend  the  number  of  beneficiary  students  coming  from  specific  third 
countries, such as China, India, the Western Balkan countries or the ACP countries, to 
study  in  Europe.  Given  the  positive  experience  with  this  approach,  similar 
opportunities  could  be  envisaged  in  the  future  in  accordance  with  the  political 
priorities, rules and procedures of the external co-operation instruments in question.  

(12) 

In  all  its  activities,  the  Community  must  aim  to  eliminate  inequalities,  and  promote 
equality, between men and women, as provided for in Article 3(2) of the Treaty. 

(13)  There is a need to widen access for those from disadvantaged groups and to address 
actively the special learning needs of people with disabilities in the implementation of 
all  parts  of  the  programme,  including  through  the  use  of  higher  grants  to  reflect  the 
additional costs of disabled participants. 

15 
16 

COM(2006) 278 final 
COM(2006) 27 final 

EN 

12 

   EN 

 
                                                 
(14)  Council  Regulation  (EC,  Euratom)  No  1605/2002  on  the  Financial  Regulation 
applicable to the general budget of the European Communities as amended by Council 
Regulation  (EC,  Euratom)  No  1995/200617  and  Commission  Regulation  (EC, 
Euratom) No 2342/2002 as amended by Commission Regulation No 478/2007 laying 
down  detailed  rules  for  the  implementation  of  Council  Regulation  1605/2002  as 
amended by Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1995/200618, which safeguard the 
Community’s financial interests, have to be applied taking into account the principles 
of simplicity and consistency in the choice of budgetary instruments and the required 
proportionality between the amount of resources and the administrative burden related 
to their use.  

(15)  Since  the  objectives  of  the  proposed  action  cannot  be  sufficiently  achieved  by  the 
Member States because of the need for multilateral partnerships, multilateral mobility 
and  exchanges  of  information  between  the  Community  and  third  countries,  and  can 
therefore,  by  reason  of  the  nature  of  the  actions  and  measures  necessary,  be  better 
achieved  at  Community  level,  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. 

for 

the  Commission19.  The  measures  necessary 

(16)  The measures necessary for the implementation of actions referred to in Article 4(1)(a) 
and  Article  4(1)(c)  of  this  Decision  should  be  adopted  in  accordance  with  Council 
Decision  1999/468/EC  laying  down  the  procedures  for  the  exercise  of  implementing 
powers  conferred  on 
the 
implementation of the action referred to in Article 4(1)(b) of this Decision should be 
adopted in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1085/2006 of the Council establishing 
an  Instrument  for  Pre-Accession,  Regulation  (EC)  No  1638/2006  of  the  European 
Parliament and of the Council establishing a European Neighbourhood and Partnership 
Instrument,  Regulation  (EC)  No  1905/2006  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the 
Council  laying  down  general  provisions  establishing  a  financing  instrument  for 
development cooperation, Regulation (EC) No 1934/2006 of the Council establishing 
a  financing  instrument  for  cooperation  with  industrialised  and  other  high-income 
countries  and  territories,  the  Partnership  Agreement  between  the  members  of  the 
African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States and the European Community and its 
Member  States,  signed  in  Cotonou  on  23  June  2000,  as  amended  by  the  Agreement 
signed  in  Luxembourg  on  25  June  2005  (Council  Decision  2005/599/EC),  and  its 
Internal  Agreement  between  the  representatives  of  the  Governments  of  the  Member 
States,  meeting  with  the  Council,  on  the  financing  of  Community  aid  under  the 
multiannual financial framework for the period  2008 to 2013  in accordance  with  the 
ACP-EC  Partnership  Agreement  and  on  the  allocation  of  financial  assistance  for  the 
Overseas  Countries  and  Territories  to  which  Part  Four  of  the  EC  Treaty  applies 
(Decision No 1/2006 of the ACP-EC Council of Ministers, 2006/608/EC). 

17 
18 
19 

OJ L 390, 30.12.2006, p.1 
OJ L 111, 28.4.2007, p.13 
OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p.23 

EN 

13 

   EN 

 
                                                 
HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: 

Article 1 

Establishment of the programme 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

This  Decision  establishes  a  programme  —  ‘Erasmus  Mundus’  (hereinafter  ‘the 
programme’) — for the enhancement of quality in European higher education and 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. 

The programme shall be implemented over a period starting on 1 January 2009 and 
ending on 31 December 2013. However, preparatory measures, including decisions by 
the Commission in accordance with Article 7, may be implemented as from the entry 
into force of this Decision. 

The  programme  shall  support  and  supplement  action  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. 

The  development  of  human  resources  in  specific  third  countries,  and  more 
particularly  the  action  of  the  programme  referred  to  in  Article  4(1)(b),  shall  be 
implemented  in  accordance  with  Regulations  (EC)  No  1085/2006,  1638/2006, 
1905/2006 and 1934/2006 and Decisions (EC) No 599/2005 and 608/2006. 

Article 2 

Definitions 

For the purpose of this Decision: 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

“higher  education  institution”  means  any  institution  which  according  to  national 
legislation  or  practice  offers  qualifications  or  degrees  at  that  level,  whatever  such 
establishments may be called; 

“bachelor  student”  (student  in  first  cycle)  means  a  person  studying  at  a  higher 
education institution in order to obtain a first higher education degree; 

“master  student”  (student  in  second  cycle)  means  a  person  studying  at  a  higher 
education institution who has already obtained a first higher education degree; 

“doctoral candidate” (candidate in third cycle) means an early-stage researcher in the 
first four years (full-time equivalent) of his/her research career, starting at the date of 
obtaining the degree which would formally entitle him/her to embark on a doctorate; 

“post-doctoral researcher” means an experienced researcher who is in possession of a 
doctoral  degree  or  who  has  at  least  four  years  of  full-time  equivalent  research 
experience,  including  the  period  of  research  training,  after  obtaining  the  degree 
which formally allowed him/her to embark on a doctorate; 

EN 

14 

   EN 

 
6. 

7. 

8. 

9. 

10. 

11. 

12. 

13. 

14. 

“academic”  means  a  person  with  outstanding  academic  and/or  professional 
experience who lectures or conducts research; 

“higher  education  staff”  means  persons  who,  through  their  duties,  are  involved 
directly in the educational process related to higher education; 

"third country" means a country which is not a Member State of the European Union 
and  which  does  not  participate  in  the  programme  according  to  Article  9.  “Third-
country” referring to an individual means a person who is not a national or a resident 
of  any  of  the  Member  States  or  the  countries  participating  in  the  programme 
according to Article 9 and 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 countries participating in the programme according to Article 
9.  “Third-country”  referring  to  an  institution  means  an  institution  which  is  not 
located in any of the Member States or the countries participating in the programme 
according  to  Article  9.  The  countries  participating  in  the  Lifelong  Learning 
Programme20  are  not  considered  as  third  countries  for  the  implementation  of  the 
action of the programme referred to in Article 4(1)(b); 

"European  country"  means  a  country  which  is  a  Member  State  of  the  European 
Union  or  which  participates  in  the  programme  according  to  Article  9.  “European” 
referring to an individual means a person who is a national or a resident of any of the 
Member States or the countries participating in the programme according to Article 9 
or who has 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 
countries  participating  in  the  programme  according  to  Article  9.  “European” 
referring to an institution means an institution which is located in any of the Member 
States or the countries participating in the programme according to Article 9; 

“bachelor studies” (first cycle) means programmes of higher education study that last 
a minimum of three years and lead to a first degree; 

“master  studies”  (second  cycle)  means  programmes  of  higher  education  study  that 
follow a first degree lasting a minimum of three years and lead to a second or further 
degree; 

“doctoral  studies”  (third  cycle)  means  research-related  programmes  of  higher 
education study that follow a higher education degree lasting a minimum of four or 
five years and lead to a doctoral degree; 

“post-doctoral  studies”  means  higher  education  study  or  research  that  follows  a 
higher education degree lasting a minimum of eight years; 

“mobility” means moving physically to another country, in order to undertake study, 
work experience, research, other learning or teaching or research activity or related 
administrative activity, supported as appropriate by preparation in the host language; 

20 

OJ L 327, 24.11.2006, p.45 

EN 

15 

   EN 

 
                                                 
15. 

