EUSA_ID - a new Erasmus-Mundus Action 2 Project linking South Africa and Europe in the field of Development Studies
A new consortium of 6 South African, 7 European Higher Education Institutions and 3 associated partners, successfully applied for funding under the Erasmus Mundus - Action 2 programme in the South African Lot and will receive a grant of 2.3 million Euros between 07/2013 and 06/2017 for the Project "EUSA_ID - Capacity Building in Higher Education for an improved co-operation between the EU and SA in the field of Development Studies".
The Erasmus Mundus programme aims to enhance the quality of higher education and promote dialogue and understanding between people and cultures through mobility and academic cooperation. Action 2 Partnerships are the basis for enhancing academic cooperation and exchanges of students and academics, contributing to the socio-economic development of non-EU countries targeted by EU external cooperation policy.
EUSA_ID is a mobility programme offering study, training and research periods in Europe for South African Master and PhD candidates and staff (academic and administrative) and provides European PhD candidates the opportunity to spend a research period in South Africa.
All in all 84 mobilities (18 European, 66 South African) will be funded, covering Master students, PhD candidates and staff.
The partnership, coordinated by the Institute of Development Research and Development Policy (I EE/Germany) and co-coordinated on the South African side by the University of the Western Cape (UWC), shares the expertise in complementary thematic fields related to Development Studies which has been chosen as common umbrella for the project.
On European Side the following partner universities are involved:
• Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany, Institute of Development
Research and Development Policy (Coordinator)
• Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands, International
Institute of Social Studies
• University Duisburg-Essen, Germany, Institute of Political
Science
• University of Bordeaux 1, France, Les Afriques dans le Monde
(LAM)
• University Paris 1 Panthéon Sorbonne, France, Economic
Department
• Palacký University, Czech Republic, Department of Development
Studies
• University of Jyväskylä, Finland, Department of Social Sciences
and Philosophy
On South African Side the following partner universities are involved:
• University of the Western Cape, Institute for Social
Development (joint coordinator)
• Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Department of
Development Studies
• University of Cape Town, Department of Economics
• University of Fort Hare, Department of Development Studies
• University of KwaZulu Natal, School of Built Environment and
Development Studies
• University of Limpopo, Turfloop Graduate School of Leadership
The project is supported by 3 associated partners, who foster promotion of the project and provide support related to facilitate study recognition and quality assurance.
These are the
• South African Development Studies Association, SADSA
• Cape Higher Education Consortium , CHEC
• European Association of Development Research and Training
Institutes, EADI
EUSA_ID aims at promoting intercultural understanding and at fostering institutional cooperation between European and South African HEIs. The cooperation is expected to contribute to the development of academic and administrative capacity of South African HEIs and to enhanced collaboration between HEIs highly experienced in the management of international cooperation projects and those which are still in the process of building strong networks.
EUSA_ID contributes to the development of appropriate qualifications of South African and European individuals in the field of Development Studies.
For South Africa as a country where higher education shall "contribute to and support the process of societal transformation" as outlined in the Reconstruction and Development Programme the partners perceive it as highly relevant to offer Master, PhD and staff training in Development Studies related fields.
Given South Africa's role in the region which goes beyond political and economic considerations but also covers the potential to enhance regional cooperation in higher education and research a partnership project with a focus on Development Studies is taking into account the needs of the targeted country as well as the broader needs of the region.
The Kick-off meeting of EUSA_ID took place in Bordeaux at the University of Bordeaux 1 and Science Po Bordeaux on 10th-11th October, where all partners of the new formed consortium met. The meeting was perfectly organized by Anna Gerykova from the International Office of University of Bordeaux 1 - many thanks again!
After the Welcome Addresses by Prof. Vincent Hoffmann-Martinot, Director of Science Po Bordeaux and Prof. Laurent Servant, Vice-President for International Relations, University of Bordeaux 1, Prof. Wilhelm Löwenstein, RUB (coordinator of the project) and Prof. Dr. Julian May, University of the Western Cape (co-coordinator), gave an introduction to the new project.
Mrs. Elena Palavrova, Project Officer of the European Commission, Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) and Mrs. Julie Bagalciague, Europe-Education-Formation Agency in France, Agence 2e2f, gave useful insights into organizational structures of Erasmus Mundus Action 2 programmes in general.
Dr. Gabriele Bäcker (coordinator) assisted by Britta Niklas presented the different items of the agenda, dealing with issues like the detailed project plan, the management structure, administrative aspects, the EUSA_ID mobility scheme, EUSA_ID’s promotion and dissemination policy, academic Quality Control and the Memorandum of Understanding during the first day of the meeting. During the second day, the selection committee was elected and partners met in order to identify areas for joint training and research with very promising results!
All participants were very committed and felt that important strides in the collaboration were made.
The first call for applications will be published end of November 2013 on the new Project Website (www.eusa-id.eu). Application deadline will be 28th February 2014 with selection results being published latest by 14th April 2014.
All applicants must have sufficient knowledge of the language of instruction (English)
The first cohort of mobilities will start approximately in July 2014 depending on the respective university chosen.
Further Information:
www.eusa-id.eu
www.eusa-id.org
https://www.facebook.com/eusaid