By Phephile Motau
The European Commission has opened an E535 million (€27) million call for proposals for higher education institutions to provide international learning mobility opportunities for African students, trainees and university staff.
This is under the Intra-Africa Academic Mobility Scheme 2022–2027. The call is expected to finance around 15 projects for a maximum grant amount of about E36 million (€1.8 million each). The application deadline is 15 June 2023 17:00 CEST.
The scheme is part of the EU-Africa Global Gateway Investment Package’s flagship initiative Youth Mobility for Africa which promotes youth exchanges and mobility in Africa and between Africa and Europe, and contributes to strengthening Africa’s higher education space, according to a statement by the commission.
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Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen said: “In this European Year of Skills, I am proud to launch the first call for proposals for the 2022-2027 Intra-Africa Academic Mobility Scheme. As announced in the Youth Action Plan in EU external action, and in line with our commitments taken at the UN Transforming Education Summit, the scheme will promote youth exchanges and mobility in Africa while strengthening its higher education and integration.”
“This investment of €27 million is another tangible demonstration of the EU-Africa Global Gateway Investment Package being rolled out with emphasis on human development providing opportunities for youth, women and people with disabilities,” she said.
The commission said the Intra-Africa Academic Mobility Scheme aims to contribute to Africa’s economic, social, and human development by enhancing knowledge, skills and competencies across the continent through scholarship opportunities, in particular in connection to climate change and the green transition.
The scheme prioritises projects that support the participation of youth, women, and people from disadvantaged backgrounds, with special needs or vulnerable status. Its main priorities are to promote inclusive learning mobility opportunities.
It also aims to place a special focus on climate change mitigation and adaptation in curricula and research programmes and increase the entrepreneurship skills and employability of higher education students and trainees, specifically in green jobs.
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Its other aim is to improve the quality, relevance, and internationalisation of higher education in Africa. Applications must be submitted by a consortium composed of four to six higher education institutions from eligible countries in Africa and one higher education institution from the EU.
The selected consortia will organise activities to implement the mobility of Masters and Doctoral level students, trainees (students enrolled in a Bachelor, Master or PhD programme), and academic and administrative university staff within Africa.
The EU technical partner will support the academic, administrative, and financial management of the project and mobility plan through knowledge transfer and experience sharing,” according to the commission.
On April 2021, a web-streamed information session will provide further details on the Intra-Africa Academic Mobility Scheme, and practical tips for preparing and submitting applications.
Interested instructions can contact the Intra-Africa Mobility Scheme page on www.eacea.ec.europa.eu.
