Description of the project

 

The Erasmus+ Programme

As per the definition provided by the EACEA (European Education and Culture Executive Agency), “Erasmus+ is the EU's programme to support education, training, youth and sport in Europe. It has an estimated budget of €26.2 billion. This is nearly double the funding compared to its predecessor programme (2014-2020).

The 2021-2027 programme places a strong focus on social inclusion, the green and digital transitions, and promoting young people’s participation in democratic life.

It supports priorities and activities set out in the European Education Area, Digital Education Action Plan and the European Skills Agenda. The programme also:

  • supports the European Pillar of Social Rights
  • implements the EU Youth Strategy 2019-2027
  • develops the European dimension in sport

 

The MERGING VOICES 2024

The Merging Voices (MV) initiative is a collaboration between four Portuguese institutions: NOVA University Lisbon (NOVA), Universidade do Porto (UP), Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), and Universidade do Algarve (UAlg).

The 7th edition of the Merging Voices project (2024-2027) builds upon the foundation of previous years, further strengthening cooperation with partner higher education institutions. It also seeks to expand opportunities for students with fewer resources to pursue studies in Portugal.

Through 92 scholarships, MV 2024 will support the mobility of students and academic staff both within Europe and across 17 partner countries.

 

The MV 2024 aims to:

  • Continue fostering (inter)national collaboration among participating institutions, contributing to the fulfillment of each institution's internationalization goals.
  • Further increase the international visibility and recognition of the high-quality education offered by Portuguese institutions, both within and outside Europe.
  • Offer students new and enriching mobility experiences beyond traditional destinations, promoting personal and academic growth.
  • Continue providing academic and administrative staff with formative mobility experiences that promote awareness and deepen understanding of partner institutions worldwide.

These objectives will be reached through mobility of students and academic staff. Mobility will continue to play a decisive role in the internationalization strategy of the institutions, and the new Merging Voices aims to reinforce it.

 

MV 2024 Scholarships

The available scholarships for the 2nd call are:

 

Country Partner Higher Education Institution Incoming Mobility Outgoing Mobility
SMS STAFF SMS STAFF
Angola Universidade Agostinho Neto 1* 4 months 1* 5 days   1* 5 days
Cambodia Royal University of Agriculture 1* 3 months 1* 5 days   1* 5 days
Cameroon Douala University 1* 4 months 1* 5 days   1* 5 days
Dominican Republic Pontifical Catholic University   1* 5 days    
Japan National University Cooperation Yamaguchi   1* 5 days 1* 3 months  
Kenya Aga-Khan university 1* 4 months 1* 5 days    
Macau Universidade de Macau   1* 5 days    
Madagascar University of Toliara 2* 4 months 1* 5 days    
Mozambique Universidade Lúrio 3* 4 months 3* 5 days 1* 4 months
(PhD only)
3* 5 days
Nepal Kathmandu University 1* 3 months 1* 5 days   1* 5 days
Philippines Ateneo de Manila University 1* 3 months      
Philippines University of the Philippines 1* 3 months 1* 5 days   1* 5 days
Seychelles University of Seychelles   1* 5 days    
Tanzania University of Dar Es Salaam 3* 4 months 3* 5 days    
Timor Leste Universidade Nacional de Timor Lorosa'e 2* 3 months      
Vietnam Hanoi University   2* 5 days    

 

Financial Support

Travel

Travel distances Amount
Between 100 and 499 km 211 EUR per participant
Between 500 and 1999 km 309 EUR per participant
Between 2000 and 2999 km 395 EUR per participant
Between 3000 and 3999 km 580 EUR per participant
Between 4000 and 7999 km 1188 EUR per participant
8000 km or more 1735 EUR per participant

Important Information:: the "travel distance" represents the linear distance between the city where the university of origin and the city where the host university are located. This is calculated automatically by a website indicated by the European Commission and cannot be subject to any change. The financial support allocated to the "travel distance" is the maximum allowed by the Erasmus+ Programme and is intended to contribute to the round trip back between the home and host institutions. In the event that the assigned value is insufficient to pay for the desired trip, the scholarship holder must find another source of funding.

 

Stay

STUDENTS mobility
(Studies - SMS)
Mobility periods: up to 6 months
Origin Host Country Monthly allowance
Eligible Partner Countries Portugal (Programme Country – Group 2) 850 EUR / month
Programme Country Partner Country 700 EUR / month
STAFF mobility
(Academic Staff- STA)

Mobility periods: 5 days

The per diem amount for Staff:
- From the programme countries to the partner countries: 190 EUR
- From the partner countries to the programme countries: 170 EUR

STAFF mobility
(Administrative Staff - STT)

 

Visa

The consortium will reimburse all scholarship holders for visa issuance costs, if necessary and required, up to a maximum of 50€.

 

Insurance

Every selected applicant will receive a health, accident and travel insurance valid during the entire mobility period.

 

Vulnerable Participants

The Erasmus+ programme aims at promoting equity and inclusion by facilitating access to participants with fewer opportunities. Therefore, the programme foresees a top – up grand of 250 EUR per month for students with fewer opportunities according to the Erasmus+ guide. Potential barriers for participation could be the following (in no specific order):

  • Disabilities
  • Health problems
  • Barriers linked to education and training systems
  • Cultural differences
  • Social barriers
  • Economic barriers
  • Barriers linked to discrimination
  • Geographical barriers

 

Destination Origin Number of Participants
with fewer opportunities
Activity Code Region
Portugal Cambodia 1 SMS Asia (Region 5)
Portugal Nepal 1 SMS Asia (Region 5)
Portugal Sri Lanka 1 SMS Asia (Region 5)
Portugal Timor Leste 1 SMS Pacific (Region 8)
Portugal Tanzania 3 SMS Sub – Saharan Africa (Region 9)
Portugal Angola 2 SMS Sub – Saharan Africa (Region 9)
Portugal Madagascar 1 SMS Sub – Saharan Africa (Region 9)
Portugal Mozambique 2 SMS Sub – Saharan Africa (Region 9)