International educational programme - ALFA

ALFA (América Latina - Formación Académica) is the name of the co-operation programme established by the European Commission in 1994 with the purpose of enhancing the scientific, academic and technological potential of countries in Latin America.

Through the creation of networks involving higher education institutions in both the European Union and the target area, the programme endeavoured to facilitate the exchange of students and information. Institutional co-operation included the mutual recognition of degrees and study programmes, university management and the establishment of ties with the industrial world. In addition, it aimed to provide scientific and technological training, with activities such as student and postgraduate mobility, as well as joint research projects.

In March 2000, the second phase of the ALFA programme was launched for the 2002-2005 period. In the spring of 2005, however, the European Commission decided to cancel the selection rounds that were scheduled for that year.
All the previously approved ALFA projects were to be implemented though, as planned.

The European Commission launched the first call of the third phase of the ALFA programme in 2008. A second call was published in 2010. The third call for proposals will be published at the end of 2010 or the beginning of 2011.

More details are available on the website.

For more information, please contact Hilde Nijs