EMA's position on Erasmus for All

Erasmus for All is the new EU programme for education, training, youth and sport proposed by the European Commission on 23 November 2011. The proposal is now under discussion by the Council (27 Member States) and the European Parliament who will take the final decision. For further information on Erasmus for All, please visit the website.

The Erasmus Mundus Students and Alumni Association has carefully studied and discussed the EC proposal and would like to share the following statement and position on Erasmus for All:

In response to the Erasmus for All (EfA) Proposal, the Erasmus Mundus Students and Alumni Association (EMA) acknowledges that the integration of different internal and external higher education cooperation programmes is critical and that there is a need for streamling procedures and allowing for flexibility.
However, as students and alumni we are concerned by the possibility of losing the Erasmus Mundus name and brand of excellence as many educational programmes are streamlined into the new Erasmus for All programme. The EMA community is also concerned about the possibility of losing its EM Joint Doctoral programmes. This position paper focuses primarily on our commitment to maintaining Erasmus Mundus as a distinguishable brand for quality higher education in Europe.


We, the students and alumni of Erasmus Mundus Master Courses and Joint Doctorates, declare that:

  • The Erasmus Mundus brand has taken considerable time and efforts to build up as a brand of excellence. Rebranding will lead to a loss of this brand and the legitimacy of the joint degree programmes.
  • Erasmus Mundus contributes to Europe’s growth and to the achievement of the objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy. Hence, the Erasmus Mundus name should be preserved as a brand for excellent joint study programmes at the Master’s and Doctoral degree levels.
  • Erasmus Mundus is more than just a funding source for higher education projects: Erasmus Mundus is an identity that universities, academics, students and alumni can relate to. If the brand name is abandoned, the symbolic power and sense of community associated with Erasmus Mundus will be lost.
  • The recommendation of the EMA community is to maintain the Erasmus Mundus brand for the future Joint Degree Programmes.

For the complete statement of EMA on Erasmus for All, please click here.

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EMA Steering Committee