Islamabad, 31 August 2022 (TDI): The European Union (EU) Delegation in Pakistan conducted a pre-departure ceremony For the beneficiaries of the prestigious Erasmus Mundus Joint Master scholarships awarded by the EU in 2022.
166 Pakistani students—86 men and 80 women—received scholarships to study at institutions in the European Union this year, the most ever.
The event was planned in cooperation with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) in Islamabad. It recognized the accomplishments of the recipients of Erasmus Mundus Joint Master scholarships but also gave peers & Erasmus+ Alumni an opportunity to network.
EU Chargé d’Affaires par intérim, Thomas Seiler remarked that “Today we celebrate the young people who will travel on an educational and cultural journey through Erasmus+.
After a few months, they will return with extensive knowledge and rich experience. They will greatly profit from this in their professional futures.”
“The results of the scholarship selection reflect that Pakistani students are well equipped and that the Pakistani universities give them the essential capabilities to compete at a global level,” the EU Chargé d’Affaires said.
He continued by expressing his delight at the fact that more Pakistani students had applied to the Erasmus+ programme.
Erasmus Mundus Joint Master scholarships
The Erasmus Mundus Joint Master scholarships were awarded to 3,013 students from 133 nations this year. In terms of scholarships provided, Pakistan ranked first in the world and continued to receive the most applications.
This demonstrates the significant interest young Pakistanis have in the EU, an interest we feel obligated to respect. During the presentation, alumni from Erasmus+ discussed their experiences, which was followed by a Question/Answer session.
Members of the Erasmus+ Alumni Association, representatives from the EU Member States, and Chairman of the Higher Education Commission Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed were also present on the occasion.
The EU’s flagship programme, Erasmus+, supports youth, sport, and education around the world. In 1987, the first Erasmus+ Program was launched, initially only for exchanges taking place in Europe.
In 2004, it was extended outside of Europe. It provides funding for initiatives, projects, and scholarships while promoting international and EU-wide cooperation.
Launched in March 2021, the current Erasmus+ initiative provides more than 23.2 billion euros in funding globally to encourage collaboration and mobility in the higher education sector.
