Erasmus+ Strategy 2021-2027

The Erasmus+ programme for higher education contributes to the construction of an integrated European higher education area, by pursuing five major strategic objectives:

1. Raising the qualification levels of graduates and researchers to meet Europe's needs
2. Improving the quality and relevance of higher education
3. Strengthening mobility and transnational cooperation
4. Activating the knowledge triangle: linking teaching, research and innovation to serve regional development
5. Modernize governance and diversify funding in higher education.

This program is based on three key actions:

KA1 – Mobility of individuals (students, teaching and administrative staff)

KA2 – Cooperation between organizations and institutions

KA3 – Support for educational policy reforms

The University of Reunion has obtained its Erasmus+ Charter for the period 2021-2027, thus enabling the establishment of cooperation agreements with European and international higher education establishments that have signed this same charter.

The University of Réunion is actively participating in this program through various key actions and is committed to implementing the provisions contained in the Erasmus Charter granted to it by the European Commission for the period 2021-2027, and in its declaration on the Erasmus+ strategy, the main points of which are listed below.

The University of Réunion: A unique strategic position in the European higher education area

Located in the Indian Ocean, more than 10 km from the European continent, the University of Réunion is the largest French overseas university and the only fully-fledged European university in the Africa-Asia region. As such, it benefits from the advantages of its territory's status as one of the nine outermost regions of the European Union. These characteristics make it a key player in promoting the European model of higher education, research, and innovation in this part of the world.

The vision of the establishment

In its 2020-24 international strategy, the University of Réunion has defined the following political objectives:

• Substantially increase the physical and virtual mobility within and outside Europe of our students and staff, by mobilizing various key actions of the Erasmus+ program and the establishment of a regional mobility space made possible through synergy between Erasmus and INTERREG funds.
• Substantially increase the linguistic skills of our students and staff
• Allocate new resources, both for the logistical support provided by our services and to support a more ambitious reception and linguistic policy

Deploy the “Université de La Réunion” brand, through a training and research offering:

• Relevant with regard to the growth sectors of the energy zone, information and communication, health, etc.), and future themes (climate, protection of biodiversity, etc.)
• Collaborative (joint degree), designed to promote the integration of international research networks
• Innovative (blended training projects both in person and remotely)
• Contribute to the construction of interconnected university ecosystems at the regional and international level by structuring our institutional relations with our academic partners and strengthening our relations with institutional and socio-economic actors

Membership in the Erasmus+ programme constitutes an essential lever for its internationalisation and institutional transformation, which is expressed in the 5 objectives of its Erasmus+ strategy defined below.

Objectives: Erasmus+ Strategy 2021-2027 of the University of Reunion

1. Increase qualification levels to train the graduates and researchers that Europe needs

• Student mobility: Open to all students from the second year of study onwards, to strengthen academic, linguistic, intercultural, and professional skills through exposure to different teaching methods and environments. Positive impact on autonomy, European citizenship, and employability.
• Staff mobility: Open to all staff for continuous improvement of teaching and administrative practices, development of collaboration networks, enrichment of teaching approaches through the exchange of best practices.

2. Improving the quality and relevance of higher education

Erasmus+ is a catalyst for institutional transformation:

• Inclusion: Adaptation to the diversity of audiences (internship mobility, multilingualism)
• Openness: Integration into connected university networks and ecosystems
• Competitiveness: Creation of a critical mass to respond to calls for projects and harmonization of practices according to European standards
• Responsibility: Environmental commitment and sustainable governance (green mobility, new organizational and financial models)

3. Raising quality through mobility and transnational cooperation

• Expanding the range of training and research opportunities: Student and teaching mobility promoting diversity of experiences and fields
• Valorization of professional careers: Internship mobility as a response to the massification of Reunion Island higher education and research and the heterogeneity of profiles
• International development: Intensification of collaborations with targeted continents (Europe, Africa, Asia), strengthening of academic and socio-economic networks, better international institutional recognition
• Reduction of barriers to mobility: Thanks to a diversification of forms of mobility (short, virtual, hybrid and professional mobility)

