CELEX: 51989PC0235
Language: en
Date: 1989-05-29
Title: PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION AMENDING DECISION 87/327/EEC ADOPTING THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY ACTION SCHEME FOR THE MOBILITY OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS ( ERASMUS )

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                               C0M(89) 235 final
                                               Brussels, 29 May 1989
         COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL
                         ERASMUS PROGRAMME
                           Proposal for a
                         COUNCIL DECISION
  amending Decision 87/327/EEC adopting the European Community
     Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students
                              (ERASMUS)
 ---pagebreak--- COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL
ERASMUS PROGRAMME
PROPOSAL FOR ADAPTATIONS TO THE COUNCIL DECISION OF 15.6.1987
I.    Introduction
1.    The ERASMUS Programme was adopted by Council on 15 June 1987
      with a view to increasing significantly the mobility of
      university students and promoting greater cooperation between
      universities, thereby improving the quality and European
      dimension of the training provided and creating the qualified
      manpower on which the Community will depend for its economic
      and social development. It has since then proved to be a highly
      successful means of attaining these goals and of creating a
      stronger sense of belonging and partnership between European
      universities.
2.    During the first two years of ERASMUS (1987-9) an estimated
       16,000 students have spent periods of study varying from three
      months to one year in another Member State within the framework
      of well over*1000 inter-university cooperation programmes. This
      already represents a substantial increase in the mobility and
      exchange    of  students   within   the   Community  since   the
       introduction of ERASMUS in 1987. However, in quantitative
       terms, a considerable effort is still necessary to attain the
      declared objective of the Commission - and one supported by the
       European Parliament and by the Economic and Social Committee -
       for the ERASMUS Programme of boosting the proportion of
       students who spend a period of study in another Member State at
       some stage during their university studies to around 10Z of the
       student population by 1992. Given that the average duration of
      university studies can be taken to be around four years, this
       implies that from 1992 a minimum of 150,000 students would need
       each year to spend a period of studies in another Member State
       of the Community.
3.     The results of the first two years of operation have
       demonstrated the increasing interest of the academic world in
      broader inter-university cooperation and greater mobility for
       both staff and students within the Community. At the same time
       the inability of the Programme to satisfy the demand it has
       generated, given the budgetary sums presently available, has
       been clearly demonstrated. The total amount of financial
       support requested in 1987/88 and 1988/89 (ECU 137 mi 11ion)
       represented more than three times the budget available (ECU
       41.2 million).
4.     The present proposals thus aim at introducing improvements in
       the implementation of the ERASMUS Programme with a view to
       increasing substantially the number of students participating
       from all Member States, while at the same time enhancing the
       quality of the ERASMUS Programme as a whole. They are based
       both on experience in the application of the Programme in its
       first two years of operation, as explained in the annual
       reports on the functioning of the Programme in 1987 and 1988,
 ---pagebreak---     and on the l e s s o n s l e a r n e d from a number of e v a l u a t i o n measures
    carried out by the Commission. In c l o s e c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h the
    ERASMUS Advisory Committee and a f t e r d e t a i l e d d i s c u s s i o n with
    the appropriate a u t h o r i t i e s from each Member S t a t e ,                              every
    e f f o r t has been made t o a s c e r t a i n to what e x t e n t the Programme
    i s achieving i t s p o l i c y o b j e c t i v e s and to i d e n t i f y the main
    problems which have a r i s e n so f a r . To t h i s end a number of
    independent s t u d i e s are b e i n g c a r r i e d out and s y s t e m a t i c
    d i s c u s s i o n s have been h e l d w i t h a c r o s s s e c t i o n of t h o s e most
    involved in ERASMUS, n o t a b l y programme d i r e c t o r s and s t u d e n t s .
    The main i s s u e s examined i n c l u d e the f o l l o w i n g :
                the development o f                     the European U n i v e r s i t y Network,
                p a r t i c u l a r l y w i t h r e g a r d t o the balanced p a r t i c i p a t i o n of
                a l l academic d i s c i p l i n e s and Member S t a t e s ;
                 the        time-scale             for       support    for     inter-university
                 cooperation programmes;
                 arrangements f o r academic r e c o g n i t i o n of p e r i o d s of study
                 spent abroad;
                 the a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f the s t u d e n t grants scheme;
                 the c u l t u r a l and l i n g u i s t i c preparation of s t u d e n t s .
