EAIE and Erasmus+

The annual event combines conference sessions with an exhibition hall, and a rare opportunity for institutional partners to meet face to face. This year was the biggest yet, with over 5,000 attendees from 90 countries.

For the first time, Education New Zealand hosted a networking reception which was attended by over 100 guests from European institutions. New Zealand wine and a gorgeous venue with a balcony overlooking Prague’s Wenceslas Square created a real kiwi vibe. One New Zealander commented “it made our partners feel really valued”.

Over the week in Prague, our institution representatives were kept busy meeting existing partners, while the ENZ team responded to a steady flow of enquiries from institutions seeking New Zealand partners. Our high-ranking institutions, English language teaching, exotic location and participation in credit recognition arrangements such as the Lisbon Convention make New Zealand institutions highly desirable partners.

One hot topic was the international opening of Erasmus+. Some of the key features of the programme are:

It will provide living cost and travel funding for both European and non-European students and staff exchanges. 

• Over the seven year programme, a total of 135,000 grants are planned for international student mobility

• Periods of study could be between 3 and 12 months at any level from bachelor to doctorate degree, and from 5 days to 2 months for staff. 

• Principles of the Erasmus Charter including credit recognition and fee waiver must be followed. 

For New Zealand institutions the programme provides an opportunity to build brand awareness, and give students and staff an international experience.

A call for applications from European institutions is expected in early October, closing 4 March 2015 for mobility in the 2015/16 academic year. New Zealand higher education institutions interested in taking part in credit mobility should contact a partner university in a European Programme Country, which will be able to apply for funding from their National Agency. 

If you would like to discuss the Erasmus+ opportunities you can contact Shelley Robertson in Brussels

Further information about Erasmus+ is available free from the EU Bookshop.