European Union

The EU Does a Lot for Students and Researchers – Here’s How

The EU provides plenty of financial support to European businesses, workers, and students. This is a great undertaking with massive consequences for economic growth and quality of life, as well as overall policy goals such as the fight against climate change. Sadly, this financial effort sees little publicity. The EU’s continued positive impact in the economic life of its citizens is consistently under-reported, in spite of the near-existential quality of this impact for some industries and workers. Last time we looked at the EU’s financial support of farmers and rural communities, but in this article we’ll focus of another key recipient of European financial assistance: young people, students and researchers.

Students’ attitude towards the European Union is generally positive in all Member States. Young professionals and high-skilled young people overwhelmingly voted to “Remain” during the Brexit referendum, with as many as nine out of ten young researchers casting their vote in that direction. Young people are also among those responsible for the rise of distinctly pro-European forces, such as the Greens or ALDE, especially in large cities – a phenomenon that became evident during the 2019 European elections.

Here’s a look at the main instruments and policies developed by the EU to support the continent’s students and researchers.

The European Framework

European funds for young people, students and researchers are distributed in numerous programmes, some more specific than others. It’s easy to associate young people with Erasmus+ programmes – indeed, the association is so strong that all young Europeans who have benefited from this programme are collectively known as the “Erasmus Generation”.

Erasmus programmes, however, are a lot more far-reaching than this strong association would suggest. It’s true that they typically involve high school and university students, even though that inherently includes the participation of teachers and/or group leaders. But it also comprises a wider portfolio of education, training, youth, and sports programmes. In effect, Erasmus + serves as a single framework a large number of different activities – or Key Actions, as they’re officially known.

The very famous “Erasmus abroad” targeted to university students is part of Key Action 1, and is also intended for teachers and miscellaneous education workers, with an emphasis on trans-European mobility. Key Action 2 finances projects developed in cooperation by several entities from different European countries, generally at least three. These projects need to revolve around education, training, and youth to solve a common problem, through the creation of an operational model, a guideline or an innovative product and/or the exchange of knowledge, experience, and best practices.

A Popular Choice: Erasmus+ (Studying and Working)

The Erasmus+ study programme is undoubtedly the most renowned of all. To study abroad with the Erasmus+ programme, you must be enrolled in a higher education institution and attend a course that involves the issue of a diploma or a recognized tertiary level qualification. First cycle students must be at least in their second year. The period of study abroad must be in line with the degree’s learning needs, with a focus on personal development, and must fit into the student’s pre-existing study programme. The receiving and sending institutions must sign an inter-institutional agreement for the programme to have validity.

Both institutions must also have signed the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE) – if they are based in Programme Countries. This hefty programme operates under the auspices of the ECHE, which administers the standard quality framework for European and international cooperation projects. The fulfilment of the ECHE’s criteria is a pre-requisite for every institution carrying out E+ activities.

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The Erasmus+ programme has proved to be popular among European students

Erasmus + grants are available to help students with travel, room, and board expenses. The amount can vary depending on various factors: the difference between the cost of living in your country and the destination country, the number of students applying for a grant, the distance between nations and the availability of other grants. The study period abroad can last from a minimum of 3 months (or an academic quarter) to a maximum of 12 months. Students can also combine periods of study abroad with an internship to gain work experience, which is particularly important when entering the job market.

Alternatively, E+ also offers mobility programmes exclusively focused on internships. These allow participants to boost their training and professional curriculum through work experience abroad, in public or private companies in one of the European countries participating in the programme. The Erasmus + Mobility for Internship Call is published annually. The duration of the internship mobility within the Erasmus + programme lasts from a minimum of 2 months to a maximum of 12 months, and the student can receive a community contribution to the costs incurred for the mobility up to a maximum of 3 months.

Other Opportunities for Student Mobility

There are lesser-known opportunities, too. Long-term mobility for school pupils is one such: it allows upper secondary school students to attend a part of the school year at a European partner institution for a period of 2 to 12 months, based on of a learning agreement between the sending school and the hosting institution, aimed at agreeing on the study programme and the recognition of the experience upon return to the country of origin. Long-term mobility of pupils is organized among schools involved in a strategic partnership, as part of Key Action 2.