     The proposals take i n t o                           account the c o n t i n u e d need           for
     complementarity between s u p p o r t a t Community l e v e l and t h a t
     provided w i t h i n Member S t a t e s f o r ERASMUS. I f the d e c l a r e d aim
     of the Commission o f i n c r e a s i n g mobility t o 10X i s t o be
     achieved by 1992 a c o n s i d e r a b l e e f f o r t i s r e q u i r e d n o t o n l y a t
     Community l e v e l but a l s o w i t h i n each Member S t a t e .                              This
     s u b s i d i a r i t y i s p a r t i c u l a r l y important w i t h regard t o the
     s u c c e s s f u l implementation o f Action 2 o p e r a t i o n s f o r which
     continued c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h the competent a u t h o r i t i e s i n the
     Member S t a t e s through whom t h e ERASMUS s t u d e n t g r a n t s are
     administered a t n a t i o n a l l e v e l i s an e s s e n t i a l f e a t u r e o f the
     ERASMUS Programme.
5.   The future development o f ERASMUS cannot be s e e n i n i s o l a t i o n
     from the wider framework o f Community i n i t i a t i v e s i n t h e f i e l d
     of training t o a c h i e v e t h e S i n g l e Market, i n p a r t i c u l a r the
     proposed LINGUA Programme, due t o be launched a s o f 1 9 9 0 . The
     Commission w i l l ensure t h e c o o r d i n a t e d implementation o f the
     ERASMUS and LINGUA programmes w i t h respect t o a l l                                     aspects
     a f f e c t i n g higher e d u c a t i o n c o o p e r a t i o n . Moreover, a s t e a c h i n g
     a c t i v i t i e s are c l o s e l y r e l a t e d t o those i n r e s e a r c h w i t h i n many
     universities,                   the       actions        to   promote    cooperation              and
      interchange between European r e s e a r c h s c i e n t i s t s c a r r i e d out
     under a number o f R and D programmes, notably SCIENCE and SPES,
     w i l l a l s o be taken i n t o a c c o u n t .
II.  Aims and s t r u c t u r e o f             t h e proposed adaptations t o t h e             Council
      Decision
     Action 1 : E s t a b l i s h m e n t and o p e r a t i o n of a European U n i v e r s i t y
      Network
 ---pagebreak--- 6. The Commission c o n s i d e r s t h a t the European U n i v e r s i t y Network
   ( e s t a b l i s h e d under A c t i o n 1 of the Annex t o the Council
   Decision) provides                   the e s s e n t i a l b a s i s f o r the         long-term
   development of                  the      ERASMUS Programme.              With a view           to
   c o n s o l i d a t i n g and improving the functioning of t h i s network a
   number of                amendments        have      been proposed.               Firstly,    the
   Commission r e c o g n i s e s the need to guarantee the long term
   commitment of the p a r t i c i p a t i n g u n i v e r s i t i e s and t h e r e f o r e
   considers i t n e c e s s a r y t o arrange for the u n i v e r s i t i e s s e l e c t e d
   to be informed of t h e Commission's i n t e n t i o n - s u b j e c t t o the
   a v a i l a b l e c r e d i t s and to s a t i s f a c t o r y performance - , to provide
   f i n a n c i a l support f o r a multi-annual p e r i o d . Secondly, with
   regard to the a c t i v i t i e s for which support may be granted
   within Action 1, e x p l i c i t r e f e r e n c e i s introduced to p r o v i s i o n
   for an integrated p e r i o d of f o r e i g n language p r e p a r a t i o n . The
   Commission sees the good l i n g u i s t i c and c u l t u r a l p r e p a r a t i o n of
   ERASMUS students as a n e c e s s a r y precondition of the continued
   success of the Programme.
7. At the same time an attempt has been Bade t o group t o g e t h e r
   more coherently t h e v a r i o u s d i f f e r e n t a c t i v i t i e s which may be
   considered as forming part of the European U n i v e r s i t y Network.
   Thus, j o i n t curriculum development p r o j e c t s ,                            particularly
   important with a v i e w to i n t r o d u c i n g the European dimension
   into          the content             of    courses,          and i n t e n s i v e  programmes
   (previously p a r t s o f A c t i o n s 3 and 4 r e s p e c t i v e l y ) have been
   integrated w i t h i n A c t i o n 1. S i m i l a r l y , a l l types of study
   v i s i t s provided f o r w i t h i n ERASMUS, and a t p r e s e n t d i v i d e d
   between Actions 1 and 4 , have been regrouped w i t h i n A c t i o n 1.
