EU-Canada higher education projects launched
The European Commission and Canada are launching 11 new transatlantic cooperation projects in higher education and vocational training. European participation will be funded with €1.4 million from the European Commission, while the Canadian Government will match this for transatlantic participation. The projects all involve at least four higher education institutions and/or vocational training organisations, and involve transatlantic mobility by students within jointly designed study or training programmes. According to EU Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth, Ján Figel', the projects are 'a good example of what this kind of educational cooperation can produce: not only do they contribute to making our education systems more open and competitive, but they also help promote mutual understanding between our peoples'. The projects will last for three years, their aim being to develop joint study programmes. They will address areas such as molecular chemistry, bioenergy, multi-agent robotics, safety and security management and food technology. Hungarian and Italian partners will work with two Canadian universities on a project investigating the use of forest biomass for bioenergy fuel. The funding (€138,000 from the EU budget) will allow the mobility of 70 Canadian and 50 European students during the project's course. Students from Ireland and Northern Ireland will take part in a project on conflict analysis and resolution. It is intended to develop an ability in the 36 participants to understand and analyse various types of conflict and create strategies for resolving them. In total the 11 new projects involve 30 European universities or training institutions from 15 EU Member States. France is the most active participant, involved in five projects, followed by the UK with four projects.
Countries
Canada