Fraternité 2020 !

Fraternité 2020 what is it? From French this word means "brotherhood". Fraternité 2020 (F2020) is a European Citizens' Initiative initiated at the Young European Citizens’ Convention, Cluny 2010. F2020's objective is to enhance EU exchange programmes such as Erasmus or the European Voluntary Service (EVS) to contribute to a united Europe based on solidarity among citizens.

Currently, geographic mobility in the EU is relatively low. Popularity of student exchange programs such as Erasmus, is limited, for example, in 2006 only 1% of all students in the EU took part in the program. One of the reasons why such a small number of students benefit from the Erasmus program is insufficient financial support.

F2020 suggests three measures to increase mobility:

1. - The Commission shall use existing EU funds more consistently to encourage mobility. Also, it shall promote more funds for exchange programmes in the future. Eventually, 10 percent of the EU budget shall be used on these programmes.
2. - Increased efforts shall be made for participants to develop intercultural skills, e.g. by offering language classes and classes about the host country's traditions, history, society etc.
3. - Progress in the field of mobility shall be better monitored e.g. through Eurostat or Eurobarometer surveys.

Below is the video promoting the initiative F2020, enjoy!

From my perspective, programs such as Erasmus and EVS are very important. I have many friends who are or have participated in these programs and their relations are very positive. With many people they met during the program keep in touch to this day.
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To help ERASMUS !

Recently we wrote about the plans for the reduction of EU programs. It was to be expected that the academic community doesn't remain passive to European Commission's plan.

And it started...

On the portal facebook was created  initiative to collect signatures  for a petition to the European Commission.

This is one of the professors of IHECS started this citizens' initiative. This event will consist in collecting 1 million signatures in order to introduce a new law / bill by the European Commission. This action was not only to preserve the ERASMUS program, but also to obtain more resources for its implementation and continuation in the future!

Also if you want you can vote here:
http://en.fraternite2020.eu/sign.html


The next time a little bit more about the citizens initiative!!!

Greek Ministry says "No" to universities

The Greek Ministry has decided to reduce the number of universities. The issue is so serious that Greece has little universities. There are 40 for a country of 11 million people. Education Minister Costas Arvanitopoulos argues that decisions to need to reduce costs. According to the Ministry assurances modernization of higher education institutions network will be supported by the new law and will lead to a reduction in maintenance costs and better management of these institutions.

After all, the main mechanism for modernization will be fusion of different universities, what meets with the counter university employees and students. Another problem is the unclear situation private universities whose future is still not certain and will depend on parliamentary corrections.

It is worth noticing that, until recently, private institutions were not considered to higher education in Greece (against the law of the European Union), more importantly, many of the private universities have better results than public universities.

Financial problem with ERASMUS

Recently became known about the problems related with the financing of the ERASMUS program. It turns out that only the end of December 2012, students are confident of grants under the Erasmus program. For the first semester, the European Commission has already transferred 99.13% of the required funds for the program, but the lack of € 90 million to finance the second semester students travel abroad.
The European Commission ensures that the problem will be solved, however large numbers of students and student organizations are worried that these problems will decrease the number of applications of students to attend in the program. In october The European Commission wants to present the solution of the problem, the final decision be known at the end of 2012. 

It is not excluded that in order to ensure the future of the Erasmus program, and many other projects, the EU should increase the budget of the Union. Unfortunately, already seven countries have refused to increase the budget for the year 2013 by 6.8% (~ 100 billion €), which threatening the future of many EU programs. These countries are Austria, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Finland, the Netherlands and Sweden.

"Upgrading Europe" (2012-2015) - new EU & EUCA project

Dr Susana del Rio - leading supervision of the project

Recently his inauguration was a new European project. This project was named "Upgrading Europe" and is strongly supported by the EUCA. Years of operation of the project have been set for 2012 to 2015. The official opening took place at a conference in Rome on 25 June 2012 - '"The Role of European Youth Mobility on Future Employment".
The objective of the event is to launch a high-level debate with representatives from institutions and with civil society stakeholders on how international mobility, within the context of European citizenship, can contribute to increased youth employability by improving the quality and effectiveness of exchange programs.

Project "Upgrading Europe" is project that will offer greater visibility to the value of Europe and will promote a European Union with a quality transnational democracy and ready to face the challenges of the XXI century.

The main patron and chairman of the project is Dr. Susana del Rio - inter alia member of the Committee of Independent Experts of the European Commission on Science, Society and Governance and Framework Programme: Citizens and governance in the knowledge based society.

"G" - University of Groningen

University of Groningen logo

After a short pause it's time for the next letter in our Universitys alphabet! :D

"G" like... University of Groningen (Rijksuniversiteit Groningen) it's the second best university in the Netherlands. It has a high european (13th place) and worldwide (76th) note.European world.
The University of Groningen located in the city of Groningen, was founded in 1614. It is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands as well as one of its largest.It is a member of the distinguished Coimbra Group.The University of Groningen is in the top 3 of European research universities in the specializations: ecology, material sciences, chemistry and astronomy.

University of Groningen localization

Motto: "Verbum domini lucerna pedibus nostris" - "The word of the Lord is a light for our feet"

Front of the main building

University in numbers:
Established: 1614
Academic staff: 5 000 employees
Students: 27 699
Annual turnover: 550 mln €

Coimbra Group - the oldest in Europe

CG logo

Today once again I will present one of the more prestigious groups - Group of Coimbra. The Coimbra Group (CG) is a network of 40 European universities, some among the oldest and most prestigious in Europe. It was founded in 1985 and formally constituted by charter in 1987. Name of the organization comes from one of the oldest in Europe, the University of Coimbra (Portugal), who was in 1985 celebrated 700 anniversary of its founding.



Otherwise...
"...an association of long-established European comprehensive, multidisciplinary universities of high international standard committed to creating special academic and cultural ties in order to promote, for the benefit of its members, internationalization, academic collaboration, excellence in learning and research, and service to society. It is also the purpose of the Group to influence European education and research policy and to develop best practice through the mutual exchange of experience."
- Coimbra Group

Coimbra University which gave the name of the organization

The purpose of this organization is to strengthen ties between Europe's oldest universities, which offer high standards of teaching. Its members have to take care of the development of academic cooperation, and through the mutual exchange of experience continually improve the quality of its research and teaching level, and thus to serve the public. Also sets itself the task of influencing the European policy in education.