Skip to main content
European Commission logo print header

Programme Category

Programma
Contenuto archiviato il 2023-03-27

Article available in the following languages:

EN

Third phase of the trans-European cooperation scheme for higher education (Tempus III), 2000-2006

 
The countries of central and eastern Europe, the new independent states of the former Soviet Union and Mongolia, which are beneficiaries of the PHARE and TACIS programmes, consider training and, in particular, higher education, to be a key area in the process of economic and social reform. The Tempus programme was designed as a response to the particular needs of these countries, separate from the existing higher education Community programmes such as LEONARDO DA VINCI or ERASMUS.

Tempus has been identified as making an effective contribution to this structural development as well as being an effective contributor to restoring cooperation between neighbouring regions of the Community. The Evaluation report of the second phase of the Tempus programme attested to the capacity of Tempus to contribute to the diversification of educational opportunities and to cooperation between universities, which in turn can facilitate scientific, cultural and economic collaboration.

The associated countries in the pre-accession phase which have now taken part in Tempus I and Tempus II are seen as being able to make a useful contribution - with the Member States - in helping the partner countries who entered the programme at a later stage to restructure their higher education systems.

Specifically, Tempus III is intended to help the higher education systems in the eligible countries to address:
- Issues relating to the development and reshaping of teaching syllabuses;
- Higher education reform and management;
- Development of qualification-related training specifically linked to high level skills - needed during periods of economic reform, particularly through improving higher education/industry links.

Within TEMPUS, as in the related Community programmes mentioned above, the term "university" denotes all types of post-secondary educational and vocational training establishments which offer higher-level qualifications or diplomas. The terms "industry" and "company" cover all types of economic activity, whatever their legal status, public and local authorities, independent economic organizations, chambers of commerce and industry and/or their equivalents, professional associations, organizations representing employers and employees, and training bodies of the above-mentioned institutions and organizations.
To Promote, in line with the guidelines and general objectives of the PHARE and TACIS programmes for economic and social reform, the development of the higher education systems in the new independent states of the former Soviet Union and Mongolia through the most balanced cooperation possible with the partners of all the Member States of the Community.
Three actions:

- Joint European Projects (JEPs):
Involving at least one university in an eligible country, one university from a Member State and a partner establishment (university or company) in another Member State. JEP support can be provided for activities according to the specific needs of the establishments concerned and in line with the priorities established, including:

. Joint teaching and training actions;
. Measures for the reform and development of higher education and its capacity;
. Promotion of cooperation between the university and industry, through joint actions;
. Development of mobility for teachers, administrative staff at universities and students under JEPs;
. Activities to ensure the success of a JEP involving two or more eligible countries;

- Structural and/or complementary measures:
Providing financial support (particularly technical assistance, seminars, studies, publications, information activities) to support the programme objectives, particularly the development and restructuring of higher education systems in the eligible countries. Under the structural measures, financial aid will be granted inter alia to:

. Develop and strengthen the capacity for strategic planning and institutional development of higher education establishments at university or faculty level;
. Establish a plan to develop universities under structural contracts to help them build up international relations;
. Support the spread of cooperation actions targeting the Tempus objectives;
. Prepare a national strategy in a given eligible country to develop a specific aspect of higher education;

- Individual Grants;
Additional support in the form of grants to teachers, trainers, university administrators, senior ministerial officials, education planners and other experts in training from eligible countries or from the Community, for visits to promote the quality, development and restructuring of higher education and training in the eligible countries. Covering the following areas:

. Development of courses and teaching material;
. Development of staff, through periods of refresher training and in-company placements;
. Teaching assignments;
. Activities to support the development of higher education;

Also, support actions will be carried out, including:
- Technical assistance including monitoring of the implementation of the scheme;
- Support for external evaluation of the scheme.
The Commission is responsible for the implementation of the programme on the basis of detailed guidelines to be adopted annually and following the detailed objectives and priorities agreed with the competent authorities in each eligible country. The objectives and priorities shall be in accordance with the overall objectives of the PHARE programme and with the overall objectives of the TACIS programme. The Commission will be assisted by a committee composed of two representatives appointed by each Member State and chaired by a Commission representative. The members of the committee may be assisted by experts or advisers.

The Commission is responsible for ensuring consistency and, when necessary, complementarity with other actions at Community level, both within the Community and in assistance to the eligible countries, particularly with regard to the activities of the European Training Foundation. The Commission also ensures coordination with actions in the same field as Tempus III, including, where appropriate, participation in Tempus III projects, developed by countries which are not members of the Community or by universities and enterprises in these countries. Such Participation may take the following forms:

- Participation in Tempus III projects through co-financing;
- Redirecting exchange actions already receiving bilateral funding;
- Coordinating Tempus III and national initiatives which have the same aims but which are funded and managed separately;
- Mutual exchange of information on relevant initiatives in the field.

The Commission will cooperate with coordinating agencies set up in each of the eligible countries and with the relevant national bodies designated by the Member States.

The Commission establishes arrangements for the monitoring and evaluation of the scheme and submits an annual report to the European Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social Committee and the participating countries. An interim report is to be submitted before 30 April 2004 and a final report by 30 June 2009.

The programme will concern the non-associated countries of Central and Eastern Europe designated as eligible for economic aid by Regulation (EEC) No 3906/89 (PHARE programme, Official Journal No L 375 of 23.12.1989) last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 2334/92 (Official Journal No L 227 of 11.8.1992) and the new independent states of the former Soviet Union and Mongolia mentioned in Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 1279/96 (TACIS programme, Official Journal No L 201 of 24.7.1991).