ERACOL provides scholarships for academic exchange in medicine and the health sciences, between Europe and Colombia, Costa Rica, Panamá – from 1 to 34 months!
Rotterdam, the Netherlands – Thursday, april 8, 2010
As of today, citizens of Colombia, Costa Rica and Panamá seeking a career in clinical, biomedical, public-health or applied research may apply for funding from the European Community in the framework of the ERACOL mobility scheme. ERACOL provides scholarships for undergraduate and master’s students, doctorate or postdoctorate students, and academic staff at selected universities in Europe. Vice versa, citizens of Belgium, Italy, Spain, Sweden, and the Netherlands may enroll at universities in Colombia, Costa Rica or Panamá.
Scholarships include tuition fees (where applicable), a subsistence allowance, travel costs, and insurance. All mobility is to take effect as from September 1, this year. Applications can be submitted online through www.erasmus-columbus.eu
“ERACOL’s overriding objective lies in the enormous need of educational programs for the training of young colleagues – especially in view of the explosion of activities in the life sciences. I am privileged to take part in the program.”
Professor Albert Hofman, MD, PhD, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
“We have a lot of interest in the exchange of students from Europe to Latin America, specifically to Panamá, and from Panamá to different universities in Europe. Because in this way we can learn and share our experiences. I consider that an important issue. A specific aspect that would be interesting is doctorate degrees because we have a lot of masters but not a lot of doctorates. So by exchange we could enhance the number of our doctorates and postdoc degrees.”
Mrs. Opal Jones, RN, BSN, MSc, Universidad de Panamá, Panamá
Representatives from universities in Europe (Belgium, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden) and Latin America (Colombia, Cost Rica, Panamá) have signed a memorandum of understanding to formalize their cooperation within the ERACOL (Erasmus-Colombus 2013) project. ERACOL provides scholarships for undergraduate and master’s students, doctorate or postdoctorate students, and academic staff.
Selection criteria are strict; ERACOL aims at including the best talented, young students. However, participation of students from groups which are currently underrepresented in Latin-American higher education is encouraged. These groups are defined in terms of socio-economic indicators, gender, physical disability or ethnic background. Online application has started today through ERACOL’s website www.erasmus-columbus.eu that provides detailed information.
European Community initiative
ERACOL is a European Community initiative primarily aimed at achieving sustained improvement in knowledge, teaching and research skills in the public-health sciences in Latin America. It attempts to forge lasting links not only between the European and Latin-American partner universities, but also between and within the EU and Latin America. Eventually, participants return to their home countries with knowledge and skills that enhance employability.
“Projects like ERACOL are very important to show, first for Europeans among themselves, that it’s very interesting to do research in Europe; but also for other parts of the world to see that Europe is a highly interesting research destination.”
Mrs. Hanneke Teekens, MA, Director of Communication, Nuffic – Netherlands Organisation for International Cooperation in Higher Education
With a focus on health, ERACOL addresses the fields of education, mathematics, health sciences, natural sciences, and social sciences. There is more, however. Participation does not only enrich academically, but brings immeasurable benefits as well. In the form of life skills training through immersion in another culture, learning another language perhaps, and making new friends.
“English is the bridge language, although the home languages can be additional attractions!”
Francisco José Lloreda, Ambassador of the Republic of Colombia to the Netherlands
“From my own experience this is what I would like to pass on the students who are preparing to come, either to Europe or to Latin America. The crucial building brick is communication , but here we have a language barrier. My first advice is that students should be tested on English proficiency”
Dr. Fernando Rivadeneira Ramirez, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
“Our country is a small country, so it’s been decided that students must learn English. English courses are compulsory for students, but problems always arise when scholarships come up. For logistic reasons they often have difficulty in meeting test requirements. European students would manage in English, but to get some flavor of the country they really need Spanish.”
