What is TEMPUS?

TEMPUS is a European Union funded Programme which supports the modernisation of higher education in the Partner Countries of Eastern Europe, Central Asia, the Western Balkans and the Mediterranean region, mainly through university cooperation projects.

The overall objective of the programme is to support the modernisation of higher education in the EU's surrounding area. The Tempus programme promotes institutional cooperation and focuses on the reform and modernisation of higher education systems in the Partner Countries. It contributes to an area of cooperation in higher education involving the European Union and Partner Countries in its wider proximity.In particular, the programme will promote voluntary convergence with EU developments in the field of higher education.

The Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) is responsible for the management of Tempus IV (2007 – 2013), under the supervision of EuropeAid (DEVCO) and Directorate-General for Enlargement (DG ELARG of the European Commission). 

TEMPUS Program in 6 points:

• Tempus IV is designed to support the modernisation of higher education systems in the Partner Countries, its themes are structured around the main policy areas governing the current trends of higher education worldwide, these themes are:

Ø  Curricular Reform

§  Modernisation of curricula: ECTS, 3 cycles, recognition of degrees

Ø  Governance Reform

§  University management and services for students

§  Introduction of quality assurance

§  Institutional and financial autonomy and accountability

§  Equal and transparent access to higher education

§  Development of international relations

Ø  Higher Education & Society

§  Training of non-university teachers

§  Development of partnerships with enterprises

§  Knowledge triangle education-research-innovation

§  Training courses for public services (ministries, regional/local authorities)

§  Development of lifelong learning in society at large

§  Qualifications frameworks 

• TEMPUS Program funds three types of projects:

Ø  Joint Projects: implemented at institutional level to reform curricula, improve university governance and create more links with society (targets Curricular Reform, Governance Reform and Higher Education & Society).

Ø  Structural Measures: implemented at national level for the development and reform of national higher education structures and systems in Partner Countries (targets Governance Reform and Higher Education & Society).

Ø  Accompanying Measures: dissemination and information activities (conferences, studies, exchange  of good practice, National Tempus Offices, Higher Education Reform Experts, etc.)

• Eligible countries 

There are four groups of eligible countries:

Ø  27 Member States of the European Union.

Ø  4 countries of the Western Balkans region, as well as Kosovo under UNSC Resolution 1244/99.

Ø  17 countries in the Southern (where Egypt belongs) and Eastern neighbouring area of the European Union and the Russian Federation.

Ø  5 Central Asian countries.

• Types of Partnership:

Ø  National projects

National projects target one Partner Country and will focus on the national priorities set for that Partner Country, proposals must be submitted by groupings of institutions involving at least three higher education institutions from a partner country with at least three higher education institutions from the EU, each from a different EU Member State.

Ø  Multi-country projects

Multi-country projects aim to benefit more than one Partner Country. They will focus on addressing the regional priorities which are common to all Partner Countries within a specific region or a national priority which is common to each of the participating Partner Countries, proposals must be submitted by groupings of institutions involving
at least two higher education institutions from each of the participating Partner Countries (minimum two Partner Countries) involved in the proposal. If more than two Partner Countries are involved in the proposal, at least two higher education institutions from the third, fourth, fifth or more Partner Country involved must endorse the project and sign the corresponding mandates, this is in addition to at least three higher education institutions each from a different EU Member State .

Special Condition for Structural Measures Projects ONLY:

The Ministries responsible for higher education in each Partner Country must be involved as a full partner. 

• Grant Size per project: from 500,000 euro to 1,500,000 euro with a minimum of 10% Co-financing from the project consortium.

• Project Duration: 24 months or 36 months.