Call for proposals � EACEA/35/12: Tempus IV � Reform of higher education through international university cooperation

The fourth phase of the Tempus programme covers 2007-2013. The overall objective of the programme is to support the modernisation of higher education in the EU's surrounding area. The Tempus programme promotes institutional cooperation and focuses on the reform and modernisation of higher education systems in the partner countries. It contributes to an area of cooperation in higher education involving the European Union and partner countries in its wider proximity. In particular, the programme will promote voluntary convergence with EU developments in the field of higher education, deriving from the ‘Europe 2020’ strategy, the strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training (‘ET 2020’) and the Bologna process.

The purpose of this call for proposals is to promote multilateral cooperation among higher education institutions, authorities and organisations from EU Member States and partner countries, with the focus on the reform and modernisation of higher education.

The two principal instruments for cooperation through this Tempus call for proposals are:
— Joint Projects: projects with a ‘bottom-up’ approach aiming at modernisation and reform on an institutional (university) level. Joint Projects aim at transferring knowledge between universities, organisations and institutions from the EU and from the partner countries as well as between partner country entities as appropriate.
— Structural Measures: projects seeking to contribute to the development and reform of higher education systems in partner countries, as well as to enhance their quality and relevance and to increase their voluntary convergence with EU developments. Structural Measures will be interventions designed to support structural reform of higher education systems and the strategic framework development at national level.

The maximum duration of projects is 24 months or 36 months. The period of eligibility of costs is expected to start on 1 December 2013.

Under this call, both national and multi-country projects can be financed. The total budget available for the co-financing of projects is estimated at €129.8 million.

The EU financial contribution will not exceed 90% of total eligible costs. The minimum grant for both Joint Projects and Structural Measures will be €500,000. The maximum grant will be €1.5 million. For national projects in Kosovo and Montenegro, the minimum grant for both project types is set at €300,000.

The deadline for applications is 26 March 2013.

Further details are available on the Tempus website

Reference: 2012/C 375/07

(Added 2012-12-05)