The Asia-Link Programme is an initiative by the European Commission to promote regional and multilateral networking between higher education institutions in EU Member States and eligible countries in Asia. The programme aims to promote the creation of new partnerships and new sustainable links between European and Asian higher education institutions, and to reinforce existing partnerships.

The objective of the Asia-Link Programme is to promote regional and multilateral networking between higher education institutions in Europe, South and South East Asia and China.

The Programme is funded by the EU budget, under the budget line for “Political, economic and cultural cooperation with Asian developing countries”.

Eligible countries are the 25 Member States of the European Union and developing countries in Asia:

Europe: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom

Asia: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonésia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongólia, Myanmar/Burma, Nepal, North Korea, Pakistan,Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam

Programme activities

1. Partnership Projects

Partnership projects can undertake activities in one or more of the following three areas:
i. Human Resource Development
These activities aim to upgrade the skills of university teaching staff, in particular young faculty and future teachers (i.e. postgraduate students), and administrators.

ii. Curriculum Development
Activities aim to develop curricula, by producing new/improved courses, modules or teaching/training materials. Each project, which should be innovative, covers activities relating to the preparation of curricula and course material, their dissemination and the training of professors/tutors to teach them.

iii. Institutions & Systems Development
Grants are awarded for co-operative projects that aim to enhance the overall management of institutions of higher education through the sharing of experience between Asian and European institutions (or groups/associations of institutions).

2. Capacity-Building Actions
3. Programme support activities

i. Studies
Three studies are being carried out in early 2006, intended to provide a wider knowledge base to the higher education sector in Europe and Asia, in
order to enhance cooperation and mutual understanding.
The three topics are:
- Patterns of HE cooperation and practical issues affecting EU-Asia university
partnerships
- Partnerships/relationships between universities and business/industry in
Europe and Asia
- University cooperation for sustainable development in Europe and Asia.

ii. European Higher Education Fairs
A first European Higher Education Fair was organised in November 2004 in Bangkok. This provided a forum for European higher education institutions and associations to promote the European HE sector to Thai students and
academics, and to exchange best practice on Asia-Link. Seven further Fairs are scheduled over 2006-2008 in China, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

iii. Networking; Stakeholders’ Meetings
A first Asia-Link Project Networking Meeting brought some 50 project representatives to Kuala Lumpur in September 2005. It is planned to carry
out further networking activities and meetings in 2006. The September meeting was held back-toback with the Asia-Link Stakeholders’ Meeting.
This was the third annual meeting of representatives from the HE sector, who provide advice and feedback on the Programme’s activities and priorities.

iv. Information and Communication
The programme website, updated on a regular basis, provides a range of information, news and statistics on Calls for Proposals and funded
projects. It also houses a partner search database, allowing interested higher education institutions to post their areas of interest. Flyers and brochures on the programme are also produced. Information sessions for potential applicants are organised in Europe and in Asia.

For more information on Asia-Link, and the projects it funds:Website:http://ec.europa.eu/