Mediterranean Network of National Information Centres on the Recognition of Qualifications/MERIC-Net Erasmus Project

Project Title

Mediterranean Network of National Information Centres on the Recognition of Qualifications/MERIC-Net

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Capacity Building in higher education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2016

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics:

Project Summary

During the last EU-South Med Seminar on Recognition of credits and qualifications, organized by the European Commission (Brussels 1st – 2nd June 2015), the need for the revitalization of the MERIC network, as a means for a stronger cooperation between the European region and the Mediterranean one, was mentioned extensively. The EC encouraged France and Italy to submit an Erasmus+ project to implement capacity-building activities to reactivate the network, thus fostering the dialogue in the region and between the two regions.In recent years, reforms in higher education in the south Med countries aiming at the harmonization of the higher education systems, based on the Bologna structure of degrees implemented in the “European Higher Education Area-EHEA”, have generated some issues linked to recognition. In fact, an increasing number of students are going to study abroad. This makes recognition of credits and qualifications an important and urgent issue.Moreover, the current refugee crisis is high in the agenda in Europe and the South Med countries. The MERIC-Net project will address the recognition of refugees’ qualifications and the practical challenges related to it. The European experience will contribute to the sharing and developing of a common methodology in the Southern Mediterranean countries, in order to facilitate the integration of refugees and displaced people.The reactivation of the MERIC network would be a first step towards an enhanced cooperation between the two shores of the Mediterranean, and on a larger scale with the European Union. The existence of national recognition centres in the region would represent an asset in a contest of great mobility. In fact, the MERIC-Net project would achieve the aim of shared information, building of mutual trust, facilitating thus smooth recognition. The reactivation of the MERIC network will allow all partners to share their experiences, official information and to build direct and permanent contacts.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 999872 Eur

Project Coordinator

UNIVERSITE COTE D’AZUR & Country: FR

Project Partners

• UNIVERSITETET I OSLO
• UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI PALERMO
• UNIMED – UNIONE DELLE UNIVERSITA DEL MEDITERRANEO
• MINISTERE DE L’ENSEIGNEMENT SUPERIEUR ET DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE
• MINISTERE DE L’EDUCATION NATIONALE, DE LA FORMATION PROFESSIONNELLE, DE L’ENSEIGNEMENT SUPERIEUR ET DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE
• MINISTRY OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
• MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND HIGHER EDUCATION