Russian students remain among top recipients of Erasmus+ scholarship worldwide
France, the UK[1], Belgium, Spain, Estonia and the Czech Republic are the top six higher education destinations where the students will start their courses this year. The Russian students will be pursuing different programmes ranging from Management, Vaccinology and Photonics to Digital Earth, and will be studying in at least two different European countries. The fully funded scholarship covers tuition fee, travel costs and living allowance.
The Delegation of the European Union to the Russian Federation organised a virtual event for departing students on 25 August 2020. Bringing together Russian students, Erasmus alumni and EU Member States, the event provided an interactive platform to share information on studying in Europe and other practical aspects. Sharing their experiences, Erasmus alumni provided useful tips on how students can optimise the opportunity offered by the programme.
Congratulating the students, Ambassador of the European Union to Russia Markus Ederer said, “An Erasmus degree fosters excellence, innovation and internationalisation. Being an Erasmus student also offers the opportunity to explore Europe and its diverse cultures and languages. You will meet fellow students from all over the world and study in a truly globalised environment. I hope you will come back as goodwill ambassadors for the EU-Russia cooperation and partnership.”
Speaking at the event, Olga Oleynikova, Head of the National Erasmus+ Office in Russia, encouraged Russian students to go to Europe, see different countries and learn from different cultures. She recommended them to “take maximum advantage of all opportunities and build networks for your future and the future of your country. This experience will help you address the challenges that Russia and humanity at large are facing.”
Given the current global challenges and uncertainties, the Erasmus+ programme, EU Member States and the universities are putting all their efforts to ensure that support and information is available to the students, while maintaining flexibility in the programme. Reassuring the students, Adrian Veale, Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, European Commission (Brussels), said, “Our first priority is health and safety of the students. Erasmus+ has offered flexibility to the universities for them to continue operating in these circumstances. While some programmes have built in a delayed start to the academic programme, others may start with online lessons and will switch to face-to-face teaching when this becomes more feasible. Each programme will have a slightly different approach depending on the regional and local situation.” He also advised the students to be in close contact with their respective programme coordinator who would be the point of contact for advising on travel and the programme.
EU Member States representatives shared information with the students on what their country had specifically to offer, the opportunities on education and research and innovation and the impact of COVID-19 in their respective countries and regions and responded to queries of the students.
Voices from Russian alumni students who have received the scholarship in recent years:
Natalia Bichurina, former Eurasian Chapter President, Research & Innovation Working Group member, Erasmus Mundus Students & Alumni Association:
“Erasmus Mundus students from Russia choose all sorts of disciplines and programme countries, there are no clear preferences. Yet, they all have something in common: their willingness to explore, to incessantly go beyond their comfort zone. You will all have the opportunity to live not just in one foreign country, but in several countries; you will have friends not just from your country of residence, but from all over the world. It as a truly enriching life experience. It is also a highly enriching academic experience: being part of various academic cultures inevitably invites for a critical comparison and for forging a personal approach bringing together Russian and several European traditions. Later on, many Erasmus Mundus alumni become innovators in their fields.”
Anna Burganova (Togliatti, Russia) is an alumna of the MA Sport Ethics and Integrity – MaiSI (Swansea University, UK; KU Leuven, Belgium; Guthenberg University, Germany; University Pompeu Fabra, Spain; International Olympic Academy, Greece):
“Erasmus Mundus program has provided me with so many amazing opportunities - to learn from the best international experts and enter into discussions with world-leading industry professionals, discover new cultures and different perspectives, and introduce others to Russian culture and language. I also became a confident English speaker, made friends from almost everywhere around the world, enhanced professional and soft skills and got a prestigious and multidisciplinary education at several European universities. I wish you to enjoy as much as possible these next 2 years of your student life despite the current situation in the world.”
