Student Mobility Programmes Strengthen EU

8/3/2019 Student Mobility Programmes Strengthen EU

1/3

Student mobility programmes strengthen EU-US relationship, says Vassiliou

Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and

Youth, has highlighted the importance of EU-US education mobility programmes which enable

young people from the European Union to study in the United States and vice-versa. In a video-

conversation with the U.S. Ambassador to the EU, William E. Kennard, the Commissionerunderlined the impact of such grant schemes in strengthening the transatlantic relationship.

Highlights of their conversation can be viewed on the Commissioner'swebsiteand onYou Tube.Around 6,000 students and academics from the EU and US are expected to benefit from grants

for exchanges in 2006-2013.

In the video the Commissioner and Ambassador speak enthusiastically about their personal

memories of study visits. Commissioner Vassiliou, whose children spent part of their education

in the US, recalls her own "great experience" of taking part in an international visitors'

programme in the 1970s. Ambassador Kennard describes his college studies in France as "anexperience that fundamentally changed my life".

The video-chat was recorded on the occasion of the 11th International Education Week.

Excerpts:

Ambassador Kennard:

"The programmes that we have with the European Union are so important because we are able to

get young people at a formative time in their lives to travel, to open their eyes to the world. This

is an opportunity for them to really get to know other cultures and other people in a very personaland fundamental way our experience has been that it really does change relations between

nations."

Commissioner Vassiliou:

"The (European) students come back with different impressions about new cultures, a new

language, a new way of life and new educational systems. This experience is great it enriches

their life."

Ambassador Kennard:

"About 60 000 EU citizens go to the U.S. and 135 000 Americans go to Europe ... collectively

we are building lots of relationships around these programmes."


"The Schuman Fulbright joint grants give the possibility for young people, graduates and

professors to come to the European Union, to any country of their choice, or European

academics and students to go to the States and make specific studies."
http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/vassiliou/index_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/vassiliou/index_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/vassiliou/index_en.htmhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZQFPgO5b9Mhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZQFPgO5b9Mhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZQFPgO5b9Mhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZQFPgO5b9Mhttp://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/vassiliou/index_en.htm


2/3

Ambassador Kennard:

"The world is changing, most people will have many more careers in their lives than our parents

and education is key to being successful. There will be many more opportunities, but only if

people prepare themselves to seize those opportunities."


" Our research shows that young people who participate in mobility schemes get a lot of benefits.

They add to their skills and qualifications. We have made it our aim that by the year 2020 weshould give to as many young people as possible the opportunity to participate in mobility

programmes. I'm sure most people will have heard of Erasmus. Now we have Erasmus Mundus

which is for international participation in mobility schemes."

Ambassador Kennard:

"I wanted to publicly thank you Commissioner for the support that you have given to theFulbright programme. It wouldn't have happened without the support of you and the European

Commission."


"I am really encouraging all the young people from the United States to participate in these

programmes but equally to our people to visit and study in the United States."

Ambassador Kennard:

"I would just advise people to reach out, get good advice and get on a plane."

TheSchuman-Fulbright programmeprovides grants to promote EU-US relations and bilateralexchanges. Financed by the Commission and US State Department, it provides support for either

a one-semester period or a full academic year of research or lecturing on EU affairs or EU-US

relations at an accredited institution in the EU or US.

The Schuman-Fulbright scheme is part of theAtlantis Programmefor EU-US co-operation on

higher education and vocational training. In 2006-13 the EU is investing more than 43 millionin policy cooperation, university projects and joint transatlantic degrees. US universities and

students can also participate in the EU'sErasmus Mundusprogramme, which offers scholarships

for joint masters and doctorate courses.

More information:

Commissioner Vassiliou's website:

http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/vassiliou/index_en.htm
http://ec.europa.eu/education/eu-usa/doc1913_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/education/eu-usa/doc1913_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/education/eu-usa/doc1913_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/education/eu-usa/doc1156_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/education/eu-usa/doc1156_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/education/eu-usa/doc1156_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/education/external-relation-programmes/doc72_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/education/external-relation-programmes/doc72_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/education/external-relation-programmes/doc72_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/vassiliou/index_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/vassiliou/index_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/vassiliou/index_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/education/external-relation-programmes/doc72_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/education/eu-usa/doc1156_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/education/eu-usa/doc1913_en.htm


3/3

The U.S. Mission to the EU:http://useu.usmission.govand

http://www.facebook.com/useubrussels

Fulbright Schuman programme (US site):

http://www.fulbright.be/fulbright-awards/fulbright-schuman/
http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/vassiliou/index_en.htmhttp://useu.usmission.gov/http://useu.usmission.gov/http://useu.usmission.gov/http://www.facebook.com/useubrusselshttp://www.facebook.com/useubrusselshttp://www.fulbright.be/fulbright-awards/fulbright-schuman/http://www.fulbright.be/fulbright-awards/fulbright-schuman/http://www.fulbright.be/fulbright-awards/fulbright-schuman/http://www.facebook.com/useubrusselshttp://useu.usmission.gov/

Student Mobility Programmes Strengthen EU

Documents

Transcript of Student Mobility Programmes Strengthen EU