   Action 2 : ERASMUS Student Grants Scheme
8. The Commission has reviewed the parameters used to determine
   the t o t a l amount o f t h e s t u d e n t grants a l l o c a t i o n to be made to
   each Member S t a t e , and c o n s i d e r s i t e s s e n t i a l t o introduce - in
   a d d i t i o n to the e x i s t i n g parameters - a mechanism which w i l l
   enable c o r r e c t i v e measures t o be taken at Community l e v e l to
   ensure s i m i l a r c h a n c e s f o r a l l students w i s h i n g t o pursue
   courses of study i n o t h e r EC Member S t a t e s . With t h i s aim i n
   view, the Commission p r o p o s e s s e t t i n g aside a small p r o p o r t i o n ,
   not more than 5X, o f the t o t a l student g r a n t s budget. This
   would permit a l l o c a t i o n s t o be made by the Commission t o Member
   S t a t e s or d i s c i p l i n e s        deemed t o be i n p a r t i c u l a r          need.
   Arrangements w i l l be made a l s o w i t h regard t o the a l l o c a t i o n of
   the global amount be made a v a i l a b l e f o r s t u d e n t grants t o meet
   the s p e c i a l s i t u a t i o n o f Luxembourg.
9. Considerable               difficulties            have       been observed           with    the
   a p p l i c a t i o n a t n a t i o n a l l e v e l of the c r i t e r i a l a i d down i n the
   Council Decision f o r t h e a l l o c a t i o n and d i s t r i b u t i o n o f grants
   to s t u d e n t s . This r e f l e c t s the very d i f f e r e n t grant-awarding
   systems i n o p e r a t i o n a t n a t i o n a l l e v e l and t h e d i f f i c u l t i e s of
   ensuring complementarity o f n a t i o n a l grants - where t h e s e e x i s t
 ---pagebreak---     • and Community support through ERASMUS grants. The total
    amounts awarded to individual students have often been
    unacceptably small. The Commission therefore requests Member
    States to provide, in cases of need, for the complementary
    funding of students to whom mobility grants have been awarded.
10. The inclusion within the ERASMUS Programme of provision for
    students for whom special arrangements are made outside the
    European University Network to study abroad (often referred to
    as "free movers") has led to considerable administrative
    problems in a number of Member States. Therefore, although
    provision for such students to train abroad with the assistance
    of ERASMUS - provided they fulfil the eligibility criteria for
    ERASMUS grants - is retained, at this stage of development, in
    the Decision, the Commission's intention is to reduce the
    participation of 'free movers' by limiting the percentage of
    the total student grants budget allocated to each Member State
    available to them. It is the Commission's view that, based on
    experience with the implementation of the Programme to date,
    the organised framework of an inter-university cooperation
    programme provides the best conditions for substantially
    increasing student mobility at Community level and that by 1994
    all Member States should have introduced the necessary
    arrangements so as to avoid having recourse to the formula of
    'free movers'.
11. The Commission has identified a certain number of categories of
    students presently excluded from the ERASMUS Programme. This is
    the case notably for students who, having completed a cycle or
    course of studies in their own country, would like to continue
    their studies by acquiring an additional qualification in
    another Member State. These students are often particularly
    well motivated, and can be expected to make a particularly
    important contribution in the perspective of 1992 and the need
    to create a pool of highly trained manpower with firsthand
    experience of other Member States. The Commission proposes to
    cater for this particular category in exceptional cases and
    within    the   framework   of   inter-university    cooperation
    programmes, on the basis that full academic recognition is
    granted not by the home university but by the degree-awarding
    institution in the Member State in which students spend their
    study abroad period.
12. The Commission's proposals also aim at increasing the average
    length of the period of training spent in another Member State.
    Thus, while still accepting a minimum period of an academic
    term (three months), the Commission proposes considering six
    months as the normal minimum duration of the training period in
    another Member State for which a grant may be awarded.
    Moreover, in view of the increased impact of a longer period of
    study abroad in cultural, linguistic, academic and in
    particular professional terms, the Commission's intention is to
    move gradually towards the acceptance of a training abroad
    period of normally one year's duration.
                                                                     S
 ---pagebreak---                                            5 -
     Action 4 : Complementary measures to provide student mobility
     in the Community.
13.  In view of the need to be able t o support a d d i t i o n a l forms of
     cooperation w i t h i n the ERASMUS Programme on a limited and
     experimental b a s i s , the Commission proposes to extend the scope
     of the complementary measures t o promote mobility provided for
     within Action 4 . These are intended to provide informational
     support for ERASMUS and to increase mutual awareness of
     university systems. In p a r t i c u l a r , given the importance of
     f a c i l i t a t i n g the dissemination of information on the ERASMUS
     Programme, the Commission c o n s i d e r s i t necessary to make
     specific provision for information measures of t h i s nature in
     the Decision t e x t .
