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Manipal : The Ambassador of European Union to India, H. E. Mr. Tomasz Kozlowski, congratulated Indian students and higher education institutions for their impressive participation in the EU-funded programmes.

Speaking to media persons at Valley View International Hotel on Friday, 7^th December, he said people to people connect and cooperation in higher education are key features of the EU – India Strategic Partnership, being identified as one the focus areas, whether it India-EU Agenda for Action 2020, Jiont statement at the EU India Summit 2017 or the recently announced EU Strategy on India. Both sides have committed to take forward the cooperation through such initiatives as India’s ‘FIAN’ programme and the EU’s Erasmus+programme.

Since the opening of the ‘Eramus programme to third countries 30 years ago, India is the largest recipient of the Erasmus funding in the world. Directly supporting Indian students, Erasmus has financed close to 5800 scholarships to Indian national over the years. Out of them, about 250 Eramus + alumni are from Karnataka and more than 25 from Manipal university itself. In the last 4 years since Erasmus Mundus upgraded into Erasmus almost 200 Indian universities have benefitted from various types of Erasmus funding, he said.

Under capacity building programs for Higher education Rs. 55.19 crore have been committed for the year 2018 for Indian universities, as a partner country for Erasmus with 10 new projects involving 47 Indian universities.

Under the Erasmus programme for Master degrees, a total of 319 scholarships were awarded to Master degree students from India between 2014-2018 in order to pursue in Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree. 73 of these scholarships were awarded in 2018.

The Ambassador during his visit will inaugurate Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence in European Studies at Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), the first of its kind in India. He congratulated the leadership, faculty and students of MAHE on this achievement and stated that Manipal has always been a pioneer in promoting higher education and research in international relations in India in general and European studies in particular. He mentioned that this truly has been a long and a progressive relationship, with 13 projects financed under Erasmus culminating into the center of excellence for European studies, he said.

Talking to news reporters here, the Ambassador invited Indian students to avail themselves of higher education opportunities in the EU and stated that the academic exchange of knowledge, ideas and contacts from higher education in the EU would not only result in double/multiple.jiont degree, or recognition of study abroad credits, but would also improve their linguistic skills, provide an intercultural experience and enhance employability, he said.

Dr. H. S. Ballal, Pro-Chancellor of Manipal University, Ms. Friederike Tschanpa and Anil Patni were present during the press meet.