4. Activate the knowledge triangle: Training – research – business

• Link with regional development: Positioning of the University of Réunion as a key player in public policies, in line with local and regional priorities (health, biodiversity, tourism, etc.)
• Link to research:

– Reinforced immersion and professional integration

– Alignment of training with the economic needs of the territories

• Link with companies:

– Reinforced immersion and professional integration

– Alignment of training with the economic needs of the territories

5. Improve governance and financing :

• Governance model: Development of collegial, participatory and networked governance, with sharing of good practices at all levels
• Diversification of funding: Facilitated access to new budgetary instruments, mobilization of Erasmus+ programs to support requests to other donors in a logic of synergy of funds
• Quality and evaluation: Integration of strategic management, evaluation and performance mechanisms, supporting the structural transformation undertaken
• Support for specific RUP costs: Taking into account additional mobility costs linked to the geographical distance from Reunion

The University of Réunion, ambassador of European values ​​in its territory and beyond

The University of Réunion's participation in the Erasmus+ program and other European programs (Horizon Europe, INTERREG Indian Ocean, etc.) allows the institution to strengthen its integration into the European Education and Research Area and, through the deployment of these programs, to be an ambassador for the Lisbon Strategy, the values ​​and principles put forward and favored by the European Commission. Through its status (university of an outermost region of Europe), its university community reflecting a mixed population, and its proactive policy in favor of European project diplomacy, the University of Réunion allows European partners to fully appreciate the European identity, in all its diversity. Above all, through the pool of influence it offers through its geographical location, it is a key player in disseminating and promoting the European ESR model.

The measures that the University of Reunion is implementing to respond particularly to the dissemination of the European model and values ​​are within or outside the establishment:

• Information and promotion actions for the Erasmus+ program and the values ​​it promotes
• Training activities (conferences on major European themes)
• Awareness-raising and communication activities on history and European institutions (Exhibitions on Europe)
• Celebrations of key events related to history, European citizenship (Europe Day, Erasmus Days, Elysée Treaty, etc.) or hosting events related to democratic participation and civic engagement
• Participation in the EU Careers network
• Educational stays to discover European institutions

Inclusion and respect for diversity as priorities

Firmly anchored in a societal environment known for its celebration of "living together," the University of Réunion aims to develop an inclusive university model by preventing—and, where appropriate, combating—all forms of discrimination, exclusion, and harassment. At the same time, it is committed to better integrating the diversity of its audiences by adapting its services more broadly to potential specific needs, for example, by improving the reception of people with disabilities and providing better support to students experiencing study or exam difficulties. Finally, to support and oversee all of its equality initiatives, the University of Réunion intends to develop differentiated expertise on "living together" in Réunion by supporting research projects on gender and diversity in Réunion on the one hand, and, on the other, by rolling out training on the theme of equality and discrimination prevention.

As part of its Erasmus+ 2021–2027 strategy, the University of Réunion is deploying an ambitious and coherent policy in terms of mobility, international cooperation and inclusion, in accordance with the principles of non-discrimination, transparency and fairness :

• Active and accessible promotion of mobility
• Fair and transparent selection procedures
• Language support open to students and staff
• A one-stop shop for financial assistance for mobility
• A strong commitment to equality and inclusion in conjunction with the Equality Hub

The environmental transition: a structuring commitment

A member of the UNESCO Chair in Education, Training and Research in Sustainable Development led by Bordeaux INP, the University of Réunion is firmly committed to an approach of sustainable development,, by integrating concrete actions to raise awareness, evaluate and transform its practices, in relation to contemporary climate issues:

• Participation in surveys
• Awareness raising and training in ecological transition under the coordination of the Eco-campus hub
• Reduction of the establishment's environmental footprint (PROTECTIVE Link)

Adapting to digital transformation: University 3.0

Engaged in a digital transformation process intended to make the University of Reunion a 3.0 university, the establishment has set itself the objectives of developing a training offer within the framework of the virtual campus, of supporting the development of digital technology in university practices by placing an emphasis on increasing the dematerialization of university services and digital accessibility.

