An assessment of the contribution of a 9-year Erasmus Mundus doctoral programme in river science: SMART EMJD
Gregorio López Moreira Mazacotte, Country Representative for Paraguay, shared with EMA how in the year 2020, after the conclusion of the ‘Science for MAnagement of Rivers and their Tidal systems Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctorate’ (SMART EMJD), a couple of SMART alumni and many scientific advisors involved in the programme published an assessment of the overall contribution and lessons learned from the experience gathered over the duration of the programme. The SMART EMJD trained a new generation of early career scientists under the supervision of international experts from different disciplinary and interdisciplinary research fields focusing on river systems.
The published study focused on the three core facets of the SMART EMJD: interdisciplinarity, internationalism, and management-oriented science. Through a revision of the programme’s scientific output and two participant surveys, the authors of the study concluded that a high percentage of the scientific outputs (80%) were interdisciplinary and found evidence of active collaboration between different teams of doctoral candidates and supervisors. Post-graduation employment rates were found to be high (97%), and alumni found a new position very soon after graduation, both in academia (50%) and the private/public sector (50%) with a strong international dimension. Despite management-oriented research being a limited portion of the ensemble of theses (9%), employment in management positions was higher (22%).
The article shows how doctoral training programmes like the SMART EMJD can contribute to debates around research training and the career opportunities of interdisciplinary scientists. You can read the article in full here.
Information Session on ERASMUS+ Opportunities in Collaboration with EUD Bangladesh
The Erasmus Mundus Association - Bangladesh (EMA BD) team, in collaboration with the Rotaract Club of Khulna University, organized an engaging event titled "Information Session on ERASMUS+ Opportunities" held on September 19th at the URP Lecture Theatre, 1st Academic Building of Khulna University. The event welcomed distinguished guests, including H.E. Charles Whiteley, the Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the EU in Bangladesh, and Jui Chakma, Program Manager of the EU Delegation. Their presence added significant prestige to the one-day session.
The event featured informative presentations from ERASMUS+ alumni, including discussions on program experiences and benefits. Dr. Md. Ashiqur Rahman, EMA's president, motivated attendees to consider ERASMUS+ as a means to broaden their horizons and contribute to society. Sayed Muhammad Baker, Country Representative for Bangladesh, presented guidelines for successful ERASMUS+ applications to enhance engagement, addressing recent changes and challenges. The event's interactivity was further elevated through an ERASMUS+ quiz, which saw enthusiastic student participation.
In summary, the "Information Session on ERASMUS+ Opportunities" was a collaborative and informative event that brought together esteemed guests, alumni, and enthusiastic students to explore the exciting possibilities offered by ERASMUS+.