Erasmus Mundus External Co-operation Window India

This project, involving twelve European and eight Indian universities, aims at a better understanding between the European Union and India, as well as mutual enrichment. The co-operation instrument is guided by the DCI regulations, the Millennium Development Goals, and regional needs expressed by the Government of India. The objective includes a mission to create a partnership for research and development that will strengthen the ties between India and the EU.

Topics that will be included in the education and research collaboration, are agriculture, food processing, climate change, energy, environment, information and communication technology, biotechnology and nanotechnology. These all reflect the regional needs of India.
The aim is to strengthen academic co-operation between India and Europe at the academic level, and eventually in areas such as trade, politics, and international organisations. This will be done through a mobility scheme among participating institutions that will result in 'brain-circulation' instead of 'brain-drain'. The ultimate goal is to establish long-lasting structures that will sustain themselves beyond the life of this particular scheme.

The Erasmus Mundus External Co-operation Window Lot 15 offers 101 scholarships for students at participating European universities wishing to partake in an institutional mobility scheme funded by the European Commission. Candidates will have the opportunity to study, teach or work in one of the eight prestigious Indian universities participating in the programme. The duration of the scholarship (from 1 to 34 months) varies according to the type of position applied for.
All costs are covered: through EMECW15, successful applicants (undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, post-doctoral students and academic staff) will be awarded a scholarship that covers travel costs, insurance, possible tuition fees, living expenses and housing.

More information: http://www.erasmuswindow15.org

Contact: Vicky Wandels

First participant arrived!

On Monday 30 March 2009 Ms. Minta Thomas arrived at K.U.Leuven in Belgium as the very first participant in the Erasmus Mundus External Cooperation Window with India. She will stay at the Faculty of Engineering to prepare for a doctoral degree in Informatics. Her supervisor is Prof. dr. Bart De Moor. On the photograph you can see her at the International Office in the company of the EMECW India Team at K.U.Leuven: Mr. Mathias Groenweghe, Ms. Vicky Wandels and Mr. Bob Geivers.

Reception Indian EMECW participants April 2, 2009 the Indian EMECW participants and their host at K.U. Leuven were invited to an information session and a reception in their honour at the International Office. Some other Indian K.U. Leuven students were also present. Professor Mart Buekers, Vicerector Internationalisation Policy, gave a speech. Afterwards everyone had a chance to meet and talk informally about their experience.