Bar-Ilan University’s International School has been an active partner in Erasmus+ since 2014. This program is the European Union’s premier initiative to support education and training through various projects between the universities in partner countries. These include the Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility (ICM) or Student Mobility (exchange) program, Capacity-Building Projects (CBP), Strategic Partnerships, and more.
Erasmus+ programs offer students and staff the opportunity to study and teach in higher education institutions abroad. Over the past seven years, Bar-Ilan University has sent or received more than 1500 participants to or from partner institutions across Europe, with an emphasis on those with a similar research and education profile. Through these projects, we have received several million euros in grant funding from the EU to support travel, equipment, and staff activity within exchange programs, placing us among the top partner institutions in Israel and helping us to realize our larger goal of internationalization.
Bar-Ilan University has implemented student- and staff-exchange programs through Erasmus+ Mobility with more than 70 universities in 26 countries throughout Europe and is currently working with 67 partners in 23 countries. Along with the benefits of exposure and training provided to participating Bar-Ilan students and staff, Erasmus+ has helped Bar-Ilan to reach additional strategic goals.
For example, by successfully absorbing visiting staff and students and providing them with state-of-the-art equipment and technicians, we have seen a significant rise in research output as well as the creation of a richer intellectual culture on campus – a key to producing the next generation of leading citizens both in and outside academia.
We are now making great efforts to increase outgoing BIU Student Mobility on all levels. This move is in line with our new strategic goals and I am confident that we will be able to send and receive students this coming fall, despite the continued challenges of the pandemic.
Bar-Ilan University has also participated in five Erasmus+ Capacity-Building Projects, or transnational, multi-year collaborations between partner universities funded by the European Commission (EC). These projects have dramatically expanded and enhanced our curricula in areas such as Biomedical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Nano Electronics, Nano Photonics, and Optometry.
Furthermore, we were awarded funding to establish a Jean Monet Center of Excellence on Digital Governance and a Strategic Partnership Consortium in Multilingualism.
In addition to exchange programs and partnerships, Bar-Ilan University is a frequent host for a wide range of international academic, administrative, and research conferences, and operates several short-term and semester-based student programs that include students from European institutions of higher education. Currently, Bar-Ilan is in the process of developing more Joint Master’s Degrees – prestigious study programs offered with other leading institutions that share our expertise.
With our university partners in the United Kingdom, we are now seeking to participate in the Turing Scheme, a brand-new program that replaces the UK’s participation in Erasmus+ (since Brexit). This scheme will be backed by over £100 million, providing funding for about 35,000 students in universities, colleges, and schools to go on placements and exchanges overseas, starting in September 2021.
The new scheme will also target students from disadvantaged backgrounds and areas, students who were unable to benefit from Erasmus+ in the past, thus making life-changing opportunities accessible to everyone across the country.
We, at BIU, are excited about the opportunities that the Turing Scheme will offer for developing our bilateral relationships in general, and more specifically, the chance to host more British students here in Israel.
As there is plenty to talk about in each area, we have decided to break the article into two. You can read about our Erasmus+ Mobility program for students and faculty in this issue of our newsletter, and the Erasmus+ Capacity-Building Projects and Strategic Partnerships in our April issue.
You will also be able to read articles unrelated to Erasmus+ in this issue of our newsletter, including an article on innovation at Bar-Ilan University; get details about the events that are happening this month and find out more about events that took place last month; and as usual, you’ll be able to read plenty of general news from Bar-Ilan.
We hope you enjoy browsing through our newsletter.
Daniel Schuval
Director of Academic Partnerships and Projects
Erasmus+ Institutional Coordinator
International School
Bar-Ilan University
Email: [email protected]