During my experience with Area Europa, I worked on the CitriVET project on the reuse of agricultural waste from citrus cultivation. High school students from Spain, Italy and Portugal were also involved and pursued mutual exchange study periods.

University students can also benefit from long-term mobility programmes, such as the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree (EMJMD). This is an integrated, international study programme, jointly delivered by an international consortium of higher education institutions. It includes a high number of joint degrees such as 4CITIES + Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree in Urban Studies (Belgium – Denmark – Austria – Spain). Here is a list of joint degrees according to the field of study, countries and universities involved. Another specific opportunity for university students is a financial contribution (in the form of scholarships) for master/postgraduate studies in conference interpretation.

Specific Funds for Researchers and Students

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships

The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF) actions are individual research fellowships that aim to support career development and research training for researchers with PhDs or four years of research experience. They include both European and Global Fellowships. Through the former, researchers are able to carry out their research projects at a European institution for a period of 12-24 months. Grants are open to researchers moving within Europe or arriving in Europe, specifically to a country they have not been in for more than 12 months in the last 3 years.

Marie Curie, a name inspiration for fellowships targeting researchers across a broad range of subjects within Europe and internationally

Global Fellowships, on the other hand, primarily benefit researchers who wish to acquire new knowledge and skills through a research project that includes a period of 12 to 24 months at a non-European institution of excellence, and a return period of 12 months in Europe, to transfer and consolidate the skills newly acquired. The researcher must not have been in the non-European country of the institution hosting the first phase of the project for more than 12 months in the last 3 years.

Financial contributions cover 100% of the costs for the entire period. The average salary of a Marie Curie fellow is around 4000 euros per month – there are no fees. Funding includes the researcher’s salary, mobility costs, research costs and a contribution to the host institution’s overheads explicitly. All research areas are covered.

Horizon Opportunities

Horizon 2020 is the most extensive EU programme for research and innovation. The programme aims to promote the European Research Area (ERA) by harmonizing national research strategies. Horizon 2020 is also implementing the European environmental research and innovation policy to turn into a green economy conversion plan, to achieve sustainable development and help fight climate change.

Differently from Marie Curie Fellowships, Horizon doesn’t usually involve individual researchers, but institutions such as universities and research centres. Horizon 2020 will be followed by the European Framework Program for Research and Innovation 2021/2027 Horizon Europe (HEU). With a budget of around € 100 billion, it is the most ambitious European research and innovation programme ever.

Universities and generally, research institutions can also benefit from other opportunities, such as LIFE programmes, which are the European Union’s funding instrument for actions on the environment and climate. INTERREG programmes help regional and local governments across Europe in developing better policy to support interregional cooperation.

JUSTICE programmes are rather self-explanatory, helping research on justice issues and the rule of law. The European Technology Platform Nanomedicine (ETPN) is an industry-led initiative established in 2005 with the European Commission to address the application of nanotechnologies in the health sector. It brings together more than 125 members from 25 different Member States, covering all interested parties in nanomedicine: universities, SMEs, industry, public agencies, representatives of national platforms and the European Commission.

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The general structure of the EU’s Horizon2020 divided into thematic areas

The list goes on and on. EuroMarine is the European marine science network, aimed at supporting the development of emerging scientific issues and methodologies and including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda into concrete projects. The European Energy Research Alliance (EERA) is Europe’s largest low carbon energy research community, works closely with industry and policymakers to deliver the European Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET-Plan).

This plethora of programmes operate under a series of coordinating and managing bodies, such as the European Research Council (ERC). This is the most prestigious European research funding agency, with the mission of retaining and attracting the best researchers from all over the world to Europe. The Agency for the Promotion of European Research (APRE) works at joining together public and private research and innovation bodies, working in close connection with national research authorities.

Finally, universities can also join the European University Association (EUA). This association represents more than 800 national universities and rector conferences in 48 European countries. It plays a crucial role in influencing EU policies on higher education, research and innovation.

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