As part of its Erasmus+ 2021–2027 strategy, the University of Réunion is working to implement various actions to achieve its University 3.0 objective:

• Establishment of an Erasmus Without Paper working group to implement the Erasmus+ Digital initiative according to the planned deadlines
• Development of digital platforms for learning French as a foreign language or intended to promote integration (buddy system)
• Multi-year Digital Accessibility Plan 

To find out more about Erasmus+ mobility:

• For students: Pgo on the move ou come on mobility
• For staff, see this page
• For international credit mobility (ICM), see this page

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Key action no. 1 – KA171: MIC

Key Action 171, also known as International Credit Mobility (ICM) projects, aims to strengthen cooperation between Erasmus+ programme countries and partner countries.

Current projects:

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Key action no. 2 – KA 2: cooperation between organizations and institutions

Docet 4 Africa:

The DOCET 4 AFRICA project contributes to fostering Europe-Indian Ocean cooperation through networking and the exchange of expertise between EU and ACP HEIs, the implementation of national and regional strategic plans in the field of sustainable development and biodiversity conservation, as well as the creation of an educational offer adapted to the requirements of the labor market.

Project leader : University of Turin

Partners : University of Reunion, University of the Comoros, University of Toamasina, University of Mahajanga and University of Antananarivo

DOCET 4 Africa website: www.docet4africa.com

WATER CHALLENGE:

The DEFI EAU project aims to develop joint and hybrid professional training courses (Bachelor's and Master's degrees, in initial and continuing education) across Madagascar in order to respond to the societal challenges facing Madagascar in the field of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).

Project leader: University of Limoges

partners: University of La Réunion, University of Liège – ULIEGE (Belgium), Vasile Alecsandri University of Bacau – UVAB (Romania), Higher Institute of Technology of Antananarivo – IST T (Madagascar), Higher Institute of Technology of Antsiranana – IST D (Madagascar), Higher Institute of Technology of Ambositra – IST A (Madagascar), University of Antananarivo – UA (Madagascar), University of Antsiranana – UNA (Madagascar) NGO Ran’Eau – RAN’EAU (Madagascar)

DEFI EAU website: http://defieau.eu/

Clever AI:

The objective of this project is to provide information and teaching materials to language teachers to help their learners develop multilingual action and language skills through a critical and ethical use of generative AI (GAI). 

The project should therefore make it possible to:

• better understand the representations and practices of AI by secondary school language learners and teachers
• describe the language action skills made possible by IAGen
• to offer activities to language teachers to help their learners develop plurilingual action skills through critical and ethical use of IAGen.

partners: University of Reunion (coord.), University of Salzburg, Catholic University of Louvain, University of Lille / Inspé, University of Limerick (co-coord.), Eurac Research

PEP:

This research and development project responds to a strong need for research and didactic training for language teachers in the field of multilingual education. The project therefore aims to contribute to a better understanding and categorizing of multilingual practices in secondary and university education through a major European survey.

The project also aims to strengthen training and information around multilingual education, through three major actions:

• The publication of a reference work in French and English bringing together contributions from international specialists in the field
• The creation and maintenance of a “Multilingual Education” department on the collaborative online university Wikiversity
• The design and implementation of hybrid training for language teachers

partners: University of Reunion (coord.), Paris-lodron-universitat Salzburg (Austria), Univeristät Wien (Austria), Universität Hamburg (Germany), Università Roma Tre (Italy), University of Thessaly (Greece), Universidade Católica Portuguesa (Portugal)

PEP website: https://sites.google.com/view/pepproject/accueil

Le Regional Exchange program UNiversity Indian OceaN – REUNION is a program of the University of La Réunion which aims to strengthen inter-university partnerships in the Indian Ocean region.

