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MEDIA RELEASE 
13 June 2008
MORE NEW ZEALAND STUDENTS AND SCHOLARS BOUND FOR EUROPE
More New Zealand students and scholars are enjoying study, teaching and research opportunities in the European Union thanks to the European Commission's Erasmus Mundus program.
For the 2008/2009 academic year, five New Zealand students and four New Zealand scholars have been selected to participate in the Erasmus Mundus Scheme.
Erasmus Mundus is a global scheme which aims to enhance the quality of European higher education through continuous worldwide dialogue and cooperation with third countries. It supports the international mobility of scholars and students, through offering scholarships to students to study, and scholars to teach in, selected European Masters Programs. Currently there are 103 Masters Courses to choose from, ranging across all academic disciplines.
Students have been awarded more than NZ$43,250 per academic year for a maximum of two years, and scholars have been awarded more than NZ$26,700 for a maximum period of three months.
Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Union to Australia and New Zealand, Bruno Julien, congratulated all scholarship recipients and said Erasmus Mundus is the opportunity of a lifetime for students and scholars alike to lean more about European cultures, languages and academic systems .
"Students are the future decision makers of the world and initiatives such as the Joint Mobility Projects, co-funded with the New Zealand Tertiary Education Commission, the Europe Centres and Erasmus Mundus will continue to build and foster relationships in order to uphold strong bonds between the EU and New Zealand for many years to come," Ambassador Julien said.
For the 2008-2009 academic year, 1957 students and 459 scholars were selected for Erasmus Mundus scholarships worldwide. To date, more than 6000 students and more than 1000 teaching staff from across the globe have received an Erasmus Mundus scholarship.
This latest selection completes the first phase of Erasmus Mundus. The second phase of Erasmus Mundus (2009-13) is expected to start in 2009. The new phase will include doctoral programmes, increased scholarships for European students and promote further cooperation with higher education institutions worldwide. In addition, the new phase will integrate a mobility scheme for all levels of higher education.
For more information on Erasmus Mundus and other EU education initiatives visit www.delaus.ec.europa.eu/education
New Zealand contact:
delegation-newzealand@eeas.europa.eu
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