HL Deb 21 July 2004 vol 664 cc46-7WA
Lord Wallace of Saltaire

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the response of United Kingdom higher education institutions to the introduction of the European Union Erasmus Mundus programme is satisfactory. [HL3905]

Baroness Ashton of Upholland

The European Commission's new Erasmus Mundus programme has been well received by higher education institutions across Europe. UK institutions' response has been very encouraging. Some 8 per cent of the total applications received by the Commission from the 25 EU member states, in response to the first call for proposals for new Masters courses and scholarships under Actions 1 and 2 of the programme, were from UK higher education institutions. I look forward to the results of the selection exercise and hope that future calls for proposals will attract an even greater response from our higher education institutions.