Bishkek, 13 July 2023 – The National Office of Erasmus+, with the Delegation of the European Union to the Kyrgyz Republic, hosted a pre-departure orientation meeting for the distinguished recipients of the Erasmus+ scholarships. Twelve exceptional individuals from the Kyrgyz Republic have been awarded scholarships to embark on joint Master’s degree programs in renowned European Union countries in 2023. These scholarships, funded by the European Union, provide invaluable opportunities for Kyrgyz students to pursue higher education abroad.
During the orientation meeting, Marilyn Josefson, Head of the European Union Delegation to the Kyrgyz Republic, delivered an inspiring speech, highlighting the significance of this initiative:
“The Erasmus+ programme is designed to nurture academic excellence and promote cross-cultural exchange. Among the 11 students who were admitted, 10 received a full scholarship, and one student chose partial funding. Out of the 12 students, 10 of them are females. Full scholarships cover tuition fees, medical insurance, accommodation, and travel expenses to ensure our students can fully immerse themselves in their educational journey. Moreover, students are entitled to a monthly allowance ranging from 1000 to 1400 EUR, tailored to meet their basic needs and facilitate their personal growth”.
This year, in terms of field of study preferences, statistical data reveals that the majority of scholarship recipients, accounting for 27.3% of the total, have chosen to specialize in “Public Health.” Following closely behind is “Social Sciences”, securing the second position with 27.3% of the recipients. Other popular fields of study include “Computer Science/Data Science,” with 18.2%, “Sustainability Studies” with 9.1%, “Mathematics” with 9.1%, and “Economics/Business Studies” also with 9.1%.
Among Kyrgyzstan’s educational institutions, the American University of Central Asia emerged as the leading contributor, with 27% of the scholarship recipients graduating from the institution. In addition, graduates from institutions such as the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University, Kyrgyz State Medical Academy, Kyrgyz State Technical University, Kyrgyz Turkish Manas University and others also earned their well-deserved spots among the scholarship awardees.
Adhering to the regulations of the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s program, the selected students will have the unique opportunity to pursue their studies in at least two countries within the Master’s program consortium. Prominent destinations for our students include Great Britain, Portugal, France, Spain, Italy, Norway, Germany and Israel where they will embark on their transformative academic journeys.
About Erasmus+:
Erasmus+ is the EU’s programme to support education, training, youth and sport in Europe. It has an estimated budget of €26.2 billion.
The 2021-2027 programme places a strong focus on social inclusion, the green and digital transitions, and promoting young people’s participation in democratic life.It supports priorities and activities set out in the European Education Area, Digital Education ActionPlan and the European Skills Agenda.
From 2015 to 2023, the Erasmus+ programme supported 830 students and teachers from Kyrgyzstan, with a total budget over 5,000,000 EUR, facilitating academic exchanges and enabling the pursuit of Master’s degrees.