16. 

17. 

1. 

“double or multiple degree” means two or more national diplomas issued by two or 
more  higher  education  institutions  and  recognised  officially  in  the  countries  where 
the degree-awarding institutions are located; 

“joint degree” means a single diploma issued by at least two of the higher education 
institutions  offering  an  integrated  programme  and  recognised  officially  in  the 
countries where the degree-awarding institutions are located; 

“enterprise” means all undertakings engaged in economic activity in the public and 
private sector, whatever their size, legal status or the economic sector in which they 
operate, including the social economy.  

Article 3 

Objectives of the programme 

The programme's overall aim is to enhance the quality of European higher education 
and  to  promote  dialogue  and  understanding  between  peoples  and  cultures  through 
cooperation with third countries as well as to promote EU external policy objectives 
and the sustainable development of third countries in the field of higher education. 

2. 

The programme's specific objectives are: 

a) 

b) 

c) 

d) 

to  foster  structured  cooperation  between  higher  education  institutions  and 
academic staff in Europe and third countries with a view to creating centres of 
excellence and providing highly trained human resources; 

to  contribute  to  the  mutual  enrichment  of  societies  by  developing  a  pool  of 
well-qualified,  open-minded  and  internationally  experienced  women/men 
through promoting mobility for the most talented students and academics from 
third  countries  to  obtain  qualifications  and/or  experience  in  the  European 
Union  and  for  the  most  talented  European  students  and  academics  towards 
third countries; 

towards 

the 
to  contribute 
international  cooperation  capacity  of  higher  education  institutions  in  third 
countries through increased mobility streams between the European Union and 
third countries; 

the  development  of  human  resources  and 

to  improve  accessibility  and  enhance  the  profile  and  visibility  of  European 
higher  education  in  the  world  as  well  as  its  attractiveness  for  third-country 
nationals. 

3. 

The Commission shall ensure that no group of EU citizens or third-country nationals 
is excluded or disadvantaged. 

EN 

16 

   EN 

 
Article 4 

Programme actions 

1. 

The objectives of the programme as set out in Article 3 shall be pursued by means of 
the following actions: 

(a)  Erasmus Mundus joint masters programmes and joint doctoral programmes of 

outstanding academic quality, including a scholarship scheme; 

(b)  partnerships between European and third-country higher education institutions 
as  a  basis  for  structural  co-operation,  exchange  and  mobility  at  all  levels  of 
higher education; 

(c)  measures enhancing the attractiveness of Europe as an educational destination. 

2. 

These actions shall be implemented using the procedures described in the Annex and, 
as for the action of the programme referred to in Article 4(1)(b), the procedures laid 
down in the legal instruments mentioned in Article 1(4), and through the following 
types of approaches, which may be combined where appropriate: 

(a) 

(b) 

support for the development of joint educational programmes and cooperation 
networks facilitating the exchange of experience and good practice; 

enhanced support for mobility, between the Community and third countries, of 
people in the field of higher education; 

(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 institutions are situated, and promotion of the understanding 
of different cultures; 

(d) 

(e) 

support  for  pilot  projects  based  on  partnerships  with  an  external  dimension 
designed to develop innovation and quality in higher education; 

support  for  the  analysis  and  follow-up  of  trends  in,  and  evolution  of,  higher 
education in an international perspective. 

3. 

4. 

The programme provides for technical support measures including studies, meetings 
of experts as well as information and publications directly linked to the achievement 
of the objectives of the programme.  

The  actions  referred  to  in  this  Article  may  be  implemented  by  means  of  calls  for 
proposals, calls for tenders, or directly by the Commission.  

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: 

EN 

17 

   EN 

 
a) 

b) 

c) 

d) 

e) 

f) 

g) 

higher education institutions; 

students in higher education, at all levels; 

academics or professionals who lecture or conduct research; 

staff directly involved in higher education; 

other public or private bodies active in the field of higher education; 

enterprises, chambers of commerce and industry; 

research centres. 

Article 6 

Tasks of the Commission and of the Member States  

1. 

The Commission shall: 

(a) 

(b) 

(c) 

ensure  the  effective  and  efficient  implementation  of  the  Community  actions 
provided for by the programme in conformity with the Annex and, as regards 
the  action  of  the  programme  referred  to  in  Article  4(1)(b),  with  the  legal 
instruments mentioned in Article 1(4); 

take  account  of  bilateral  cooperation  with  third  countries  undertaken  by 
Member States; 

seek  synergies  and,  where  appropriate,  develop  joint  actions  with  other 
Community  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 higher education in 
accordance  with  national  practice,  including  endeavours  to  adopt  such 
measures  as  may  be  deemed  appropriate  to  remove  legal  and  administrative 
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. 

3. 

The Commission, in cooperation with the Member States, shall ensure: 

(a) 

(b) 

appropriate  information,  publicity  and  follow-up  with  regard  to  actions 
supported by the programme; 

the dissemination of the results of the actions undertaken within the framework 
of the programme. 

EN 

18 

   EN 

 
Article 7 

Implementing measures 

All  measures  necessary  for  the  implementation  of  the  action  referred  to  in  Article 
4(1)(b)  are  not  governed  by  this  Decision  and  are  following  the  procedures  of  the 
legal instruments referred to in Article 1(4). 

The following measures necessary for the implementation of the other actions of this 
Decision  shall  be  adopted  by  the  Commission  in  accordance  with  the  management 
procedure referred to in Article 8(2): 

(a) 

the annual plan of work, including priorities; 

(b) 

the annual budget and the breakdown of funds among the different actions of 
the programme and indicative grant amounts; 

(c) 

the general guidelines for implementing the programme; 

(d) 

(e) 

the selection criteria and procedures, including the composition and the internal 
rules of procedure of the selection board; 

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

All  other  measures  necessary  for  the  implementation  of  this  Decision,  with  the 
exception  of  selection  decisions,  shall  be  adopted  in  accordance  with  the  advisory 
procedure referred to in Article 8(3). 

Article 8 

Committee procedure 

The Commission shall be assisted by a Committee. 

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. 

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. 

The Committee shall adopt its Rules of Procedure. 

1. 

2. 

3. 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

EN 

19 

   EN 

 
Article 9 

Participation of other countries in the programme on the same footing as 
Member States 

The programme shall be open to the participation of: 

a) 

b) 

c) 

d) 

EFTA countries which are members of the EEA, in accordance with the conditions 
laid down in the EEA Agreement; 

the candidate countries which have a pre-accession strategy, in accordance with the 
general  principles  and  general  terms  and  conditions  laid  down  in  the  framework 
agreements  concluded  with  these  countries  for  their  participation  in  Community 
programmes; 

the countries of the Western Balkans, in accordance with the general principles and 
general terms and conditions laid down in the framework agreements concluded with 
these countries for their participation in Community programmes; 

The  Swiss  Confederation,  provided  that  a  bilateral  agreement  foreseeing  this 
participation is concluded with that country. 

Article 10 

Horizontal issues 

In implementing the programme, due regard shall be paid to ensuring that it contributes fully 
to furthering the horizontal policies of the Community, in particular by: 

a) 

b) 

c) 

d) 

1. 

enhancing 
strengthening the global competitiveness of the European Union; 

the  knowledge  base  of  European  economy  and  contributing 

to 

promoting an awareness of the importance of cultural and linguistic diversity within 
Europe, as well as of the need to combat racism and xenophobia; 

making  provision  for  students  with  special  needs,  and  in  particular  by  helping  to 
promote their integration into mainstream higher education; 

promoting equality between men and women and contributing to combating all forms 
of discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or  belief, disability, 
age or sexual orientation. 

Article 11 

Consistency and complementarity with other policies 

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  Lifelong  Learning  Programme,  the  Seventh 

EN 

20 

   EN 

 
2. 

