City University London leads Erasmus Mundus project to build engineering links between Europe and Asia
City University London is to lead a Euro 1.98 million Erasmus Mundus project, enabling the exchange of staff and students across higher education institutions in the European Union (EU) and South Asia.
Known as Strong Ties, the initiative will focus on developing skills in emerging areas of engineering, such as electronic healthcare, information security, nanotechnology, photonics and sustainable energy.
The funding will enable a total of 101 staff and students from 11 Asian and seven EU institutions to work or study abroad for periods ranging between two and 30 months. These opportunities will be open to undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral students, as well as early career and established researchers.
Aziz Rahman, Professor of Photonics at City, who will lead the project, says: "Climate change or cyber crime, for example, are global issues, so it's vital for us to share best practice across countries and ensure that tomorrow's engineers are familiar with the latest trends.
"The Strong Ties project will enable this to happen, while providing participants with all of the benefits that come from international mobility - from experiencing new languages and cultures to gaining a worldwide network of contacts."
The project follows the Euro 3.9 million EM2-STEM - another Erasmus Mundus initiative led by City, which was launched in early 2011 to boost collaboration between the EU and the Western Balkans, while fostering entrepreneurship and management skills in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
In addition, City is a partner in five other Erasmus Mundus schemes this year - the most of any UK university - creating further ties with the Middle East and across Asia. It is also a founding member of the World Cities World Class network, which aims to build closer links between universities, local governments and business communities in major economic and cultural hubs. Other founding universities are located in Berlin, Hong Kong, Mexico City, Sao Paulo, Seoul and St Petersburg.
Alongside City University London, the Strong Ties EU partners are: Poiltechnico di Milano, Italy; University of Southern Denmark; University of Limerick, Ireland; Wroclaw University of Technology, Poland; Frederick University of Technology, Cyprus; and University of Dortmund, Germany.
The Asian partners are: Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, and United International University, Bangladesh; National University of Science and Technology, and Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Pakistan; University of Pune, India; Kathmandu University, Nepal; Royal University of Bhutan; Kabul University, Afghanistan; University of Malaya, Malaysia; Bangkok University, Thailand; and Bandung Institute of Technology, Indonesia.
Notes to Editors
Media enquiries should be directed to Luke Nava in City University London's Press Office on 020 7040 8782 or at luke.nava.1@city.ac.uk.
About City University London
City University London is an international University with a commitment to academic excellence, a focus on business and the professions and a central London location. It is placed in the top 5% of universities around the world by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2010-11 and is ranked in the top 30 UK higher education institutions by the Times Higher Education Tables of Tables 2011.
The University's Student Centre holds the 2011 Times Higher Education Leadership & Management Award for Outstanding Student Services Team.
City is a broadly-based University with world leading strengths in business; law; engineering and mathematical sciences; informatics; health sciences and the arts including journalism and music.
The University attracts over 21,000 students from more than 160 countries and academic and professional staff from over 50 countries.
City University London's predecessor, the Northampton Institute, was founded in 1894. City will celebrate its first half century as a University in 2016.