Thursday Dec 12, 2024
Thursday Dec 12, 2024
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Participants of the Erasmus+ workshop in Colombo along with expert trainers and EU Delegation staff
The European Union (EU) organised coaching programs for prospective students and academic staff looking for opportunities to obtain an international master’s degree through Erasmus+. The workshops were conducted at the Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration on 11 November, in Sri Lanka and on 12 November in the Maldives in collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education. The full-day programs in Sri Lanka and the Maldives attracted up to 200 participants from various universities and institutes.
Erasmus is a highly successful European scholarship program which has helped over six million students since its introduction in 1987. Erasmus+ is one of the top international scholarship programs promoting education and providing training opportunities and youth-focused support.
In addition to students from Sri Lanka and the Maldives, which are Erasmus+ partner countries, lecturers and non-academic staff also have the opportunity to benefit from initiatives, such as the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees (EMJMD), International Credit Mobility, Capacity Building for Higher Education, and Jean Monnet programs.
The coaching program in Sri Lanka commenced with an official welcome by Thorsten Bargfrede, Head of Political, Trade and Communications at the EU Delegation. “It gives me great pleasure to see the interest Erasmus has generated in universities going by the number of participants here today. The EU is committed to promoting inter-cultural skills and cross-border cooperation between European institutions and students from both Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
The keynote address was delivered by Additional Secretary for Development T.N. Hettiarachi. EU Delegation Program Manager Ranjan Kathiravel introduced Erasmus+, elaborating on the unique opportunities provided for participants applying to the program. The training was conducted by Sopheak, Sivhuang and Rosanich, from Cambodia who themselves have been beneficiaries of Erasmus+.
The trainers provided advice and instructions on the preparations and requirements for the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree (EMJMD) program. They provided valuable insight, while highlighting key areas such as styles and techniques to write motivational letters and developing research proposals with efficient study plans. The day’s workshop ended with a session on how to best prepare for scholarship interviews through a panel discussion and a question and answer session.
EU Delegation Head of Cooperation Frank Hess said, “Erasmus+ is an education exchange program that facilitates scholarships in universities across 34 countries, bringing numerous opportunities for students seeking to pursue their higher studies on an international level. It is my pleasant duty to thank the trainers who arrived from Cambodia to provide you with this enlightening session on the potential of Erasmus+ and all the opportunities it has to offer.”
Interested students and staff members can explore more about these opportunities on the Erasmus+ official website: EC.EUROPA.EU/PROGRAMMES/ERASMUS-PLUS/.