III. Evaluation
14.  With the assistance of the ERASMUS Advisory Committee, the
     Commission has given careful consideration to the design and
      implementation of appropriate arrangements for the continuing
     evaluation and monitoring of the ERASMUS Programme. So as to
     underline the importance attached to evaluation, the Commission
     proposes making explicit provision for such measures in the
      Decision.
IV.  Budget
15.   The Commission proposes that the annual credits necessary to
      cover the Community contribution to the actions provided for in
      the Programme be established in accordance with the usual
      annual budgetary procedures of the Community. The estimation of
      needs until 1992 established within the framework of the
      present financial forecasts 1988-1992 amounts to ECU 192 million.
      The means to be put at the disposal of the programme for the
      next                  two years will be examined in the light of the
      evolution of the financial forecasts.
16.   In the period up to 1992 the ERASMUS Programme will not of
      itself achieve the target objective of 10Z student mobility.
      The Commission intends to examine with the Member States other
      means of finding complementary resources to achieve this objective,
 17.  The imposition of a ceiling of 10Z of the annual appropriation
      on Actions 3 and 4 has caused considerable operational
      problems. These problems are likely to continue in the future,
      particularly with regard to the future development of the
      European Community Course Credit Transfer System (ECTS). The
      Commission therefore proposes removing this restriction in
      respect of Action 3. The maintenance of a limit of 5Z for
      Action 4 is considered appropriate.
 ---pagebreak--- V.  Conclusions
18. This Communication is accompanied by the proposal for a Council
    Decision amending the Council Decision of 15 June 1987 adopting
    the European Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of
    University Students (ERASMUS) and also by an indicative
    financial annex. To allow a smooth transition to the second
    phase of ERASMUS the Commission proposes that the adaptations
    be implemented from 1 January 1991 with the exception of Action
    2, paragraph 2 which will be implemented from 1 July 1990. This
    will allow for sound forward planning for the revised
    arrangements to be introduced in respect of the academic year
    1991-2.
19. The Commission is convinced that in its second phase the
    ERASMUS Programme, thus modified, will represent an instrument
    better tuned to the different university systems, and capable
    of responding to the needs of the Single Market and to the
    development of a People's Europe.
 ---pagebreak---                           Proposal for a
                         COUNCIL DECISION
  amending Decision 87/327/EEC adopting the European Community
      Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students
                             (ERASMUS)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing        the  European  Economic
Community, and in particular Article 128
thereof,
Having regard to Council Decision 63/266/EEC of 2 April 1963 laying
down general principles for implementing a common vocational training
policy (1),
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee
 (3).
whereas the fundamental objectives of the common vocational training
policy set out in the second principle of Decision 63/266/EEC aim in
particular at enabling every person to reach the highest possible
 level of vocational training which is necessary for his professional
 activity, and refer also to broadening vocational training to meet
 requirements arising from technical progress, linking the different
 forms of vocational training to social and economic developments;
Whereas on the basis of the sixth principle of that Decision it is
 the Commission's responsibility to encourage direct exchanges of
vocational training specialists in order to enable them to acquaint
 themselves with and study the achievements and new developments in
 the other Member States;
 Whereas the Council established the European Community Action Scheme
 for the Mobility of University Students (ERASMUS) by its Decision
 87/327/EEC (4); whereas Article 7 of that Decision provides for the
 possibility of adapting that Decision;
 (1)  OJ No 63, 20.4.1963, p. 1338/63,
 (2)  to be inserted
 (3)  to be inserted
 (4)  OJ No L 166, 25.6.1987, p. 20.
 ---pagebreak---                                   - 2 -
Whereas the Council has adopted measures with a view to strengthening
technological cooperation at Community level and providing the
necessary human resources for this purpose, notably through
Council Decision 89/27/EEC of 16 December 1988 adopting the second
phase of the programme on cooperation between universities and
industry regarding training in the field of technology (COMETT II)
(1990-1994) (5);
Whereas the Council has adopted measures to stimulate cooperation and
interchange between European research scientists, notably through
 Decision 88/419/EEC establishing the SCIENCE Programme (6) and
 Decision 89/118/EEC establishing the SPES Programme (7);
Whereas the Commission's aim, in following up the People's Europe
initiative of the European Council, is that by 1992 nearly 10Z of all
students in the Community will be following a university course
organized by universities in more than one Member State;
Whereas the Commission has presented proposals for two Council
Decisions which together constitute the LINGUA Programme to promote
training in foreign languages as well as the teaching and learning of
foreign languages in the Community;
Whereas on 21 December 1988 the Council adopted Directive
89/48/EEC on a general system for the recognition of higher-education
diplomas awarded on completion of professional education and training
of at least three years' duration (8);
Whereas the annual reports on the functioning of the ERASMUS
Programme in 1987 and 1988 and the monitoring of the Programme to
date have shown that the Programme is a successful means of
 increasing    student   mobility    via  effective   inter-university
cooperation within the Community;
Whereas the estimated amount required to finance the ERASMUS
Programme in the first three years of the five-year period is ECU 192
mi llion,
 (5) OJ No  L 13/17.1.1989, p. 28.