1. 

2. 

Framework  Programme  for  Research,  with  external  cooperation  programmes  and 
with the European Fund for the Integration of third-country nationals. 

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  higher  education  undertaken  within  the 
framework of the Community's cooperation with third countries, including bilateral 
agreements, and the competent international organisations. 

Article 12 

Funding 

The financial framework for the implementation of the actions of the programme referred 
to in Article 4(1)(a), 4(1)(c) and 4(3) and as set out in the Annex to the decision – Action 1, 
Action 3 and related technical support measures - for the period specified in Article 1(2) is 
hereby set at EUR 493.69 million.  

The financial framework for the implementation of the actions of the programme referred 
to in Article 4(1)(b) and Article 4(3) and as set out in the Annex to the decision – Action 2 
and related technical support measures - for the period specified in Article 1(2) is set in 
accordance with the rules and procedures laid down in the external cooperation instruments 
referred to in Article 1(4).  

3. 

The annual appropriations shall be authorised by the budgetary authority within the limits 
of the financial perspective. 

Article 13 

Monitoring and evaluation 

1. 

2. 

3. 

The  Commission  shall  regularly  monitor  the  programme  in  cooperation  with  the 
Member  States.  The  results  of  the  process  of  monitoring  and  evaluation  of  the 
programme and of the previous programme shall be utilised when implementing the 
programme. This monitoring shall include the reports referred to in paragraph 3 and 
specific activities. 

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, instruments and actions. 

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

a) 

an interim evaluation report on the results achieved and on the qualitative and 
quantitative  aspects  of  the  implementation  of  the  programme  by  31  March 
2012; 

EN 

21 

   EN 

 
b) 

a communication on the continuation of the programme by 30 June 2012; 

c) 

an ex post evaluation report by 31 December 2015. 

Article 14 

Transitional provision 

1. 

2. 

Actions which are initiated on or before 31 December 2008 on the basis of Decision 
2317/2003/EC  shall  be  administered  in  conformity  with  the  provisions  of  that 
Decision, with the exception that the committee established by that Decision shall be 
replaced by the committee established by Article 8 of the present Decision.  

Actions  which  are  initiated  on  or  before  31  December  2008  on  the  basis  of  the 
procedures  laid  down  in  the  legal  instruments  mentioned  in  Article  1(4)  shall  be 
administered in conformity with the provisions of those instruments. 

Article 15 

Entry into force 

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

Done at Brussels,  

For the European Parliament 
The President 

For the Council 
The President 

EN 

22 

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ANNEX  

COMMUNITY ACTIONS, SELECTION PROCEDURES AND FINANCIAL PROVISIONS 

ACTION 1: 

ERASMUS MUNDUS JOINT PROGRAMMES INCLUDING SCHOLARSHIPS 

ACTION 2: 
EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS 

ERASMUS  MUNDUS  PARTNERSHIPS  WITH  THIRD-COUNTRY  HIGHER 

ACTION 3: 

ENHANCING ATTRACTIVENESS OF EUROPEAN HIGHER EDUCATION 

TECHNICAL SUPPORT MEASURES 

SELECTION PROCEDURES 

FINANCIAL PROVISIONS 

ACTION 1: ERASMUS MUNDUS JOINT PROGRAMMES INCLUDING SCHOLARSHIPS 

A. ERASMUS MUNDUS MASTERS PROGRAMMES 

1. 

The  Community  will  select  master  programmes  of  outstanding  academic  quality 
which, for the purposes of the programme, will be called ‘Erasmus Mundus masters 
programmes’. 

2. 

For the purpose of the programme, Erasmus Mundus masters programmes: 

a) 

shall  involve  higher  education  institutions  from  a  minimum  of  three  different 
European countries; 

b)  may involve higher education institutions from third countries; 

c) 

shall implement a study programme which involves a period of study in at least 
two of the three institutions under point (a). In addition, if masters programmes 
involve one or more institutions from third countries under point (b), mobility 
for European students shall also involve a period of study in one of these third-
country institutions; 

d)  where appropriate, shall encourage placements as part of the study programme; 

e) 

f) 

g) 

shall  have  built-in  mechanisms  for  the  recognition  of  periods  of  study 
undertaken in partner institutions based  on, or  compatible with,  the European 
credit transfer and accumulation system; 

shall result in the awarding of joint, double or multiple degrees, recognised or 
accredited by the European countries, from the participating institutions. Joint 
degrees will be given priority; 

shall  establish  stringent  self-evaluation  procedures  and  agree  to  be  peer 
reviewed by external experts in order to ensure the continuing high quality of 
the masters programme; 

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h) 

i) 

j) 

k) 

l) 

shall  reserve  a  minimum  of  places  for,  and  host,  European  and  third-country 
students who have been granted financial support under the programme; 

shall  establish  transparent  joint  conditions  for  admissions  which  pay  due 
regard, inter alia, to gender issues and equity issues; 

shall establish a joint tuition fee regardless of the actual place of study of the 
students within the masters programme; 

shall  agree  to  comply  with  the  rules  applicable  to  the  selection  procedure  of 
grantees (students and academics); 

shall put in place appropriate arrangements to facilitate access for, and hosting 
of,  European 
facilities, 
and 
accommodation, assistance with visas, etc.); 

third-country 

(information 

students 

m)  without prejudice to the language of instruction, shall 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 programme are 
situated  and,  as  appropriate,  for  language  preparation  and  assistance  for 
students,  in  particular  by  means  of  courses  organised  by  the  institutions  in 
question. 

Erasmus Mundus masters programmes will be selected for a five-year period, subject 
to an annual renewal procedure based on progress reporting.  

The  Erasmus  Mundus  masters  programmes  selected  under  the  previous  Erasmus 
Mundus programme will continue within the framework of this action until the end 
of  the  period  for  which  they  have  been  selected,  subject  to  an  annual  renewal 
procedure based on progress reporting. 

3. 

4. 

B. ERASMUS MUNDUS DOCTORAL PROGRAMME 

1. 

The  Community  will  select  doctoral  programmes  of  outstanding  academic  quality 
which, for the purposes of the programme, will be called ‘Erasmus Mundus doctoral 
programmes’. 

2. 

For the purpose of the programme, Erasmus Mundus doctoral programmes: 

a) 

shall  involve  higher  education  institutions  from  a  minimum  of  three  different 
European  countries  and  other  relevant  partners  to  ensure  innovation  and 
employability; 

b)  may involve higher education institutions or other relevant partners from third 

countries; 

c) 

shall  implement  a  doctoral  programme  which  involves  a  period  of  study  and 
research in at least two of the three institutions under point (a). In addition, if 
doctoral  programmes  involve  one  or  more  institutions  from  third  countries 
under point (b), mobility for European doctoral candidates shall also involve a 
period of study and research in one of these third-country institutions; 

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d)  where  appropriate,  shall  encourage  placements  as  part  of  the  doctoral 

programme; 

e) 

f) 

g) 

h) 

i) 

j) 

k) 

l) 

shall  have  built-in  mechanisms  for  the  recognition  of  periods  of  study  and 
research  undertaken  in  partner  institutions  based  on,  or  compatible  with,  the 
European credit transfer and accumulation system; 

shall result in the awarding of joint, double or multiple degrees, recognised or 
accredited by the European countries, from the participating institutions. Joint 
degrees will be given priority; 

shall  establish  stringent  self-evaluation  procedures  and  agree  to  be  peer 
reviewed by external experts in order to ensure the continuous high quality of 
the doctoral programme; 

shall  reserve  a  minimum  of  places  for,  and  host,  European  and  third-country 
doctoral  candidates  who  have  been  granted  financial  support  under  the 
programme; 

shall  establish  transparent  joint  conditions  for  admissions  which  pay  due 
regard, inter alia, to gender issues and equity issues; 

shall  establish  a  joint  tuition  fee  regardless  of  the  actual  place  of  study  and 
research of the doctoral candidates within the doctoral programme; 

shall agree to respect the rules applicable to the selection procedure of doctoral 
candidates; 

shall put in place appropriate arrangements to facilitate access for, and hosting 
of,  European  and  third-country  doctoral  candidates  (information  facilities, 
accommodation, assistance with visas, etc.); 

m) 

shall  guarantee  the  use  of  employment  contracts  for  doctoral  candidates 
receiving a scholarship if this is allowed by national legislation; 

n)  without prejudice to the language of instruction, shall 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  doctoral  programme 
are  situated  and,  as  appropriate,  for  language  preparation  and  assistance  for 
doctoral  candidates,  in  particular  by  means  of  courses  organised  by  the 
institutions in question. 

