SWAY funding success in excess of €4.1m
We’ve received excellent news that two funding bids prepared by Edinburgh Global’s Study & Work Away Service have been successful.
SWAY’s application for Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility (ICM), for mobility beyond Europe, and Erasmus+ in Europe funding has secured a total of €4.1 million, in competition with other UK universities. This represents the largest Erasmus+ grant award since the launch of the programme 33 years ago.
The grant for ICM is €1.5 million. This supports activity and mobility for student and staff across the following countries: Argentina; Australia; Brazil; Cambodia; Chile; Egypt; Ghana; India; Israel; Lebanon; Malawi; Malaysia; People's Republic of China; Russian Federation; Singapore; South Africa; Thailand and Uganda.
The grant for European mobility is €2.6 million, allowing Edinburgh to offer student experiences across Europe within the Erasmus+ programme until 31 May 2022.
Development Trust Funds University of Edinburgh Widening Participation students
SWAY have been awarded just under £100,000 of funding from the Development Trust to support Widening Participation students to participate in a range of mobility programmes.
The funding will be available for students to apply for funded places on the NICE blended programme which includes a virtual component and a physical Summer School in 2021, The Principal’s Go Abroad Fund and on the INCiTE Summer School in 2021.
All of these programmes provide students (and staff participating through Erasmus+) the opportunity to work or study at our global partner universities, providing diverse and challenging international experiences which result in enriching educational, intercultural and personal development opportunities.
Challenges to mobility
With the twin challenges of Brexit and Covid-19 impacting student and staff mobility this year, this funding news is especially welcome. Aside from planning ahead for Brexit impacts, Staff in SWAY have been working hard, with colleagues from across Schools and Colleges, since Covid-19 hit to offer innovative adjustments to ensure students and staff are provided with suitable alternative opportunities. A cross-University statement will be made soon highlighting how to access these funding opportunities and how we will handle virtual mobility.
About SWAY
The Study & Work Away Service (SWAY) was formed after work with the Service Excellence programme to create a single service to manage global and UK opportunities for study and work away for students and staff at the University.