Call for tenders on student lending in support of higher education mobility
The European Commission has launched a call for tenders for a 'feasibility study to examine the potential need for a student lending facility at European level'. This study will undertake a review of existing student financial support, including lending provision, grants and other financial support and evaluate where Community added value may exist in developing a lending facility to complement national/regional schemes in support of mobility, building upon earlier research in this area.
An overwhelming body of evidence shows that a learning mobility period during higher education has significant benefits on students' work and life chances. But cost can be a significant disincentive for potential students, and especially for those wishing to study in a different country. Affordable and accessible student loans can act as one piece in the jigsaw to overcome financial barriers to student mobility, but access to student lending is not always easy, and portability continues to be an issue.With this study, the Commission wishes to obtain a review of existing student financial support and its portability for mobile studies. The study will also examine the possible need for and potential added value of establishing a European Student lending facility to facilitate student mobility. It will further explore how such a facility could potentially be incorporated into the EU's funding support for higher education.
The project, to be funded by the Commission up to a sum of € 250,000, will report at the end of 2010.
