Grant for Erasmus Mundus Design Measures awarded to a Finnish higher education institution for the first time

In the 2022 Erasmus Mundus application round, funding was applied for Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (EMJM) and Erasmus Mundus Design Measures (EMDM).

Applications were received from across the world, but their number declined slightly from last year. In the current programme period, the coordinators of the projects may also come from third countries not associated to the Programme. The consortia of the Master programmes must include at least two higher education institutions from Programme countries or countries associated to the Programme.

A total of 58 EMJM applications were submitted, six of which had Finnish higher education institutions as full partners, and 122 EMDM applications, in two of which a Finnish higher education institution was the coordinator.

Outcome of the 2022 application round

In the 2022 application round, grants were provisionally awarded to 30 Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters, in three of which a Finnish higher education institution is involved. Among those receiving a grant were higher education institutions with long experience in Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters and higher education institutions that now received funding for establishing an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master programme for the first time.

One of the key objectives of the new Erasmus+ programme period is to enable new actors to join Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters.  The funding for Erasmus Mundus Design Measures is aimed at increasing the capacities of new participants. In the 2022 application round, funding was awarded to 58 EMDM projects.

The first Erasmus Mundus Design Measures project begins in Finland

Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences was the first Finnish higher education institution to be awarded a grant for an Erasmus Mundus Design Measures project. The project, Co-creation of an Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters in Artificial Intelligence to boost Innovation Ecosystems, business competitiveness and employment in Europe (COMAI), has been strongly anchored to Haaga-Helia's cooperation in the Ulysseus European Universities alliance. The total budget of the project is EUR 55,000.

"An important dimension of the Ulysseus alliance are the Innovation Hubs, each of which is the responsibility of one partner higher education institution. The Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters of Ulysseus are built around these Innovation Hubs.  Haaga-Helia is responsible for the Innovation Hub with the theme Artificial Intelligence. The content and learning outcomes of the new European Master programme focus on the use of artificial intelligence in business contexts, for which we will need extensive expertise from both higher education institutions and companies. It was natural to create a project with a clear timetable and objectives to support the preparation work", explains Marjaana Mäkelä, the project manager of Haaga-Helia’s COMAI project. 

"In addition to the principles of co-creation, Erasmus Mundus degrees require the so-called European Approach, which is somewhat different from the usual curriculum work carried out in universities of applied sciences. However, the funding framework supports the planning of the degree well. The development of degrees is a motivating learning process for us, and promotes our engagement in the different fields of applied research with European partners. COMAI offers an opportunity for our specialists to deepen our cooperation networks nationally and internationally. The degree we are developing will be an interesting option among the degrees offered by European higher education institutions", continues Mäkelä. 

Awarded grants 

Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters funded in the application round 2022, a Finnish HEI involved

• Joint Master's Degree Programme in Service Design Strategies and Innovations (SDSI), University of Lapland as a partner
• International Master in Brain and Data Science (NeuroData), University of Jyväskylä as a partner
• International Master in Technology and Management for Circular Economy (IMATEC), Åbo Akademi University as a partner

Erasmus Mundus Design Measures projects funded in the application round 2022, a Finnish HEI involved

• Co-creation of an Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters in Artificial Intelligence to boost Innovation Ecosystems, business competitiveness and employment in Europe (COMAI), Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences as the coordinator

Calls for proposals for Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters 2019–2022 and participation of Finns.

Calls for proposals for Erasmus Mundus Design Measures 2021–2022 and participation of Finns.

The third application round for the Erasmus Mundus actions will open in the late autumn 2022 and is due to end in February 2023.