Thirty-Six young Ghanaian students have been awarded scholarships for various master degree programmes in universities across Europe, under the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree Programme.
This prestigious international study programme is part of the EU’s flagship educational and training programme, Erasmus+, which supports education, training, youth and sport in Europe.
The latest number of beneficiaries is the highest to receive the scholarship in a single year, and represents an increase of 61% from the number that benefitted from the programme only five years ago.
Each of the 36 students will study for and earn a Master’s degree to be jointly awarded by a consortium of top-grade European universities.
The EU Ambassador the Ghana, Mrs. Diana Acconcia, met about 16 of the beneficiary students during a short ceremony at her official residence in Accra last week to wish them well.
Four members of the Erasmus Alumni Association in Ghana attended the event. Together, they shared personal experiences with the students on the new life they will meet in their respective European Countries of Study.
There was an interactive question and answer session with participation by Consular Officers from Belgium and France.
Background:
Increasing number of Ghanaians have been studying in Europe under different EU scholarship schemes over the past decade. Apart from scholarships, the Erasmus+ programme offers different opportunities for people of all ages – helping them develop and share knowledge and experiences at institutions and organisations across all the countries that make up the European Union.
The Erasmus+ also aims to promote sustainable development of its partners in the field of higher education, and contribute to achieving objectives of the EU Youth Strategy. The strategy seeks to tackle unemployment, especially among young people; promote adult learning, especially for new skills and skills required by the labour; as well as encourage young people to take part in European democracy.
Erasmus+ also supports innovation, cooperation and reform as well as the promotion of cooperation and mobility with the EU’s partner countries. Part of the main changes introduced in this year include a new action supporting experimental models to increase the performance, attractiveness and competitiveness of higher education institutions on a European scale; while a specific Lot under Sector Skills Alliances supports the development of sectoral approaches through platforms of vocational excellence.
