The Lifelong Learning Programme| (new window) is the flagship European funding programme in the field of education and training. For the first time, a single programme will cover learning opportunities from childhood to old age. The Lifelong Learning Programme covers the period 2007-2013, and is the successor to the Socrates, Leonardo da Vinci and eLearning programmes. It has a budget of €7bn to support projects and activities that foster interchange, cooperation and mobility between education and training systems within the EU, so that they become a world quality reference.
The Lifelong Learning Programme is actually an over-arching structure that is built on four pillars, or sub-programmes. Grants and subsidies will be awarded to projects under each of these that enhance the trans-national mobility of individuals, promote bilateral and multilateral partnerships, or improve quality in education and training systems through multilateral projects encouraging innovation, for example. The four pillars are:
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The Comenius programme (new window) addresses the teaching and learning needs of all those in pre-school and school education up to the level of the end of upper secondary education, and the institutions and organisations providing such education;
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The Erasmus programme (new window) addresses the teaching and learning needs of all those in formal higher education, including trans-national student placements in enterprise, and the institutions and organisations providing or facilitating such education and training;
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The Leonardo da Vinci programme (new window) addresses the teaching and learning needs of all those in vocational education and training, including placement in enterprise of persons other than students, as well as the institutions and organisations providing or facilitating such education and training;
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The Grundtvig programme (new window) addresses the teaching and learning needs of those in all forms of adult education, as well as the institutions and organisations providing or facilitating such education.
These four pillars are joined by what will be known as a 'transversal programme', which will pursue the following four key activities:
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policy cooperation and innovation in lifelong learning;
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promotion of language learning;
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development of innovative ICT-based content, services, pedagogies and practice for lifelong learning;
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dissemination and exploitation of results of actions supported under the Lifelong Learning Programme and previous related programmes, and exchange of good practice.
Finally, these actions will be complemented by the new Jean Monnet programme|, which supports institutions and activities in the field of European integration.
Tempus| (new window) is the trans-European programme of cooperation in higher education, established in 1990. As part of the programmes providing assistance for economic and social reform in the countries of central and eastern Europe (PHARE) and the republics of the former Soviet Union and Mongolia (TACIS), Tempus is a Community aid scheme for the restructuring of higher education systems in these countries in order to adapt them to the requirements of a market economy.
Erasmus Mundus| (new window). This programme promotes the European Union as a centre of excellence in learning around the world, by supporting inter-university European Union Masters Courses. It will also provide EU-funded scholarships for third country nationals participating in these European postgraduate programmes, as well as scholarships for EU nationals studying in third countries.
EU/USA co-operation| (new window). An official agreement was originally reached in October 1995 to set up a cooperation programme between the European Community and the United States of America in the area of higher education and vocational training. It was last renewed in 2006 for the eight years to 2013.
EU/Canada co-operation| (new window). An official agreement was reached in October 1995 to set up a cooperation programme between the European Community and Canada in the area of higher education and vocational training. It was last renewed in 2006 for the eight years to 2013.
For the latest up to date information please visit the Europa| website.