This is a large-scale supervised mobility programme for the benefit of students and teaching staff and teacher-researchers at universities in the Indian Ocean.

It allows students from the University of Reunion to benefit from financial aid to complete an internship in a partner institution (see list below). The program also allows students from a partner university to complete an internship mobility.

The REUNION project is funded by the European Union as part of the INTERREG VI Indian Ocean program, the managing authority of which is the Réunion Region.

The Franco-Indian Campus project “ILIADE”

Officially launched on April 27, 2023 in Vellore (India), the Franco-Indian campus project "ILIADE" (Innovation through plants and AI for India and France) led by the University of La Réunion and the Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) alongside six other French and Indian partners, aims to strengthen bilateral France-India academic and scientific cooperation around the strategic themes of life sciences and health. Among the advances enabled by this Franco-Indian campus: French, Indian and local students will now be able to benefit from a complete and structured Bachelor-Master-Doctorate (LMD) curriculum and a Master's degree in biotechnology will be created.

The project aims to:

• offer French, Indian and, more broadly, students from the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) area, the possibility of following a structured and complete Franco-Indian Bachelor-Master-Doctorate (LMD) course in the field of biosciences and health in order to meet the public health objectives set out in the 2030 agenda (United Nations Sustainable Development Goal No. 3);
•  build a multidisciplinary ecosystem that is conducive to the development of innovative multi-stakeholder partnerships in this strategic sector of biosciences and health (French and Indian industries present on site, competitiveness clusters, etc.);
•  allow cross-mobility of students and teachers, between the different French and Indian establishments members of this project.

This project aims to create a master's degree in biotechnology, which will include 2 courses :

• a first entitled “ Biotechnology specialized in Medicinal plants and phytotherapy »
• and a second “ Biotechnology specialized in Computer & artificial intelligence applied to biomedical data »

This diploma, linked to an existing 1st cycle within each partner establishment, will lead to a doctoral cycle in more than 10 associated research units. It will provide a university response to the needs for graduates and increased skills of professionals in the sector while promoting the development of fundamental research focused on natural products and in particular medicinal plants, which will be able to access new professional networks and programs. academic and scientific.

The members of the consortium:

• Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) – Indian coordinator
• Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) – Indian partner
• Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) – Indian partner
• National Center For Biological Sciences (NCBS) – Indian associate partner
• University of Reunion (UR) – French coordinator of the project
• University of Poitiers (UP) – French partner
• Claude Bernard Lyon 1 University (UCBL) – French partner
• Lumière University Lyon 2 (ULL2) – French partner

Launch in India at Vellore in 2023

Scientific conference in Lyon in 2024

Seminar in Reunion in 2024

Academy/Industry Workshop and Development of Interactions in India in 2024

The TRANGA project – program » Partnerships with African Higher Education » PEA

The project "Capacity Building for Energy Transition and Auditing in Madagascar" (TRANGA) led by the University of South Brittany in partnership with the Higher Institute of Technology of Antananarivo (IS-T) and the University of Reunion Island, is one of the 8 winning projects out of the sixty or so projects submitted during the second edition of the "Partnerships with African Higher Education" (PeA) program. With this ambitious 2,5 million euro project funded by the program, the University of Reunion Island joins the network of more than 50 French and African higher education institutions serving the sustainable development of 18 partner countries of the program.

The TRANGA project also covers the field of research, continuing education as well as technology transfer and innovation.

One of the project's ambitions is, in fact, the development of a technical platform on the IST-T site; open to businesses, it will enable the experimentation and technological innovation that is essential to them.

For the partner companies, the main added value of the project lies in the increase in their capacity to develop and to follow, or even to initiate, the technological evolution linked to the energy transition as well as the availability, on Malagasy territory, of graduates with the same skills as those of European universities.

Launch at the University of Reunion in 2023

1st seminar of the “Partnership with African Higher Education” (PeA) program 2024

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Staff mobility

Come study at the University of Reunion