Idea of the Erasmus Mundus External Cooperation Window (EM ECW)

The increasing speed at which existing knowledge becomes obsolete, and the rapid changes in the means by which it is delivered and renewed, will require high adaptability of the education sector to meet the needs of the economy and of society as a whole. Countries that are only weakly connected to the global knowledge economy will find themselves increasingly at a disadvantage and will not be able to generate adequate socio-economic conditions for the population. In a context of globalisation, this knowledge divide does not contribute to harmonious relations between nations and to understanding among the people, thus adversely influencing political stability.

Against this background, the promotion of international cooperation between the European Union and Third-Country higher education institutions and in particular the facilitation of institution-based mobility is a win-win situation for its potential contribution to the mutual enrichment of nations and to a better understanding of people.