Description

Overview

The Intra-Africa Academic Mobility Scheme is a European Union (EU) programme supporting international learning mobility and cooperation between higher education institutions across Africa.

Managed by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) on behalf of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA), the programme provides funding for consortia of African higher education institutions and scholarship opportunities for African students, trainees and academic staff.

The scheme forms part of Youth Mobility for Africa, a flagship initiative under the EU–Africa Global Gateway Investment Package, which aims to expand educational opportunities, strengthen skills development and promote Africa as an attractive destination for higher education.

Programme Objectives

The Intra-Africa Academic Mobility Scheme aims to contribute to Africa’s economic, social and human development by improving access to education, strengthening skills and supporting cooperation between higher education institutions.

The programme focuses on three main priorities:

• Promoting inclusive academic mobility, particularly for women and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, with an emphasis on climate change.
• Improving the employability and entrepreneurship skills of students and trainees, especially in sectors related to green jobs.
• Strengthening the quality, relevance and internationalisation of higher education in Africa, including education and research related to climate change.

The initiative also supports the recognition of academic qualifications, institutional capacity building, cooperation between universities and businesses, and knowledge exchange across the African Higher Education and Research Space.

Who Can Participate?

The programme supports consortia of African higher education institutions that collaborate to organise international academic mobility and related institutional activities.

Through projects selected under the scheme, African students, trainees and staff may access mobility opportunities at participating institutions.

The programme places particular emphasis on inclusive participation, including opportunities for women, persons with disabilities and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Specific eligibility requirements for institutions and individual scholarship applicants depend on the relevant funding call or mobility project.

Funding and Programme Benefits

The Intra-Africa Academic Mobility Scheme provides EU financial support for selected projects to organise and implement international exchanges for students, trainees and staff.

Funding is provided through unit contributions covering three eligible cost categories:

Scholarships: Financial support for eligible students, trainees and staff participating in academic mobility activities.

Institutional support: Contributions to the costs incurred by participating institutions in organising, managing and implementing mobility activities.

Special needs assistance: Additional support to facilitate participation by individuals with specific needs.

Beyond financial assistance, participating institutions benefit from opportunities to strengthen international partnerships, improve mobility management and enhance academic cooperation.

Mobility beneficiaries can develop new knowledge, technical skills and professional competences while gaining international academic experience.

Expected Outcomes

The programme aims to increase access to international learning opportunities and strengthen cooperation between higher education institutions across Africa.

Expected outcomes include improved employability and entrepreneurship skills among mobility beneficiaries, particularly in areas related to climate change and the green transition.

The scheme also seeks to strengthen institutional capacity, improve the recognition of qualifications, encourage cooperation between higher education and industry, and support the internationalisation of African higher education.

By promoting inclusive mobility, the programme aims to expand educational opportunities for underrepresented groups and contribute to the development of a more connected African higher education and research environment.

How to Apply

African higher education institutions interested in participating in the programme should consult the European Commission’s Funding & Tenders Portal for open and upcoming calls under the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe (NDICI).

Individual students, trainees and staff seeking scholarship opportunities should consult the available Intra-Africa mobility projects and participating higher education institutions for information on application procedures, eligibility requirements and dea