“This means no progress in hundreds of student and staff exchanges, CBHE projects, Jean Monnet initiatives, and other Erasmus+ programmes,” Baghirov stated. “New projects aren’t being registered, and even active ones are stalled.”
Erasmus+ is the largest EU-funded higher education program, with a EUR30 billion budget for its 2021-2027 actions, with Azerbaijani institutions participating since 1993 that benefited 5000 people so far.
The suspension encompasses 32 universities and 27 projects, threatening Azerbaijan’s academic ties with European institutions. “With a total budget of ₼20 million ($12 million), this disruption will seriously impact higher education and international cooperation,” Baghirov warned.
“This uncertainty threatens the programme’s future in Azerbaijan,” Baghirov said. However, Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degrees remain unaffected. “Undergraduates can still apply directly for scholarships to study in Europe,” he confirmed.
