A new project “Erasmus Mundus University II” (EMU II) has been approved by the European Commission within the framework of the new European mobility programme: Erasmus Mundus External Cooperation Window. The Vrije Universiteit Brussel took the lead to set up a consortium of 20 universities, 10 from Europe and 10 from the region Egypt, Palestine and Israel which are partners of EMU II.

With a budget of 6,000,000 EUR, the Project is intended to involve some 66 students at BA, MA and PhD level) as well as postdoctoral researchers and academic staff in mobility flows between Europe and the three countries in this region.

Some 80 grants will be offered to Palestinian students, researchers and academic staff at Palestinian universities as well as to Palestinian refugee students. At the same time, academic staff members and two postdoctoral researchers will go to Palestinian universities.

The selection and admission of candidates is in progress and will be completed in time to allow students, researchers and academic staff to move to the receiving institutions by the beginning of the next academic year, or by 1 April 2008 at the latest.

The PEACE Programme, which is an associate partner to the EMU II and has been involved in the preparation of the Project, will play an active role in its execution.

For further information please see www.vub.ac.be/erasmusmundus