1. ‘Cultural Preparation Course for North African Students coming to Europe’ Noelia Cantero Gonzálvez SANMED Task Force Meeting Brussels, January 18, 2008

2. 1.Project Context 2.Partners 3.Background 4.Target Groups 5.Activities & Outputs 6. Impact on Target Groups 8. Role of the SG 9. Current Activities

3. 1. The project Context  Erasmus Mundus Action IV – Enhancing Attractiveness.  Duration: 18 months (1/12/2007 to 31/05/2009)  Budget: o Total 263.600 EUR o EC grant: 195.000 EUR  9 partners

4. 2. Project Partners Coordinator: University of Granada EU partners: Katholieke Hogeschool Mechelen (CIMIC: Center for Intercultural Management and International Communication); CEVUG (Center for Virtual Studies – University of Granada); Euromed Permanent University Forum (University Rovira I Virgili, Tarragona); Santander Group of Universities; University of Pavia; Brussels Education Services. North African (NA) Partners: Mohammed I University Oujda (Morocco); University of Tunis (Tunis)

5. 3. Project Background The needs identified. Tarragona Declaration (June 3, 2005): urgency in promoting participation of universities for Euromed partnership but obstacles of cultural nature. Setting up a model which can be adapted to other regions in the world.

6. 4. Target Groups Direct beneficiaries: North African students enrolled at European partners universities; North African students considering enrolling at a European University; European, North African Student population at large. Indirect beneficiaries: European Higher Education Area; North African and Middle East institutions at large; Euro-Mediterranean society as such.

7. 5. Activities & Outputs (I) A. Training Package preparation: - Kick off meeting - Workshop on training needs, methods and contents - Orientation interviews with NA students - Contact/cooperation among lecturers - Course material production

8. 5. Activities & Outputs (II) B. Project Website: -Information on the project: partners, calendar events, etc -eCourse and Toolbox -Information of interest to Euromediterranean HEA: scholarship offers, seminars, etc -Management tool for project partners (limited access)

9. 5. Activities & Outputs (III) C. Training Courses: - Autumn 2008 in 3 EU universities + Tunis. - 2 Days Programme. -6 Modules: -‘Our shared history: NA’s presence in Europe and viceversa’ -‘The European Multinational & Multicultural Identity’ -‘The Mediterranean Sea: Economic & Cultural Exchanges’ -‘The image of Europe in NA and the image of NA in Europe’ -‘Daily life in European Society: customs, religion & festivities, gender issues...’ -‘The HE System in Europe and the Bologna Process’.

10. 5. Activities & Outputs (IV) D. Publication: eCourse -Translated into Arabic for use of wider HE population. -Contribution from authors/lecturers of 6 modules E. Toolbox: -On project website for Euromediterranean HEA. -Support tool for institutions willing to develop similar programmes (consultancy, advice, recommendations, experts,...)

11. 6. Impact on Target Groups -Increase influx of students into EHEA. -Improved cultural preparation for NA students registered at partners universities 2008 – 2009. -Improved knowledge and understanding of cultural differences. -Raise in Euromediterranean student mobility. -Improved academic results. -Increase awareness, knowledge and undertanding of Bologna Process and EHEA in the Euromed region.

12. 7. The Santander Group’ role -Steering Committee Member. -Dissemination. -Provision of expertise/lecturers. -Promotion project outcomes in Euromediterranean HEA. -SANMED Task Force

13. 8. Current activities -Contract between University of Granada and EC recently signed (21.11.2007). -Kick off meeting scheduled for March 6-7, 2008 in Granada. -Partners with academic role start thinking about training courses.

14. Thank you very much! شكرا جزيِ Further information: www.eduser.eu