Tempus And Erasmus In Morocco

The European educational programs aim to provide all EU citizens with quality education and training. To support the member states and their citizens, the implementation of EU study programs benefits students who would like to finish their education overseas. Students studying abroad gain opportunities such as learning new skills and broadening their horizons. The EU and international mobility programs are not only for students but the teaching sector or staff as well. One of the members of these programs is Morocco. It is also one of the most active countries in this framework. Two significant programs that Morocco has taken part in are Tempus and Erasmus projects.

Tempus

Trans-European Mobility Program for University Students or Tempus encourages higher education in EU member states, including Morocco. Tempus offers Individual Mobility Grants (IMGs) to people working in the higher education sector and helps them work in certain ventures.

Since 2004, Morocco has participated in 107 Tempus projects. Tempus has a people – to people approach, which has been fruitful for Morocco in developing higher education, job creation and economic growth.

To enhance the education quality, Morocco has been heavily involved in Tempus projects, such as Tempus IV..

Erasmus

Erasmus+ is a European commission project or program. It aims at providing the best opportunities for students in education, youth and sport. What sets it apart from previous projects is that Erasmus+ offers much more probabilities due to its simplified funding rules.

Aside from students wanting to study abroad, the teaching staff also benefits from the Erasmus+ program.

Since the introduction of International Credit Mobility (ICM) in 2015, Erasmus has extended strong support to Morocco's education system and transformed the higher education sector. Due to Erasmus, Morocco hails to be the only country in Northern Africa with the most significant international mobility among students.

To encourage students of Morocco to study in Europe, Erasmus has taken several crucial steps. These include revising the curriculum and transforming the educational architecture completely.

Students were encouraged to learn European languages. The opportunity to learn in Europe played a big role in increasing their motivation to learn the French language. A recent study developed by the word search site Word Tips discloses that the interest in learning French was high even during the pandemic period.

According to the European Commission, the number of students and staff who moved to Europe from Morocco was an estimated 3,547.

Erasmus has an Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Degrees (EMJMDs), an EU-funded scholarship for master students. It covers the expense of tuition and travel fees as well as living allowances. The total EMJMDs selected from Morocco were 153.

Similarly, in other Erasmus projects such as the Capacity Building for Higher Education (CBHE) and Jean Monnet (JM) activities for teaching staff, Morocco has actively participated in these initiatives.

Impact Of Erasmus On Morocco's Education System

There has been a positive impact of Erasmus+ on the students and teaching staff of Morocco. Some of them include participating in capacity-building projects and short stays in Europe.

Here are some notable advantages experienced by students and the institutions due to Erasmus:

  • Employment opportunities – 45% of alumni have found jobs in less than three months.
  • CBHE Projects – Students have gained increased mobilities through CBHE projects.
  • Processional learning – Students have acquired technical and linguistic skills as well as imbibed other learning abilities.
  • Morocco gained international recognition of degrees and universities.
  • Improvement of infrastructure, planning, e-learning, equipment and more
  • Beneficial for students with special needs and overall support for inclusive education.
 

Tempus and Erasmus's programs have significantly influenced the Moroccan higher education system and continue to do so. For students, the EU programs have been enriching in academics, social life, and personal development.



 

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