 (6) OJ No  C 335, 30.12.1988, p. 3,
 (7) OJ No  L 44, 16.2.1989, o. 43.
 (8) OJ No  L 19, 24.1.1989, p. 16.
 ---pagebreak---                            - 3 -
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
                         Article 1
Decision 87/327/EEC is hereby amended as follows:
1.  The following subparagraph is added to Article 1(2):
    "All students studying in those establishments, regardless of
    the field of study and the level of study, up to and including
    the doctorate are eligible for support within the Erasmus
    programme."
2.  Article 4 is replaced by the following:
                        "Article 4
    As from 1 January 1990 the annual credits necessary to cover the
    Community contribution to the actions provided for in the programme
    will be established in the annual budgetary procedure, taking into
    account the results of the programme as well as any new needs which
    may emerge during its operation. These credits are intended to
    finance the various actions set out in the Annex, including
    appropriate measures taken to ensure the technical assistance at
    Community level, continuing monitoring and evaluation of the
    programme.
    The appropriations deemed necessary for the first three years of
    the programme will form part of future budgets within the frame-
    work of the present financial forecasts 1988-1992 agreed jointly
    by the three Institutions in June 1988 and their development."
3.  In Article 5 the phrase "the other actions already scheduled at
    Community level" is replaced by "other actions at Community level".
4.  In Article 7 the date of 31 December 1989 referred to in line 1
    is replaced by 31 December 1993 and the date of 30 June 1990
    referred to in line 5 is replaced by 30 June 1994.
5.  The Annex is replaced by the Annex to this Decision.
                         Article 2
The actions of the Annex shall be implemented from 1 January 1991
with the exception of Action 2 S 2 which shall be implemented from
1 July 1990.
Done at Brussels,                                  For the Council
                                                                      ~\Q
 ---pagebreak---                                - 4 -
                                ANNEX
                               "ANNEX
                               ACTION 1
     Establishment and operation of a European University Network
 l.The Community will further develop the European University Network
    established within the ERASMUS Programme and designed to
    stimulate Community-wide exchange of students.
    The European University Network will be composed of those
    universities which, in the framework of the ERASMUS Programme,
    have concluded agreements and organized programmes providing for
    exchanges of students and teachers with universities of other
    Member States and which recognize study periods thus accomplished
    outside the home university.
    The main aim of inter-university agreements is to give the
    students of one university the opportunity to undertake a fully
    recognized period of study in at least one other Member State, as
    an integral part of their diploma or academic qualification.
    These joint programmes should include as necessary an integrated
    period of foreign language preparation as well as cooperation
    among teachers and administrative staff in order to prepare the
    conditions necessary for the exchange of students and for the
    mutual recognition of periods of study accomplished abroad.
    Priority will be given to programmes involving an integrated and
    fully recognized period of study in another Member State. For
    each joint programme, each participating university will receive
    support of up to an annual ceiling of ECU 25 000 normally for a
    period of three years in the first instance subject to periodic
    review.
2. Support will also be provided for exchanges of teaching staff for
    the purpose of carrying out integrated teaching assignments in
    other Member States.
3. Support will also be provided for joint curriculum development
    projects between universities in different Member States as a
    means of facilitating academic recognition and of contributing by
    means of an exchange of experience and expertise to the process
    of innovation and improvement of courses on a Community-wide
    basis.
4. In addition, support will be provided to universities organizing
    intensive teaching programmes of short duration involving
    students from several different Member States.
                                                                      /-/
 ---pagebreak--- The Community will also provide support for teaching staff and
university administrators to visit other Member States, to enable
them to prepare programmes of integrated study with universities
of these Member States and to exchange experience on the latest
developments in their area of expertise. Grants will also be
provided to allow teaching staff to conduct a series of
specialised lectures in several Member States.
