Caption:(From left) EU’s Adam Janssen and Nikolas Evangelides with EACEA head of unit, Anila Troshini and Monika Holik at Pasifika Campus.
Fiji National University students heard about scholarship opportunities in European countries at a promotional session held this week on Pasifika Campus. Bachelor’s degree graduates qualify to apply for scholarships under the Intra-ACP academic mobility scheme and the Erasmus+ programme.
Speaking to students last week were personnel from the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), which is responsible for the management of certain parts of the EU’s funding programmes in the fields of education, culture, audiovisual, sport, citizenship and volunteering on behalf of the European Commission.
Erasmus Mundus & External Co-operation Head of Unit, AnilaTroshini said students can apply for scholarships under the master’s degree, doctorate degree and staff mobility programmes where FNU staff can also benefit from training opportunities.
Troshini said this scholarship is offered for a wide range of courses and students will be provided with course expenses, accommodation, travel costs and medical insurance.
Delegation of the European Union for the Pacific’s Head of Political, Trade, Press & Information, Adam Janssen said these scholarships will help develop highlytrained postgraduates and staff, who will contribute to the development of the whole region.
“The intra-ACP academic mobility scheme helps master’s and doctoral students from Fiji participate in courses and carry out research at universities in other countries in the Pacific and the Caribbean regions,” he said.
He said it was under this programme that last November, FNU received FJD $3.7 million for enabling student, academic and university staff exchanges between the Caribbean and Pacific countries.
He said 19 students from Fiji, Samoa, Tuvalu and Palau were offered master’s and PhD studies under the Erasmus+ programme last year.
“Besides benefitting from high quality courses, students are also set to gain in a number of other ways. They will develop key professional skills that will boost their employability.
“And finally, we must not underestimate the importance of the “inter-cultural experience” they will enjoy”.
He said students from the Pacific represent only a small portion of the 17,411 PhD candidates and scholars that have benefited from this programme since 2004.
“The European Union would like to see this number multiply in the coming years by working alongside with the academic community in the region and by raising awareness among students,” he said.
More information on these scholarships can be found on the sites below:
eacea.ec.europa.eu/intra_acp_mobility/index_en.php
eacea.ec.europa.eu/erasmus_mundus/tools/fag_en.php
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