3. 

Erasmus  Mundus  doctoral  programmes  will  be  selected  for  a  five-year  period, 
subject  to  an  annual  renewal  procedure  based  on  progress  reporting,  which  period 
could  include  a  year's  preparatory  activities  before  the  recruitment  of  doctoral 
candidates. 

C. SCHOLARSHIPS 

1. 

The Community may provide full-study scholarships to third-country and European 
master students and doctoral candidates as well as short-term scholarships for third-
country and European academics. 

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a) 

b) 

c) 

d) 

The  Community  may  provide  full-study  scholarships  to  third-country  master 
students  and  doctoral  candidates  who  have  been  admitted,  through  a 
competitive  process,  to  Erasmus  Mundus  masters  programmes  and  Erasmus 
Mundus  doctoral  programmes.  These  scholarships  are  for  study  at  the 
European  institutions  involved  in  an  Erasmus  Mundus  masters  programme  or 
an Erasmus Mundus doctoral programme. 

The  Community  may  provide  full-study  scholarships  to  European  master 
students  and  doctoral  candidates  who  have  been  admitted,  through  a 
competitive  process,  to  Erasmus  Mundus  masters  programmes  and  Erasmus 
Mundus  doctoral  programmes.  These  scholarships  are  for  study  at  the 
European  institutions  involved  in  an  Erasmus  Mundus  masters  programme  or 
an Erasmus Mundus doctoral programme and, if these also involve one or more 
third-country institutions, for study at one of these. 

The  Community  may  provide  short-term  scholarships  to  third-country 
academics  visiting  the  Erasmus  Mundus  masters  programmes,  with  a  view  to 
carrying  out  teaching  and  research  assignments  and  scholarly  work  in  the 
European institutions participating in Erasmus Mundus masters programmes. 

The  Community  may  provide  short-term  scholarships  to  European  academics 
visiting  third-country  institutions  involved  in  Erasmus  Mundus  masters 
programmes,  with  a  view  to  carrying  out  teaching  and  research  assignments 
and  scholarly  work  in  the  third-country  institutions  participating  in  Erasmus 
Mundus masters programmes. 

Scholarships  will  be  open  to  European  and  third-country  master  students  and 
doctoral candidates as well as academics as defined in Article 2. 

Persons having received a scholarship for Erasmus Mundus masters programmes are 
also eligible for receiving a scholarship for Erasmus Mundus doctoral programmes. 

The Commission shall take steps to ensure that no person receives financial support for 
the same purpose under more than one Community programme. In particular, persons 
having  received  an  Erasmus  Mundus  scholarship  are  not  eligible  to  receive  an 
Erasmus  grant  for  the  same  Erasmus  Mundus  masters  programme  or  doctoral 
programme  under  the  Lifelong  Learning  Programme.  Similarly,  persons  benefiting 
from a grant under the "People Specific Programme" (Marie Curie Actions) of the 7th 
Framework  Programme  for  research,  technological  development  and  demonstration 
activities21 are not eligible to receive an Erasmus Mundus grant for the same period 
of study or research. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

ACTION  2:  ERASMUS  MUNDUS  PARTNERSHIPS  WITH  THIRD-COUNTRY  HIGHER 
EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS INCLUDING SCHOLARSHIPS 

1. 

The  Community  will  select  partnerships  of  high  academic  quality  which,  for  the 
purposes  of  the  programme,  will  be  called  ‘Erasmus  Mundus  partnerships’.  They 
pursue and are in line with the objectives of article 3. 

21 

OJ L 54, 22.2.2007, p.91 

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2. 

For the purpose of the programme, Erasmus Mundus partnerships shall: 

a) 

involve  a  minimum  of  five  higher  education  institutions  from  a  minimum  of 
three  different  European  countries  and  a  number  of  higher  education 
institutions in specific third countries not participating in the Lifelong Learning 
Programme to be defined in the annual calls for proposals; 

b) 

implement a partnership as a basis for transfer of know-how; 

c) 

d) 

e) 

f) 

g) 

h) 

i) 

exchange  students  at  all  levels  of  higher  education  (from  bachelor  to  post-
doctoral), academics and higher education staff for mobility periods of variable 
length,  including  the  possibility  of  placement  periods.  Mobility  must  take 
European  nationals  to  third  countries  and  third-country  nationals  to  European 
countries.  The  scheme  will  also  allow  the  hosting  of  third-country  nationals 
who are not linked to the third-country institutions involved in the partnerships, 
as well as include specific provisions for vulnerable groups, as appropriate to 
the political and socio-economic context of the respective region/country;  

have built-in mechanisms for the recognition of periods of study and research 
undertaken in partner institutions based  on, or  compatible with,  the European 
credit transfer and accumulation system; 

use mobility instruments developed under the Erasmus programme, such as the 
recognition of previous study periods, the learning agreement and the transcript 
of records;  

establish transparent conditions for the award of mobility grants which pay due 
regard, inter alia, to gender issues and equity issues; 

agree  to  respect  the  rules  applicable  to  the  procedure  for  the  selection  of 
grantees (students, academics and higher education staff); 

put  in  place  appropriate  arrangements  to  facilitate  access  for,  and  hosting  of, 
European  and  third-country  students,  academics  and  higher  education  staff 
(information facilities, accommodation, assistance with visas, etc.); 

without  prejudice  to  the  language  of  instruction,  provide  for  the  use  of  the 
languages  spoken  in  the  countries  where  the  higher  education  institutions 
involved in the Erasmus Mundus partnerships are situated and, as appropriate, 
for language preparation and assistance for scholarships grantees, in particular 
by means of courses organised by the institutions in question; 

j) 

implement  further  partnership  activities,  such  as  double  degrees,  joint 
curriculum development, transfer of best practices, etc. 

The  Commission,  after  consultation  of  the  competent  authorities  in  the  third 
countries concerned via its Delegations, shall define national and regional priorities 
according to the needs of the specific third country/ies concerned by the partnerships. 

Erasmus Mundus partnerships will be selected for a three-year period, subject to an 
annual renewal procedure based on progress reporting. 

3. 

4. 

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5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 

Scholarships will be open to European and third-country students and academics as 
defined in Article 2. 

In assigning the scholarships under this action, the Commission shall support socio-
economic disadvantaged groups and populations in vulnerable situations. 

The Commission shall take steps to ensure that no person receives financial support 
for  the  same  purpose  under  more  than  one  Community  programme.  In  particular, 
persons having received an Erasmus Mundus scholarship are not eligible to receive 
an  Erasmus  grant  for  the  same  mobility  period  under  the  Lifelong  Learning 
Programme.  Similarly,  persons  benefiting  from  a  grant  under  the  "People  Specific 
Programme"  (Marie  Curie  Actions)  of  the  7th  Framework  Programme  for  research, 
technological development and demonstration activities are not eligible to receive an 
Erasmus Mundus grant for the same period of study or research. 

The partnerships selected under the Erasmus Mundus External Cooperation Window 
(previous name of this action) will continue within the framework of that action until 
the  end  of  the  period  for  which  they  have  been  selected,  subject  to  a  lightweight 
annual renewal procedure based on progress reporting. 