 ---pagebreak---                                ACTION 2
                     ERASMUS student grants scheme
 l.The Community will further develop a scheme for the direct
    financial support of students at universities as defined in
   Article 1(2) of Council decision 87/327/EEC carrying out a period
    of study in another Member State. In determining the total
    expenditure for Actions 1 and 2 respectively, the Community will
    have regard to the number of students to be exchanged within the
    European University Network as it develops.
Î. The ERASMUS student grants are administered normally through the
    competent authorities in the Member States. The allocation of the
    amount to each Member State will be based on the total number of
    students at universities as defined in Article 1(2), as well as
    on the total number of 18 to 25 year-olds in each Member State.
    Moreover, the Commission will take the necessary steps to ensure
    a balanced participation across Member States and disciplines and
    will therefore allocate a small proportion of the funds available
    for student grants, not to exceed 5Z of the total annual student
    grants budget. The funds for student grants in respect of certain
    exceptional programmes whose structure renders administration of
    the grants via national agencies impracticable will be allocated
    directly by the Commission.
J. The National Grant-Awarding Authorities will issue grants up to a
    maximum of ECU 5 000 per student for a stay of one year, subject
    to the following conditions :
    a) the grants are not normally intended to cover the full cost of
        study abroad, but as a means of offsetting the additional
        costs of mobility, that is travel costs, foreign language
        preparation as necessary and higher cost of living in the host
        country (including, where appropriate, the extra cost of
        living away from the student's home country). Member States
        will provide, in cases of need, for the complementary funding
        of students to whom mobility grants have been awarded;
    b) priority will be given to students on courses which are part
        of the European University Network under Action 1 as well as
        to those students participating in the European Community
        Course Credit Transfer System (ECTS) under Action 3. Grants
        may also be provided for other students on courses for whom
        special arrangements are made outside the network in another
        Member State provided they fulfil the eligibility criteria;
    c) normally, grants will be awarded only in cases where the
        period of study spent In another Member State will be granted
        full recognition by the student's home university. However,
        grants may be awarded exceptionally in cases where the period
                                                                       ./I
 ---pagebreak---                               7 -
   of study to be spent in another Member State will be granted
   full recognition by the degree-awarding university in that
   Member State, provided that this arrangement forms part of an
   inter-university agreement supported under Action 1.
d) no tuition fees will be charged by the host university to
   incoming students; where appropriate, grantholders will
   continue to pay tuition fees at their home university;
e) grants will be awarded for periods of study in another Member
   State of six months to a full academic year; grants may be
   awarded exceptionally for periods of study of a minimum
   duration of three months or for more than twelve months in the
   case of highly integrated programmes;
f) any grants or loans available to students in their own country
   will continue to be paid in full during their period of study
   at the host university for which they are receiving an ERASMUS
   grant.
                                                                  /f
 ---pagebreak---                           - 8 -
                         ACTION 3
   Measures to promote mobility through the academic
      recognition of diplomas and periods of study
The Community will undertake, through cooperation with the competent
authorities in the Member States, the following actions in order to
promote mobility through the academic recognition of diplomas and
periods of study acquired in another Member State:
1.  measures to promote the European Community Course Credit Transfer
    System (ECTS) on an experimental and voluntary basis in order to
    provide a means by which students undergoing or having completed
    higher education and training may receive credit for such training
    carried out at universities in other Member States. A limited
    number of grants of up to ECU 20 000 per year will be awarded to
    the universities participating in the pilot system;
2.  measures to promote the Community-wide exchange of information on
    the academic recognition of diplomas acquired and periods of study
    spent in another Member State, notably by means of the further
    development of the European Community Network of National Academic
    Recognition Information Centres; grants will be awarded to the
    centres to facilitate exchange of information, in particular by
    means of a computerized system for data exchange.
                                                                       *K
 ---pagebreak---                                                          ACTION 4
 Complementary measures t o promote s t u d e n t m o b i l i t y i n t h e Community
 l . T o p r o v i d e i n f o r m a t i o n a l s u p p o r t for                ERASMUS and t o i n c r e a s e
      mutual awareness of u n i v e r s i t y systems                             in the Community, ERASMUS
      w i l l provide for :
             support             to a s s o c i a t i o n s      and c o n s o r t i a      of       universities,
              teaching staff,                   administrators              or s t u d e n t s      a c t i n g on a
             European b a s i s ,                in      particular            with     a view            to    making
              i n i t i a t i v e s i n s p e c i f i c f i e l d s b e t t e r known t h r o u g h o u t the
             Community;
             p u b l i c a t i o n s d e s i g n e d t o enhance awareness of s t u d y and
              t e a c h i n g o p p o r t u n i t i e s i n t h e o t h e r Member S t a t e s o r t o draw
             a t t e n t i o n t o i m p o r t a n t developments and i n n o v a t i v e models f o r
             u n i v e r s i t y c o o p e r a t i o n t h r o u g h o u t t h e Community;
             other             initiatives            designed           to      promote        inter-university
             c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h i n t h e Community;
             measures f a c i l i t a t i n g          t h e d i s s e m i n a t i o n of i n f o r m a t i o n on t h e
              ERASMUS programme;
              ERASMUS p r i z e s of t h e European Community t o be awarded t o
              s t u d e n t s , s t a f f members, u n i v e r s i t i e s o r ERASMUS p r o j e c t s
             which have made an o u t s t a n d i n g c o n t r i b u t i o n t o t h e development
              of i n t e r - u n i v e r s i t y c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h i n t h e Community.
