EU to Receive 120 Indonesians to Study in Europe

Jakarta (Antara) - The European Union (EU) will receive 120 Indonesian students to study in EU member states during 2013-2014 under Erasmus Mundus scholarship program. Chargé d'Affaires of the European Union (EU) Delegation in Indonesia Jan Willem Blankert in a release here on Sunday said Indonesian students will have the opportunity to learn more about European cultures, languages, academic systems in many universities in Europe. "We hope Indonesian students will come back with good memories of Europe and the contacts details of many new colleagues and friends," he said. Blankert also expressed hope that the students are able to expand their expertise and knowledge to contribute to the development of Indonesia. "These European scholarship, apart from improving student's expertise, are also meant to enrich young people's life experience and help create mutual understanding and openness between people and cultures," Blankert said. Some of Indonesian students will study at least in two different universities located in different European countries. "They will travel to various EU Member States to undertake Bachelor, Master, Doctorate or Post-Doctorate studies," he said. The Indonesian students are among the 2.000 students selected in the worldwide to receive the Erasmus Mundus scholarships, and some among the 250 students from ASEAN countries. Blankert explained Europe Union this year provides 140 Erasmus Mundus Masters Courses and 42 Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctorates with various areas such as engineering and technology to natural sciences, life sciences, social sciences and business, economics and law. "The EU and the EU Member States are committed to support Indonesia in developing high-quality human resources through the provision of scholarship schemes for studying in centres of excellence across Europe," he said. (*)