Brussels, 19 Nov 2002

Viviane Reding, European Commissioner for Education and Culture, and Dr Brendan Nelson, ߣߣÊÓƵn Minister for Education, Science and Training, announced a new pilot project on higher education cooperation between ߣߣÊÓƵn and the EU on 19 November. The project will see European and ߣߣÊÓƵn university students studying abroad from December.

The pilot project will enable 36 students from each side to join the Masters programme and study abroad for one semester. In addition to regular courses at host institutions, a specially designed unit will integrate learning outcomes for all students.

'I am delighted to see so much interest from universities in Europe and ߣߣÊÓƵ in this type of innovative international collaboration' said Commissioner Reding. 'The European Commission and the ߣߣÊÓƵn Government have been working for a long time to establish closer cooperation and this project shows we are on the right track. I am convinced that ߣߣÊÓƵn universities and postgraduate students will also be well represented in the future programme Erasmus World, starting in 2004, that will support high level Masters with a European dimension and deliver grants to students from all over the world.'

The ߣߣÊÓƵn Minister was equally delighted: 'It gives me pleasure to jointly announce that LEAFSE (Learning through Exchange Agriculture, Food Systems and Environment) is the successful pilot project submission and is the first example of collaboration between ߣߣÊÓƵ and the EU in this area. The interest by ߣߣÊÓƵn and European universities in the pilot project has been overwhelming, resulting in a large number of applications of a high standard, covering a wide range of disciplines.'

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The EU has committed 500,000 euro to the three-year project, with an equal amount being provided by the ߣߣÊÓƵn Government.

LEAFSE focuses on agriculture, food systems and the environment, accommodating all interests 'from paddock to plate', providing opportunities for the exchange of ideas and enhanced multilateral cooperation between the EU and ߣߣÊÓƵ.

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The project involves four ߣߣÊÓƵn institutions and four European institutions: The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University (Denmark), the University of Wales Aberystwyth (UK), Wageningen University and Research Centre (The Netherlands) and the University of Kassel (Germany).