Maria Polezhaeva (Samara, Russia) is an alumna of the MA Euroculture (University of Deusto, Spain and University of Strasbourg, France):
“It has been one of the most fascinating experiences in my life which has not only broadened my horizons, extended knowledge, influenced my lifestyle, values and principles. Changing geographical and social environment every 5 months is challenging but exciting at the same time because it makes you more flexible, easily adaptable to new norms, bureaucratic procedures, cultures, people and their habits. I wish all new Erasmus students - free yourselves from constraints, stress less, be curious, open yourselves to new knowledge and experience and enjoy every moment of your new life.”
Alexandra Sokolova (Moscow, Russia), an alumna of the MA Sport Ethics and Integrity – MaiSI, has recently been appointed as a Country Representative from Russia to serve as an Ambassador and a contact point for the Erasmus Mundus Students & Alumni Association at a national level:
“Having studied in 5 different European countries at world top-ranked institutions such as KU Leuven and Pompeu Fabra University, I must say that the past two years of my life were extremely fulfilling and rewarding. I was fortunate enough to not only receive high-class education and travel around Europe, but also to meet 22 amazing individuals from all over the world - now, the members of MAiSI family. I hope that as a Country Representative for the next two years I will be able to promote the programmes and motivate more students to dive into the Erasmus Mundus adventures.”
Vasily Sorokin is an alumnus of the EMJMD on Nuclear Physics (8 partner universities in Spain, France and Italy):
“Erasmus Mundus provided me with a unique opportunity to undertake practical training in the leading European scientific groups which was crucial for my career in medical physics. In addition to building connections and working with the world’s most prominent professors, Erasmus Mundus gave me a one-of-a-kind chance to make friends from all around the world and learn Italian and Spanish. My advice to future students is to understand that feeling doubtful and anxious is totally fine because a Master’s degree is a transitional period of vocational and personal formation.”
Background information
Impact of COVID-19 on the Erasmus+ programme
The EU has put in place several supporting measures in order to provide a coordinated and consistent framework where Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree consortia can operate minimising disruptions and allowing a flexible programme management under these exceptional circumstances. According to a recent survey conducted by the EU, until now EMJMD consortia have reacted to the difficulties encountered in the context of COVID-19 with a variety of creative solution and good practices, demonstrating their strong commitment to the programmes’ continuity. Moreover, some consortia see the current situation as a learning opportunity, in particular regarding the development and use of online teaching methodology and tools and blended learning approaches. Consortia put in place different combinations of the measures, depending on specific situation and needs of the students.
Erasmus+ Programme: In 2015-2019, over 7,200 Russian students and university staff have travelled to Europe as part of Erasmus+ mobility schemes, which makes the country one of the largest beneficiaries outside Europe. Since 2014, 313 Russian students have benefitted from the Erasmus+ Joint Master Degree scholarship, again a top figure among countries outside Europe.
Russian students can choose Europe as a destination by applying for a scholarship under the Erasmus+ programme. Russians can participate in all four types of Erasmus+ schemes:
1) the International Credit Mobility, which allows for short-term (3-12 months), two way, mobility of students and staff for which credits are obtained;
2) the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees (EMJMD) allows Russian students to obtain a full master's degree in Europe, in a time span of two to three years, by studying in at least two different countries in Europe;
3) the capacity building in higher education (CBHE) projects last from two to three years, during which European academia and staff help modernising and reforming higher education systems, establishing new curricula, improving the governance and enhance education and enterprise cooperation of partners in other countries like Russia. A CBHE project can also tackle policy topics and issues, in cooperation with the national authorities of partner countries; and
4) Jean Monnet, which promote excellence in teaching and research on the European integration process at a higher education level, and supports Modules, Chairs, and Centres of Excellence across the world.
More information
EU scholarships for you (in Russian)
Erasmus+ funding opportunities
Erasmus Mundus programme catalogue
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[1] The Withdrawal Agreement foresees that the UK will continue to participate in the current 2014-2020 EU programmes, including Erasmus+, as if the UK was an EU Member State until the closure of the programmes.