Dr. Adriana Suarez Urhan, Universidad de Costa Rica, Costa Rica
In Europe, get a taste of Barcelona, Spain; Leuven, Belgium; Rotterdam, Netherlands; Stockholm, Sweden; or Turin, Northern Italy. In Latin America, feel the exuberance of Cauca or Bogotá, Colombia; San José or Atlántico, Costa Rica; or Panamá City or Santiago de Veraguas, Panamá.
“ERACOL is a unique initiative. It is not a scholarship program in the traditional way, but attempts to achieve more; indeed it is more about fostering institutional synergies.”
Francisco José Lloreda, Ambassador of the Republic of Colombia to the Netherlands
“ERACOL is a great opportunity for the university to promote research, to prepare researchers for Colombia, seeing that in Latin America research is just beginning. Ten years ago we began to work really hard in changing the laws of the countries. So research is becoming part of the country’s competitiveness. This is really important for our universities and our countries, so I think it is just great!”
Mrs. Jeanette Velez, Chancellor, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
“My recommendation for interested students is to read, understand and feel themselves identified with Eracol’s objectives. They must be aware of health problems in their own countries and be motivated to contribute to their solution. On the other hand, they should see themselves as bridges for promoting long-term collaborations within partners in the consortium.”
Dr. Monica Ortegón, Universidad del Rosaria, Bogotá, Colombia
About ERACOL
A unique opportunity to study in Europe or Latin America – from 1 to 34 months! ERACOL provides scholarships for undergraduate and master’s students, doctorate or postdoctorate students, and academic staff. These scholarships include tuition fees (where applicable), a subsistence allowance, travel costs, and insurance.
About Erasmus Mundus External Cooperation Window
The Erasmus Mundus External Cooperation Window (EM ECW) is a cooperation and mobility scheme in the area of higher education cooperation launched by Europe Aid Cooperation Office and implemented by the Executive Agency Education, Audiovisual and Culture. The EM ECW objective is to achieve better understanding and mutual enrichment between the European Union and third countries co-operation in the field of higher education through promoting the exchange of persons, knowledge and skills at higher education level. This will be achieved through the promotion of partnerships and institutional cooperation exchanges between European Higher Education Institutions and Third Country institutions and a mobility scheme addressing student and academic exchanges.
About Netherlands Institute for Health Sciences – NIHES
The Netherlands Institute for Health Sciences (NIHES) is an alliance of renowned Dutch universities and research institutes who collaborate and share knowledge in quantitative medical and health research. We offer graduate and postgraduate research training – Master of Science programmes and short courses – in quantitative medicine and the health sciences in our core disciplines: Epidemiology, Clinical Epidemiology, Genetic Epidemiology, Public Health, and Medical Informatics. We collaborate with four key institutes: Erasmus University Rotterdam, University of Amsterdam, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Netherlands Cancer Institute.
About Universidad del Rosario, Colombia
The Universidad del Rosario is one of the most prestigious, private, nonprofit universities in Colombia. The University has a long tradition (355 years) in education and public service, and a strong research support policy. It was founded on Roman Catholic principles in 1653 by Fray Cristobal de Torres. Located in Bogotá, Colombia, due to its important place in Colombian history, it is known as “the cradle of the republic”. Most faculties reside in the main campus in the historic-geographical centre of Bogotá in the historic district of La Candelaria. Nowadays this institution is based on secular ideas and is very influential in Colombian culture and public life. At least 28 of Colombia’s presidents have been students of this university and it has influenced and participated in very important transitional processes like the revolution for the independence from Spain and the Political National Constitution of 1991. As a curious fact one of the most important times of the 1886 Constitution’s Supreme Court (1936), the so called golden court, was composed in its majority by lawyers from the Faculty of Jurisprudence. The University’s mission is to provide solid, ethical, humanistic and scientific education which, together with high quality standards for research and teaching, will allow the academic community to prepare distinguished individuals at the service of society and with a high sense of responsibility.
The University offers 20 undergraduate programmes, all of which are fully certified or are in the process of being certified, offering the possibility of obtaining dual diplomas from academically prestigious international universities; more than 80 graduate specialization programmes, 8 master degree programmes and 3 Doctoral programmes.
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