Press release: Göttingen ranked the most successful German university in the new EU Programme- with six new projects, 19 million Euros have been awarded for international cooperation

Nr. 169/2009 - 07.09.2009

The University of Göttingen has emerged as the most successful applicant among German universities in the Erasmus Mundus External Cooperation Window (EM ECW) Programme of the European Union. With five new proposals and the extension of an already authorized project, Göttingen has achieved a leading position in scholarship funding due to the sponsorship of six projects in the programme thus far. Altogether the EU has sponsored 39 proposals in the EM ECW which aim at promoting cooperation between 10 European universities, which include partner countries outside of the EU. Sponsorship includes high level scholarships intended for students, doctorates, post-docs and professors within the European network, as well as those belonging to partner countries elsewhere.

Last year the ‘Triple I’ project was initiated to promote cooperation with universities in Russia, and was followed up by two newly authorized projects that promote cooperation with India and China. Both countries are important for scientific collaboration in Göttingen; in the year 2008 liaison offices were inaugurated in Pune (India) and Nanjing (China). Partner countries in three further projects are located in Latin America: Argentina, Brasil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay. The full scope of funding for all six projects combined amounts to approximately 19 million Euros for duration of three to four years. Dr. Uwe Muuss, Head of Göttingen International - the International Office of the University of Göttingen - emphasizes that: “Of particular interest is the fact that the funding is available to many branches of study and all academic mobility levels, such as Bachelor, Master, PhD, PostDoc and academic staff”.

Dr. Muuss believes that Göttingen will acquire approximately 120 scholarships in a year, the most of which will go to students and young scientists abroad.