!.     The c o s t of measures u n d e r A c t i o n 4 w i l l n o t e x c e e d                            5Z of  the
       a n n u a l a p p r o p r i a t i o n s f o r t h e ERASMUS Programme."
                                                                                                                         A-
 ---pagebreak---                         FINANCIAL RECORD
   Budget line and Title
         B6320
         ERASMUS, the European Community Action Scheme for the
         Mobility of University Students
2. Legal Basis
         Council Decision 87/327/EEC of 15 June 1987 adopting the
         ERASMUS Programme (O.J. No L 166/20 of 25/6/1987, p.20)
         Proposal for a Council Decision amending the above-
         mentioned Decision
         Article 128
   Classification of expenditure
         Non-compulsory expenditure
         Non-dissociated appropriations
   Description
         The four principal objectives of the ERASMUS Programme
         are as stated in Council Decision 87/327/EEC of 15 June
         1987.
         The ERASMUS Programme comprises four types of measures :
         *      the development of interuniversity cooperation as
               the basis for the exchange of students and
               teachers. Taken     together, the   interuniversity
               cooperation programmes funded within ERASMUS form
               European University Network;
         *     a student grant scheme whereby ERASMUS grants help
               cover the supplementary costs entailed by a study
               period spent in another Member State        travel,
               linguistic preparation, higher cost of living in
               the host country;
         *      the promotion of the European Community Course
               Credit Transfer System (ECTS) and the further
               development of the European Network of National
               Academic Recognition Information Centres (NARIC) in
               order to promote student mobility through the
               recognition of diplomas and periods of study
               acquired in another Member State;
         *      complementary measures to provide informational
               support    for  ERASMUS and to increase      mutual
               awareness of university systems in the Community,
                                                                   n
 ---pagebreak---                                - 2
         the evaluation and monitoring of actions funded by the
         ERASMUS Programme and the impact of ERASMUS Community-
         wide ;
         the technical     assistance   for   the  execution   of   the
         Programme ;
         the persons to whom the ERASMUS Programme is principally
         addressed     are   university    students,    teachers    and
         administrators.
   Justification
   Through the development of highly qualified human resources,
   the ERASMUS Programme contributes to the completion of the
   Single Market as well as the reinforcement of the economic and
   social development of the Community.
   The amendment of the ERASMUS Programme as originally agreed by
   the Council on 15 June 1987 will create the necessary
   flexibility for action for çhe.next phase of development, in
   particular regarding the objective of contributing towards the
   target of 10% student mobility.
6. Financial implications for operational appropriations : nature
   of expenditure and method of calculation
   6.1    The appropriations necessary will form part of future
          budgets    within    the   framework    of   the    financial
          perspectives 1988-1992 agreed jointly by the three
          institutions in June 1988 and their development.
          The estimation of needs established within the framework
          of the present financial forecasts 1988 to 1992 amounts
          to ECU 192 million.          The means to be put at the
          disposal of the programme for the         next     two years
          will be examined in the light of the evolution of the
          financial forecasts.
    6.2   The actions to be implemented are financed from the
          Community Budget Art. 6320 on the following basis :
          ACTION 1 - Interuniversltv Cooperation Programmes (ICPÏ
          *      Each participating university may receive support
                of up to an annual ceiling of ECU 25 000 for each
                 inter-university cooperation programme;
          *      Up to an annual ceiling of ECU 5 000 per university
                may be awarded for the implementation of teaching
                 staff mobility programmes. In addition, for a
                 three-month period abroad the teaching staff member
                 may receive a grant of up to ECU 4 000 for the
                 mobility costs and the Commission may grant the
 ---pagebreak---               sending university maximum financial support of ECU
              3 000 per month per staff member replaced.