ACTION 3: ENHANCINGTHE ATTRACTIVENESS OF EUROPEAN HIGHER EDUCATION 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

Through this action, the Community  may  support activities  aimed at enhancing the 
attractiveness, profile, image and visibility of, and accessibility to, European higher 
education. Activities shall contribute to the objectives of the programme and relate to 
the  international  dimension  of  all  aspects  of  higher  education,  such  as  promotion, 
accessibility,  quality  assurance,  credit 
recognition  of  European 
qualifications  abroad  and  mutual  recognition  of  qualifications  with  third  countries, 
curriculum development, mobility, quality of services, etc. Activities may include the 
promotion of the programme and its outputs. 

recognition, 

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 projects involving organisations from a minimum of three different European 
countries and may involve organisations from third countries. 

Activities  can  take  various  forms  (conferences,  seminars,  workshops,  studies, 
analyses,  pilot  projects,  prizes,  international  networks,  production  of  material  for 
publication,  development  of  ICT  tools,  etc.)  and  may  take  place  anywhere  in  the 
world. 

Activities  shall  seek  to  establish  links  between  higher  education  and  research  and 
higher  education  and  the  private  sector,  and  exploit  potential  synergies  whenever 
possible. 

The Community may support, as appropriate, the structures designated in accordance 
with  Article  6(2)(b)  in  their  efforts  to  promote  the  programme  and  disseminate  its 
results nationally and worldwide. 

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6. 

The  Community  shall  support  an  alumni  association  of  all  students  (third-country 
and Europeans) graduating from Erasmus Mundus masters programmes and Erasmus 
Mundus doctoral programmes. 

TECHNICAL SUPPORT MEASURES 

The  overall  financial  framework  of  the  programme  may  also  cover  expenditure  related  to 
experts, an executive agency, existing competent bodies in Member States and, if necessary, to 
other forms of technical and administrative assistance to which the Commission may need to have 
recourse  for  the  implementation  of  the  programme.  These  may  in  particular  include  studies, 
meetings,  information  activities,  publications,  monitoring  activities,  control  and  audit  activities, 
evaluation  activities,  expenditure  on  informatics  networks  for  the  exchange  of  information  and 
any  other  expenditure  directly  necessary  for  the  implementation  of  the  programme  and  for  the 
achievement of its objectives.  

The selection procedures should respect the following provisions: 

SELECTION PROCEDURES 

a) 

b) 

c) 

d) 

proposals  under  action  1  will  be  selected  by  the  Commission  assisted  by  a  selection 
board  presided  over  by  a  person  whom  it  elects,  composed  of  personalities  of  high 
standing  from  the  academic  world  who  are  representative  of  the  diversity  of  higher 
education in the European Union. The selection board shall ensure that Erasmus Mundus 
masters  programmes  and  doctoral  programmes  correspond  to  the  highest  academic 
quality.  The  Commission  shall  organise  a  European-level  assessment  of  all  eligible 
proposals  by  independent  academic  experts  prior  to  submitting  the  proposals  to  the 
selection board. Each Erasmus Mundus masters programme and doctoral programme 
will be allocated a specific number of scholarships which will be paid to the selected 
individuals  by 
the  masters  programmes  and  doctoral 
programmes. The selection of master students, doctoral candidates and academics will 
be  carried  out  by  the  institutions  participating  in  the  Erasmus  Mundus  masters 
programmes and doctoral programmes following consultation with the Commission; 

the  body  managing 

proposals under action 2 will be selected by the Commission according to the rules laid 
down  in  Regulations  (EC)  No  1085/2006,  1638/2006,  1905/2006  and  1934/2006  and 
Decisions (EC) No 599/2005 and 608/2006; 

proposals under action 3 will be selected by the Commission; 

selection  procedures  for  Erasmus  Mundus  masters  programmes  and  doctoral 
programmes  shall  involve  consultation  with  the  structures  designated  in  accordance 
with Article 6(2)(b). 

1. 

Flat-rate grants, scales of unit costs and prizes 

FINANCIAL PROVISIONS 

Flat-rate grants and/or scales of unit costs, as provided for in Article 181(1) of Commission 
Regulation No 2342/2002 may be used in the case of all actions referred to in Article 4.  

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Flat-rate  grants  may  be  used  up  to  a  maximum  of  EUR  25 000  per  partner  within  a  grant 
agreement.  They  may  be  combined  up  to  a  maximum  of  EUR 100 000  and/or  used  in 
conjunction with scales of unit costs. 

The Commission may provide for  the  award of prizes in relation to activities undertaken in 
the framework of the programme. 

2. 

Partnership agreements 

Where actions under the programme are supported by means of framework partnership grants, 
pursuant  to  Article  163  of  Regulation  (EC,  Euratom)  No  2342/2002,  such  partnerships  may 
beselected and funded for a five-year period, subject to a lightweight renewal procedure. 

3. 

Public higher education institutions or organisations 

All  higher  education  institutions  and  organisations  specified  by  Member  States  which  have 
received  over  50%  of  their  annual  revenues  from  public  sources  over  the  last  two  years,  or 
which  are  controlled  by  public  bodies  or  their  representatives,  shall  be  treated  by  the 
Commission  as  having  the  necessary  financial,  professional  and  administrative  capacity, 
together with the necessary financial stability to carry out projects under the programme; they 
shall not be required to present further documentation to demonstrate this. Such institutions or 
organisations  may  be  exempted  from  auditing  requirements  pursuant  to  Article  173(4)  of 
Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002. 

4. 

Applicants’ professional competencies and qualifications 

The Commission may decide in accordance with Article 176(2) of Regulation (EC, Euratom) 
No  2342/2002  that  specified  categories  of  beneficiaries  have  the  professional  competencies 
and qualifications required to complete the proposed action or work programme.  

5. 

Anti-fraud provisions 

Commission  decisions  taken  under  Articles  7,  the  contracts  and  agreements  resulting  from 
them, as well as agreements with participating third countries, shall provide in particular for 
supervision and financial control by the Commission (or any representative authorized by it), 
including by the European Anti-fraud Office (OLAF), and for audits - if necessary on the spot 
- by the Court of Auditors.  

The  beneficiary  of  a  grant  shall  ensure  that,  where  applicable,  supporting  documents  in  the 
possession of partners or members are made available to the Commission. 

The Commission may have an audit of the use made of the grant carried out either directly by 
its own staff or by any other qualified outside body of its choice. Such audits may be carried 
out throughout the lifetime of the agreement and for a period of five years from the date of 
closure of the project. Where appropriate, the audit findings may lead to recovery decisions 
by the Commission. 

Commission  staff  and  outside  personnel  authorised  by  the  Commission  shall  have  an 
appropriate right of access, in particular to the beneficiary's offices and to all the information, 
including information in electronic format, needed in order to conduct such audits. 

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The  Court  of  Auditors  and  OLAF  shall  enjoy  the  same  rights,  especially  of  access,  as  the 
Commission. 

In  addition,  the  Commission  may  carry  out  on-the-spot  checks  and  inspections  under  the 
programme  in  accordance  with  Council  Regulation  (Euratom,  EC)  No  2185/96  concerning 
on-the-spot  checks  and  inspections  carried  out  by  the  Commission  in  order  to  protect  the 
European Communities' financial interest against fraud and other irregularities.22 

For the Community actions financed under this decision, the notion of irregularity referred to 
in  Article  1(2)  of  Regulation  (EC,  Euratom)  No  2988/95  on  the  protection  of  the  European 
Communities' financial interests23 shall mean any infringement of a provision of Community 
law  or  any  breach  of  a  contractual  obligation  resulting  from  an  act  or  omission  by  an 
economic operator, which has, or would have, the effect of prejudicing the general budget of 
the  European  Communities  or  allocations  managed  by  them,  by  an  unjustified  item  of 
expenditure.  

22 
23 

OJ L 292, 15.11.1996, p.2 
OJ L 312, 23.12.1995, p.1 

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LEGISLATIVE FINANCIAL STATEMENT 

The  Action  referred  to  in  article  4(1)(b)  as  well  as  related  technical  support  measures 
referred to in article 4(3) of this proposal are regulated by Regulations (EC) No 1085/2006, 
1638/2006,  1905/2006  and  1934/2006  and  Decisions  (EC)  No  599/2005  and  608/2006. 
They are thus not included in the lists, tables and figures given in this financial statement 
and will be additional to these figures. However, as the action referred to in article 4(1)(b) 
is  an  integral  part  of  this  programme,  chapters  5,  6  and  7  of  this  financial  statement  do 
refer to it. 

1. 

NAME OF THE PROPOSAL 

Action programme for the enhancement of quality in higher education and the promotion 
of intercultural understanding through co-operation with third countries (Erasmus Mundus) 

2. 

ABM / ABB FRAMEWORK 

Policy Area: Education and culture 

Associated Activity: Lifelong learning, including multilingualism 

3. 

BUDGET LINES 

3.1. 

Budget  lines  (operational  lines  and  related  technical  and  administrative  assistance 
lines (ex- BA lines) including headings 

15  02  02  05  (Erasmus  Mundus),  15  01  04  14  (Erasmus  Mundus  administrative 
expenditure), 15 01 04 30 (partly Executive Agency) 

3.2. 

Duration of the action and of the financial impact 

2009-2013 

3.3. 

Budgetary characteristics 

Budget line 

Type of 
expenditure 

New 

EFTA 
contribution 

Contributions 
from applicant 
countries 

Heading in 
financial 
perspective 

15 02 02 05  Non-comp  Diff24 

NO 

15 01 04 14 

Non-comp 

15 01 04 30 

Non-comp 

Non-
diff25 

Non-
diff 

NO 

NO 

YES 

YES 

YES 

YES 

YES 

No 1.a 

No 1.a 

YES 

No 1.a 

24 
25 

Differentiated appropriations 
Non-differentiated appropriations 

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4. 

SUMMARY OF RESOURCES 

4.1. 

Financial Resources 

4.1.1. 

Summary of commitment appropriations (CA) and payment appropriations (PA) 

EUR million (to 3 decimal places) 

Expenditure type 

Section 
no. 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

2013 

2014 
and 
later 

Total 

Operational expenditure26 

Commitment Appropriations 
(CA) 

8.1. 

Payment 
(PA) 

Appropriations 

a 

b 

90,25  92,52 

94,1 

95,86 

98,54 

471,27 

63,17
5 

91,83
9 

93,62
6 

95,33
2 

97,73
6 

29,56
2 

471,27 

Administrative expenditure within reference amount27 

Technical  &  administrative 
assistance (NDA) 

8.2.4. 

c 

TOTAL REFERENCE AMOUNT 

4,418  4,458 

4,478 

4,508 

4,558 

22,42 

Commitment 
Appropriations 

Payment Appropriations 

a+c 

b+c 

94,66
8 

67,59
3 

96,97
8 

96,29
7 

98,57
8 

98,10
4 

100,3
68 

99,84 

103,0
98 

102,2
94 

29,56
2 

493,69 

493,69 

Administrative expenditure not included in reference amount28 

Human 
associated 
(NDA) 

resources 

and 
expenditure 

8.2.5. 

d 

Administrative  costs,  other 
than  human  resources  and 
not 
associated 
included 
reference 
in 
amount (NDA) 

costs, 

8.2.6. 

e 

Total indicative financial cost of intervention 

0,936  0,936 

0,981 

0,981 

0,981 

0 

4,815 

0,187  0,187 

0,187 

0,187 

0,187 

0 

0,935 

TOTAL CA including cost 
of Human Resources 

TOTAL  PA  including  cost 
of Human Resources 

95,79
1 

98,10
1 

99,74
6 

101,5
36 

104,2
66 

0 

499,44 

68,71
6 

97,42 

99,27
2 

101,0
08 

103,4
62 

29,56
2 

499,44 

a+c
+d+
e 

b+c
+d+
e 

26 
27 
28 

Expenditure that does not fall under Chapter 15 01 of the Title 15 concerned. 
Expenditure within article 15 01 04 of Title 15. 
Expenditure within chapter 15 01 other than articles 15 01 04 or 15 01 05. 

EN 

33 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
4.1.2.  Compatibility with Financial Programming 

X 

Proposal is compatible with existing financial programming. 

Proposal  will  entail  reprogramming  of  the  relevant  heading  in  the  financial 
perspective. 

Proposal  may  require  application  of  the  provisions  of  the  Interinstitutional 
Agreement29 (i.e. flexibility instrument or revision of the financial perspective). 

4.1.3.  Financial impact on Revenue 

X 

Proposal has no financial impact on revenue 

Proposal has financial impact  

4.2. 

Human Resources FTE (including officials, temporary and external staff) – see detail 
under point 8.2.1. 

Annual requirements 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

2013 

Total  number  of  human 
resources 

33 

34 

36 

37 

38 

5. 

CHARACTERISTICS AND OBJECTIVES 

5.1. 

Needs to be met in the short or long term 

Higher education in the context of globalisation 

Higher  education  is  subject  to  a  phenomenon  of  growing  internationalisation  as  a  response  to  the 
process  of  globalisation.  In  developing  its  higher  education  systems,  the  Community  and  its 
Member  States  must  therefore  seek  to  prepare  their  citizens  and  their  workforce  for  a  global 
environment by including an international dimension in an appropriate and efficient way.  

The quest for excellence in higher education has recently become a strong leitmotiv in Community 
initiatives  in  the  field.  Joint  programmes  combining  excellent  departments  across  Europe  and 
beyond will reinforce world-class excellence at European universities and reduce the attractiveness 
gap between Europe and other world regions.  

At the same time, the Community has  a  mission  to contribute to the  development of high-quality 
higher  education  in  third  countries  to  the  mutual  benefit  of  higher  education  institutions,  students 
and academics in Europe and beyond. Higher education institutions in specific third countries need 
to increase their international cooperation capacity.  

29 

See points 19 and 24 of the Interinstitutional agreement. 

EN 

34 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
But  structural  cooperation  is  not  enough.  European  universities  need  to  attract  top  talent,  both 
students and academics. An increase in the number of highly talented international students boosts 
the ability of higher education, business and government to engage in research and development. 

However, also the stimulation of mass mobility of students to achieve high mobility rates between 
countries  can  serve  to  create  incentives  for  higher  education  institutions  to  collaborate  and 
undertake  joint  work  in  curriculum  development  and  other  areas,  with  potentially  high  gains  for 
those who undertake this work.  

Europe’s  status  as  a  centre  of  excellence  in  learning  is  not  always  fully  understood  in  third 
countries. Attractiveness is not only about excellence in absolute terms, but also about perception. 
A European higher education identity as a brand for excellence in teaching and research needs to be 
created.  In  more  general  terms,  higher  education  can  also  help  to  promote  the  visibility  of  EU 
policies in third countries, including its external policies. 

Promoting inter-cultural ties and understanding 

From  a  political  and  cultural  perspective,  academic  exchange  can  promote  mutual  understanding 
between peoples and counter the risk of widening the inter-cultural divide between European and 
other  cultures.  In  hosting  foreign  students  and  researchers,  higher  education  institutions  help  to 
bring individuals from different cultures into contact with each other and through their teaching can 
help to provide foreign students with a better understanding of the culture of the host country.  

5.2. 

Value-added of Community involvement and  consistency of the proposal with  other 
financial instruments and possible synergy 

There  is  a  clear  European  added  value  if  action  in  the  field  of  higher  education  cooperation  with 
third countries is taken at European Union level. There are marked differences in the approach of 
European  countries  towards  the  stimulation  of  mobility  from  third-country  students.  Some  EU 
Member  States  have  established  programmes  for  mobility,  whereas  others  are  less  active  in  this 
area. The objectives of existing national programmes vary and are not fully consistent or integrated. 
National schemes, furthermore, do not contribute to strengthening the profile of a European higher 
education area that goes beyond the sum of its individual components. In this respect, an Erasmus 
Mundus  programme  –  unlike  national  programmes  -  attracts  students  to  study  in  more  than  one 
European country. An integrated European approach can thus bring substantial benefits.  

Given the central role of higher education in social, cultural and economic policies, there are many 
connections  between  this  programme  proposal  and  other  Community  policies.  Due  account  has 
therefore been taken of related Community programmes and objectives.  

5.3. 

Objectives,  expected  results  and  related  indicators  of  the  proposal  in  the  context  of 
the ABM framework 

The  overall  aim  and  general  objectives  of  the  new  Erasmus  Mundus  programme  are  described  in 
Article 3 of the decision. 

The operational objectives of the proposal as outlined in the Annex to the decision are: 

–  to  help  develop  high-quality  joint  master  and  doctoral  programmes  offered  by  a  group  of 

European and possibly third-country higher education institutions; 

EN 

35 

   EN 

 
–  to  grant  full-study  scholarships  to  the  most  talented  European  and  third-country  students  to 
follow these joint programmes as well as to grant short-term scholarships to European and third-
country academics of outstanding quality to carry out research or teaching assignments as part of 
these joint programmes; 

–  to  help  develop  broad  co-operative  partnerships  between  European  and  third-country  higher 
education institutions as a basis for short- or long-term exchange of students and academics at all 
levels of higher education with a view to enhancing the international co-operation capacities of 
higher education institutions in third countries; 

–  to support transnational initiatives, analyses, studies, projects, events and other activities aimed 

at enhancing the attractiveness of European higher education in the world. 

The related indicators for each operational objective are listed in table 8.1 below. 

5.4.  Method of Implementation (indicative) 

X 

Centralised Management 

X 

X 

directly by the Commission 

indirectly by delegation to: 

X 

executive Agencies 

(cid:133) 

bodies  set  up  by  the  Communities  as  referred  to  in  art.  185  of  the 
Financial Regulation 

(cid:133) 

national public-sector bodies/bodies with a public-service mission 

(cid:133) 

Shared or decentralised management 

(cid:133)  with Member States 

(cid:133)  with third countries 

(cid:133) 

Joint management with international organisations (please specify) 

6. 

MONITORING AND EVALUATION 

6.1.  Monitoring system 

A  monitoring  system  will  be  put  in  place  to  ensure  the  highest  quality  of  outcome  and  the  most 
efficient  use  of  resources.  Monitoring  will  run  throughout  the  life  of  the  programme.  It  will  be 
based on feedback about the programme at institutional level, at faculty and staff level, and also at 
student level, including data review, and data collection through targeted surveys and interviews.  

EN 

36 

   EN 

 
6.2. 

Evaluation 

6.2.1.  Ex-ante evaluation 

An extended impact assessment integrating ex-ante evaluation requirements (including an interview 
programme  with  major  stakeholders  in  the  field  of  higher  education  cooperation  with  third 
countries)  has  been  undertaken.  Following  a  comparative  assessment  of  available  policy  options, 
the  preferred  policy  option  was  identified  and  its  impact,  risks  and  assumptions  as  well  as  cost-
effectiveness  were  assessed.  This  proposal  is  fully  consistent  with  the  conclusions  of  the 
assessment. 

An open online consultation of stakeholders was part of the extended impact assessment. In total, 
417 replies were received to the consultation. The main messages given by respondents were: 

–  The needs analysis and objectives of the current programme are still valid and consistent; 

–  The  current  actions  of  the  programme  should  be  continued  with  some  modifications:  include 
full-study scholarships for European students and extend the programme to the doctoral level; 

–  The  funds  are  appropriately  distributed  between  actions  and  beneficiaries;  however,  funds  for 

joint programmes should be increased; 

–  The management structure of the current programme was found to be working well. 

The key messages coming out of the open consultation were taken on board in the current proposal. 

6.2.2.  Measures taken following an intermediate/ex-post evaluation (lessons learned from similar 

experiences in the past) 

The external interim evaluation of the current Erasmus Mundus programme came up with a series 
of  recommendations  for  the  future  programme  which  have  been  taken  into  consideration  for  the 
development of this proposal. The key recommendations were: 

–  Extend the programme to the doctoral level; 

–  Include full-study scholarships for European students into the programme; 

–  Integrate third-country institutions into joint European programmes; 

–  Increase  the  role  of  National  Structures  in  programme  monitoring,  including  information  and 

dissemination grants to such structures; 

–  Step up measures on quality assurance of selected projects; 

–  Maintain unit costs for scholarships and increase flat rates for joint programmes. 

6.2.3.  Terms and frequency of future evaluation 

Three years after the start of the programme, an external interim evaluation will be undertaken of 
the  results  achieved  and  of  the  qualitative  aspects  of  the  implementation  of  the  programme.  Two 
years after the end of the programme, an external ex-post evaluation on the results and impacts of 
the programme will be submitted.  

7. 

ANTI-FRAUD MEASURES  

See Article 5 of the financial provisions of the Annex to the decision. 

EN 

37 

   EN 

 
8. 

DETAILS OF RESOURCES 

8.1. 

Objectives of the proposal in terms of their financial cost 

A  detailed  breakdown  of  the  financial  costs  for  Action  1  and  Action  3  is  given  below.  An  indicative  breakdown  of  the  financing  of  Action  2  is 
presented in the text of the Explanatory Memorandum - Part 4. Budgetary Implication. The detailed programming and the yearly allocations for each 
envelop contributing to the global indicative amount of 460 million euros30 for Action 2 will be established at a later stage according to the rules and 
procedures of each instrument and the European Development Fund, but not later than 1st July 2008 for the period 2009-2010 and 1st July 2010 for the 
period 2011-2013. 

Commitment appropriations in EUR million (to 3 decimal places) 

Type of output 

Av. cost 

Year 2009 

Year 2010 

Year 2011 

Year 2012 

Year 2013 

TOTAL 

No. 
outputs 

Total 
cost 

No. 
outputs 

Total 
cost 

No. 
outputs 

Total 
cost 

No. 
outputs 

Total 
cost 

No. 
outputs 

Total 
cost 

No. 
outputs 

Total 
cost 

(Headings 
of 
Objectives,  actions 
and  outputs  should 
be provided) 

OPERATIONAL 
OBJECTIVE No.1  

Action 1A: Joint 
Masters 
Programmes 

Output 

Joint 
programmes 

masters 

Action 1B: Joint 
doctoral 
programmes 

0,03 

110 

3,3 

118 

3,54 

128 

3,84 

138 

4,14 

150 

4,5 

150 

19,32 

Output 

Joint 
programmes 

doctoral 

0,05 

10 

0,5 

20 

1,0 

25 

1,25 

30 

1,5 

35 

1,75 

35 

6,0 

30 

EN 

The indicative contributions from the different external instruments and the European Development Fund are as follows: ENPI: 140 million euros, DCI: 240 million euros, 
ICI: 20 million euros, IPA: 30 million euros, 10th EDF: 30 million euros. 

38 

EN 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
Sub-total Objective 1 

120 

3,8 

138 

4,54 

153 

5,09 

168 

5,64 

185 

6,25 

185 

25,32 

OPERATIONAL 
OBJECTIVE No.2  

Action 1C: 
Scholarships 

Output 1  Scholarships for 

0,045631 

1320 

60,192 

1062 

48,4272 

1024 

46,6944 

966 

44,0496 

900 

41,04 

5272 

240,4032 

third-country 
students at 
masters level 

Output 2  Scholarships for 

0,018332 

660 

12,078 

708 

12,9564 

640 

11,712 

690 

12,627 

750 

13,725 

3448 

63,0984 

European students 
at masters level 

Output 3  Scholarships for 

0,0145 

330 

4,785 

354 

5,133 

384 

5,568 

414 

6,003 

450 

6,525 

1932 

28,014 

third-country 
academics at 
masters level 

Output 4  Scholarships for 

0,0145 

330 

4,785 

354 

5,133 

384 

5,568 

414 

6,003 

450 

6,525 

1932 

28,014 

European 
academics at 
masters level 

Output 5  Scholarships for 

0,0833 

0 

0 

80 

6,4 

100 

8,0 

120 

9,6 

140 

11,2 

440 

35,2 

third-country 
students at 
doctoral level 

31 

32 

33 

EN 

Average amount. The actual scholarship depends on the length of the masters course (between one and two years). Reference amount: EUR 24,000 per year. This amount 
takes into account a yearly inflation of 2%. 
Average amount. The actual scholarship depends on the length of the masters course (between on and two years). Reference amounts: EUR 11,000 per year if mobility also 
to third country; EUR 9,000 per year if only inter-European mobility. These amounts take into account a yearly inflation of 2%. 
Average amount for three-year scholarship. Reference amounts: EUR 123,000 for employment contract (very unlikely option); EUR 78,000 for stipend (most likely option). 
These amounts take into account a yearly inflation of 2%. 

