VIABLE INTERNATIONAL ACADEMIC LINKS ACROSS CULTURAL TIES IN

EUROPE AND ASIA

VIA LACTEA

VIA LACTEA is a Joint mobility project for ungraduates and staff in the field of Humanities that aims at: • Promoting "people-to-people links“• Enhancing mutual understanding between cultures and therefore,

facilitate the exchange of knowledge. • Combining unique elements of class work, cultural programming

and traineeships to prepare students for a successful integration in the work place.

• Seeking to diversify teaching methods, open new avenues of collaboration and effectively coordinate and monitor the programme as a coherent whole with a view to its ongoing sustainability after the 3 years.

WHAT IS VIA LACTEA?

The project goes beyond a simple comparison of EU and Japan cultures. Framed around a unique transnational theme that is the twinning of two UNESCO World Heritage pilgrim routes which originated in the XI century: the Camino de Santiago in the NW of the Iberian Peninsula and Kumano Kodo in Japan.

BUT VIA LACTEA IS EVEN MORE….

The twin pilgrim routesCamino de Santiago Kumano Kodo

VIA LACTEA is a part of the Industrialised Countries Instrument - Education Cooperation Programme (ICI - ECP) together with EACEA.

• BUDGET: 190000 €• DURATION: 3 years

MAIN FEATURES

European Partners

Universidade de Santiago de CompostelaUniversidade de Minho

Japanese Partners

Kanazawa University

Aichi Prefectural University

WHO ARE THE MEMBERS OF THE CONSORTIUM?

STUDENTSCandidates must be undergraduates at one of the partner universities and must fulfill the requirements set out in their home university specific VIA LACTEA annual call for applications. STAFF Academic and administrative staff

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE AS A BENEFICIARY?

Candidates must be registered in a full-time undergraduate course at one of the four home universities:– USC, UMINHO, KANAZAWA OR AICHI PREFECTURAL– Undertaking studies in the area of Humanities (ISCED code 0.8)

• Accredited B1 English and A2 Japanese for EU students from USC and UMinho

• Copy of Academic record• Letter of motivation• Letter of recommendation from a professor at your home

university

BENEFICIARY REQUIREMENTS

• Full waiver on tuition fees for the students mobility period.

• Mobility scholarships for students: 1.000 € month (maximum 5 months)

• Contributions for travel costs: 1.500 € per student receiving a mobility scholarship

• Duration of mobility: 5 months (spring semester 2015, 2016 or 2017)

WHAT DOES THIS PROJECT OFFER?

Grant Amount 1500 € contribution to travel costs and a 1000€ allowance per week for staff.Duration of mobility• Academic Staff: 2 weeks • Administrative Staff: 1 week

WHAT DOES THIS PROJECT OFFER?

Home University Host Universities

Mobility semester

Spring 2015 Spring 2016

Spring 2017

Number of students

USC Kanazawa and Aichi Prefectural 3 4 3

UMinho Kanazawa and Aichi Prefectural 3 4 3

Kanazawa USC and UMinho 3 4 3

Aichi Prefectural USC and UMinho 3 4 3

MOBILITIESThe project lifecycle covers three academic years from 2014/15 to 2016/17 for a total of 40 students.

HOWYour International Office will publish any neccesary information regarding the application proccess to this programme.

WHENCalls for applications open at each home university in Autumn semester (between September and October) for 5 month mobility periods in the following Spring semester:• First of April to end of August in Japan.• Early February to mid July in EU.

HOW AND WHEN CAN I APPLY?

ACADEMIC RECOGNITION • Participating in VIA LACTEA ensures the mutual

recognition of all credits performed in partner institutions within the consortium.

STUDY AREAS• VIA LACTEA is open to students and staff in the

field of Humanities.

ACADEMIC RECOGNITION

WEB http://www.usc.es/vialactea

EMAIL international@usc.es

MORE INFORMATION