              Curriculum              development    projects  and intensive
              teaching programmes may be granted ECU 20 000 per
              programme.
              Grants for teaching and study visits for university
              staff may be awarded up to ECU 2 000 per person for
              periods abroad of no longer than four weeks.
       ACTION 2 - Mobility Grants for Students
Grants of a maximum of ECU 5 000 per person (in the case of a
       full year of study) may be awarded to enable students to
       carry out a recognised period of study in another Member
       State.
       ACTION 3 - Recognition of diplomas and periods of study
       *       Grants of up to ECU 20 000 per year may be awarded
               to - the universities participating in the pilot
               phase of the European Community Course Credit
               Transfer System (ECTS).
       *       The European Community Network of National Academic
               Recognition Information Centres : grants of up to
               ECU 20 000 per year may be awarded to each of the
               national centres per year.
        ACTION 4 • Complementary Measures
        *      Associations
               Support              to    associations    and   consortia  of
               u n i v e r s i t i e s of up to a maximum of ECU 20 000 may
               be awarded.
        *       Publications
        *       Prizes to students, teachers, administrators and
               universities for outstanding contributions to the
                development of the ERASMUS Programme may be
                awarded.
        *       Complementary measures which concern the further
                development of the ERASMTS Programme such as
                information actions.
        Appropriate provision will also be made for the ongoing
         evaluation of the Programme as well as for the technical
         assistance         rendered by          the    agency  assisting the
         Commission (cf. 10 below).
                                                                              y\•V
 ---pagebreak--- 6.3    Incidence of appropriations necessary (In ECU mi I lion)
                    1990        1991        1992        Total
Action 1            15          17          19           51.0
Action 2            31          34.3        37.5        102.8
Action 3             2.0         2           2             6.0
Action 4             2.9         3.2         3.5           9.6
Evaluation/
Information/
Technical            7.1         7.5         8           22.6
Assistance
Total               58.0        64.0        70          192.0
 Implications for revenue
 There are no implications for revenue.
 Type of control
 8.1    Financial control      by the Commission's services in
        regard to the regularity of the expenditure and the
        implementation of the budget;
 8.2    Scientific   and  technical   control       the   services
        responsible in the Commission with the advice of the
        ERASMUS Advisory Committee established by the Decision.
 Financial implications in terms of personnel
 Additional personnel necessary from 1990:
 1 A
 2 B
 2 C
 The personnel needs set out above will be satisfied either by
  internal deployment of staff or within the framework of the
 budgetary procedure for 1990.
 ---pagebreak--- 10. Technical Assistance
    The implementation of the ERASMUS Programme will require
    specialist expertise in higher education administration and
    will permit the Commission to ensure the balanced development
    of the Programme involving the full participation of all Member
    States. The required expertise will consist in particular in:
          the dissemination      of   information    to  universities,
          teaching staff and students
          the processing of applications       for selection,  and the
          organization of advisory groups
          contracts and payments of grants and individual project
          control
           the technical coordination of National Grant-Awarding
          Authorities for ERASMUS student grants and coordination
          with national student financing policies in Member States
           the preparation of information material on the ERASMUS
           Programme   for    publication     and   contributions    to
           information actions in the 12 Member States including all
           translation services necessary for an operation in 9
           languages
           technical coordination and underpinning of the European
           Community Course Credit Transfer System (ECTS) and the EC
           network of National Academic Recognition Information
           Centres (NARIC)
           the continuing monitoring of the ERASMUS Programme
           technical   assistance    to   the    Commission   regarding
           preparatory   work   to    all   Committee    meetings   and
           specialised working groups.
 ---pagebreak--- Commission of the European Communities
COM(89) 235 final
Communication from the
COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL
and proposal for a
COUNCIL DECISION
amending Decision 87/327/EEC adopting the European Community
action scheme for the mobility of university students (Erasmus)
29.5.1989
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities
L - 2985 Luxembourg
Series: DOCUMENTS
 1989 - 21 pp. - Format: 21.0 * 29.7 cm
EN
ISSN 0254-1475
ISBN 92-77-50551-6
Catalogue number: CB-C0-89-214-EN-C
 ---pagebreak---                                            ISSN 0254-1475
C0M(89) 235 final
DOCUMENTS
Communication from the
COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL
and proposal for a
COUNCIL DECISION
amending Decision 87/327/EEC adopting the
European Community action scheme for the
mobility of university students (Erasmus)
 17                                       29.5.1989
Catalogue number: CB-CO-89-214-EN-C
ISBN 92-77-50551-6
€
COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES