Cooperation Programme with Eurasia
The Norwegian Cooperation Programme in Higher Education with Eurasia supports project cooperation between institutions in Norway and Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.
About the programme
Background
The Norwegian Cooperation Programme in Higher Education with Eurasia (“Eurasia Programme”) is based on an agreement between SIU and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, running from 2010 to 30.06.2015. Funding is available for the period 2011 to 2014, with an annual budget frame of up to NOK 20 000 000, of which tentatively ¾ is assigned to project cooperation and ¼ to the student scholarship scheme.
The overall goal of the programme is to contribute to renewal and internationalization of higher education in the cooperating countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan). Strategic priorities are projects focusing on curriculum development, introduction of new teaching methods or materials, quality assurance mechanisms and university management.
A main purpose is to create long-lasting collaboration between institutions in Norway and the cooperating countries.
For further background information, please see the Eurasia Programme Document, as well as the Eurasia Programme Agreement (in Norwegian).
Funding
The Eurasia Programme is divided into a project cooperation fund and a separate student scholarship scheme.
Within project funding, there are four categories:
Project cooperation
Cooperation between two or more institutions with a time span of two to four years (see the specific call for applications). Applications should be submitted jointly. Next application deadline: 1st March 2012 for the period 2012 to 2014.
Project development funds (seed money)
Norwegian institutions that have established some contact and would need limited funding for the joint development of a long term cooperation project, can apply for seed money. No calls are currently active.
Limited cooperative activities
Cooperative activities between institutions that are more limited in time and scale than project cooperation, and that are not necessarily meant to lead to long term projects cooperation. Examples of activities are seminars, short term visits of institutional staff etc. No calls are currently active.
Supportive measures for projects
Projects that have received funding and that are approaching the end of the project period may apply for supportive measures with the aim of securing the sustainability of project results. No calls are currently active.
Student scholarship scheme
Norwegian institutions of higher learning can apply for student grants. The grants should be utilized to fund students on Bachelor, Master and PhD-levels from the Eurasia countries for shorter or longer stays at Norwegian institutions.
No calls are currently active.
Supported activities
In its meeting 13th September 2011, the Eurasia Programme board assigned project grants for a total of NOK 29 265 000. You can find the list of supported projects here.
The Board also allocated student grants to Norwegian institutions at an estimated value of NOK 9 072 380. See the list here (in Norwegian).
In its meeting 7th February 2011, the Eurasia Programme Board assigned support to 10 Norwegian universities and university colleges under the Eurasia Scholarship Scheme. The scheme supports grants at Bachelor, Master and Phd-level for students from the Eurasia countries, both full degrees and non-degree studies. The total value of the grants are NOK 6 830 540. The list of supported programmes can be found here. For details, see the Scholarship programme document and the Application call.
Nine projects have been given seed money/support for limited cooperation activities.
In its meeting on 24th November 2010, the Eurasia Programme Board assigned project grants for a total of NOK 26 068 258. You can find the list of supported projects here. The Programme Board also assigned seed money for a total of NOK 190 908. The list of supported projects can be found here.
Programme Board
The Eurasia Programme is governed by a Programme Board. Four members represent the higher education sector and are appointed by the SIU board after recommendation by the institutions in consultancy with the Norwegian Association of Higher Education Institutions. The fifth member is appointed by the Norwegian Student Association, NSO.
The Board’s main tasks are to assess applications and allocate funds, assess annual project reports and eventually make adjustments to planned disbursements, ensure that the programme is conducted in accordance with its mandate and advise on further development.