39 

EN 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
Output 6  Scholarships for 

0,0934 

0 

0 

60 

5,4 

75 

6,75 

90 

8,1 

105 

9,45 

330 

29,7 

European students 
at doctoral level 

Output 7 

Insurance scheme 
for students 

1,0 

1 

1,0 

1 

1,0 

1 

1,0 

1 

1,0 

1 

1,0 

1 

5,0 

Sub-total Objective 2 

2641 

82,84 

2619 

84,4496 

2608 

85,2924 

2695 

87,3826 

2796 

89,465 

13355 

429,4296 

OPERATIONAL 
OBJECTIVE No.4 

Action 3: 
Attractiveness 
projects 

Output 1  Attractiveness 

proejcts

Output 2  Alumni 

Association

Output 3 

Information grants 
for National 
Structures 

0,2 

0,3 

0,1 

11 

1 

11 

2,2 

11 

2,2 

11 

2,2 

0,31 

1 

0,2304 

1 

0,3176 

1,1 

11 

1,1 

12 

1,2 

8 

1 

9 

1,6 

0,3374 

0,9 

8 

1 

9 

1,6 

49 

9,8 

0,325 

1 

1,5204 

0,9 

52 

5,2 

Sub-total Objective 4 

23 

3,61 

23 

3,5304 

24 

3,7176 

18 

2,8374 

18 

2,825 

102 

16,5204 

TOTAL COST 

2784 

90,25 

2780 

92,52 

2785 

94,1 

2881 

95,86 

2999 

98,54 

13642 

471,27 

34 

EN 

Average  amount  for  three-year  scholarship.  Reference  amounts:  EUR  100,000  for  employment  contract  (most  likely  option);  EUR  60,000  for  stipend  (unlikely  option). 
These amounts take into account a yearly inflation of 2%. 

40 

EN 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
8.2. 

Administrative Expenditure 

8.2.1.  Number and type of human resources 

Types of post 

Staff to be assigned to management of the action using existing and/or 
additional resources (number of posts/FTEs) 

Year 2009 

Year 2010 

Year 2011 

Year 2012 

Year 2013 

Officials or 
temporary 
staff35 (15 01 
01) 

A*/AD 

B*, 
C*/AST 

Staff  financed36  by  art. 
15 01 02 

Other  staff37  financed by 
art. 15 01 04 30 

TOTAL 

5 

3 

0 

25 

33 

5 

3 

0 

26 

34 

5 

3 

1 

27 

36 

5 

3 

1 

28 

37 

5 

3 

1 

29 

38 

8.2.2.  Description of tasks deriving from the action 

–  Programme  Managers  (A):  responsible  for  programme  implementation,  monitoring  and 

evaluation; 

–  Assistant Programme Managers (B): assistance to programme managers in their tasks; 

–  Finance and Contracts Assistants (B): responsible for management of grants and contracts; 

–  Information Officers (A/B): responsible for information, dissemination and exploitation of 

results; 

–  Administrative  Assistants  (C):  administrative  and  secretarial  support  to  A  and  B-level 

personnel. 

8.2.3. 

Sources of human resources (statutory) 

X 

Posts currently allocated to the management of the programme to be replaced 
or extended 

(cid:133) 

Posts pre-allocated within the APS/PDB exercise for year n 

X 

Posts to be requested in the next APS/PDB procedure  

35 
36 
37 

Cost of which is NOT covered by the reference amount 
Cost of which is NOT covered by the reference amount 
Cost  of  which  is  included  within  the  reference  amount.  This  personnel  is  assigned  to  the  Executive 
Agency. 

EN 

41 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
(cid:133) 

(cid:133) 

Posts  to  be  redeployed  using  existing  resources  within  the  managing  service 
(internal redeployment) 

Posts required for year n although not provided for in the APS/PDB exercise of 
the year in question 

8.2.4.  Other  Administrative  expenditure  included  in  reference  amount  (15  01  04  14  – 

Expenditure on administrative management) 

Budget line 

(number and heading) 

EUR million (to 3 decimal places) 

Year 
2009 

Year 
2010 

Year 
2011 

Year 
2012 

Year 
2013 

TOTAL 

Technical 

1 
and 
assistance (including related staff costs) 

administrative 

Executive agencies 

3,339 

3,423 

3,482 

3,547 

3,646 

17,437 

Other 

technical 

and 

administrative 

assistance 

- intra muros  

- extra muros 

1,079 

1,035 

0,996 

0,961 

0,912 

4,983 

Total  Technical  and  administrative 
assistance 

4,418 

4,458 

4,478 

4,508 

4,558 

22,42 

8.2.5.  Financial cost of human resources and associated costs not included in the reference 

amount 

Type of human resources 

Year 
2009 

Year 
2010 

Year 
2011 

Year 
2012 

Year 
2013 

TOTAL 

EUR million (to 3 decimal places) 

Officials  and  temporary  staff 
(15 01 01) 

Staff financed by Art 15 01 02 
(END, contract staff, etc.) 

(specify budget line) 

0,936 

0,936 

0,936 

0,936 

0,936 

4,68 

0 

0 

0,045 

0,045 

0,045 

0,135 

cost 

Total 
of  Human 
Resources  and  associated 
in  reference 
costs 
amount) 

(NOT 

0,936 

0,936 

0,981 

0,981 

0,981 

4,815 

EN 

42 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Calculation– Officials and Temporary agents 

0,117 per year and person 

Calculation– Staff financed under art. 15 01 02 

0,045 per year and DNE (detached national expert) 

8.2.6. Other administrative expenditure not included in reference amount 

EUR million (to 3 decimal places)

Year 
2009 

Year 
2010 

Year 
2011 

Year 
2012 

Year 
2013 

TOTAL 

15 01 02 11 01 – Missions 

0,025 

0,025 

0,025 

0,025 

0,025 

0,125 

15 01 02 11 02 – Meetings & Conferences 

0,116 

0,116 

0,116 

0,116 

0,116 

15 01 02 11 03 – Committees (management and 
advisory) 

0,046 

0,046 

0,046 

0,046 

0,046 

0,58 

0,23 

15 01 02 11 04 – Studies & consultations 

15 01 02 11 05 - Information systems 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

2 Total Other Management Expenditure 

(15 01 02 11) 

3 Other expenditure of an administrative 
nature  (specify  including  reference  to 
budget line) 

Total Administrative Expenditure, other 
than  human  resources  and  associated 
costs 
in  reference 
included 
amount) 

(NOT 

0,187 

0,187 

0,187 

0,187 

0,187 

0,935 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0,187 

0,187 

0,187 

0,187 

0,187 

0,935 

Calculation - Other administrative expenditure not included in reference amount 

Missions: 30 missions of up to 2 days at €650 + 5 missions of 1 week at €1,000 (per year) 

Meetings:  €1,160 per participant (€860 travel +  €150 per  diem * 2 days)  * 100 participants 
(per year) 

Committees: €860 per participant * 54 participants (per year) 

The  needs  for  human  and  administrative  resources  shall  be  covered  with  the  allocation 
granted to the managing DG in the framework of the annual allocation procedure. 

EN 

43 

   EN