European Union Programme of High Level Scholarships for Latin America (2002-2010) ***

1. European Union Programme of High Level Scholarships for Latin America (2002-2010) *** Alberto M. Sereno Co-ordinator of Alban Office

2. PROGRAMME OBJECTIVES • To reinforce the European Union – Latin America co-operation in the area of Higher Education; • To increase the access of Latin Americans to the EU Higher Education system; • To contribute to better employability opportunities to Latin American postgraduates and professionals; • To establish a network of former LA grantees in the EU, including those from ALFA and ALbAN Programmes.

3. PROGRAMME TARGET GROUP All Latin America graduates living in the region: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela. Who wish to study in the European Union: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom.

4. MAJOR EXPECTED OUTCOME To award ± 4000 scholarships in the European Union for master/doctorate studies and specialised training. 1st phase: 2003-2004, 2004-2005, 2005-2006 2nd phase: 2006-2007, 2007-2008 (to be decided by EC next July)

5. TYPES OF SCHOLARSHIPS Master and Doctorate aimed at the best graduate students from LA to study at an eligible Higher Education Institution in the EU AGE LIMIT: 45 years Higher level Specialised Training aimed at experienced higher level professionals from LA, wishing to do a training or upgrading at an eligible Higher Education Institution or accredited Higher level Training Centre in the EU AGE LIMIT: min.30 e max.50 years minimum of 7 years of professional experience

6. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE GRANTS • Master (6 to 24 months) • Doctorates (6 to 36 months) max. 1 500 €/month • Higher level training (6 to 18 months) max. 2 500 €/month Maximum EU contribution: 75% of education/training total cost

7. http://www.programalban.org

8. RESULTS OF THE FIRST THREE CALLS ~450-550

9. SELECTED APPLICATIONS – 1st & 2nd call

10. SELECTED APPLICATIONS – 1st & 2nd call

11. SELECTED APPLICATIONS – 1st & 2nd call Specialisation 4%

12. SELECTED APPLICATIONS – 1st & 2nd call

13. SELECTED APPLICATIONS – 1st & 2nd call

14. SELECTED APPLICATIONS – 1st & 2nd call SG universities involved: 17 Number of scholarships: 88 (8.5%)

16. CONTACTS Alban Office Asociación Grupo Santander Universidade do Porto Rua de Ceuta 118, 5º s/35 4050-190 PORTO Portugal FAX: +351 22 204 6159 info@programalban.org http://www.programalban.org

17. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE Alban Office • Prepare documentation and open new Calls for Applications; • Receive applications, check eligibility and promote technical evaluation by experts; • Prepare a ranked list of applications and submit to the EC a proposal of applications to be selected; • Help the selected grantees to travel to the EU; • Follow-up the work and pay the scholarships; • Promote Alban in LA and EU and coordinate the network of Focal Points in LA.

18. RESOURCES AVAILABLE • 13 staff members, including 9 scholarship managers, overlooking each one 60-80 grantees; • the team will be increased shortly to 18 to cope with new grantees from the 3rd Call; • office space of about 300 m2 provided by the University of Porto.

19. 1st ALbAN Conference – Valencia 2005 Universidad Politecnica de Valencia 13 and 14 MAY 2005 230 scholars of the 650 present in the EU have registered to attend

20. Many thanks for your attention