Acronym: Al Idrisi - a famous medieval geographer, cartographer and botanist
The Erasmus Mundus - Al Idrisi II project takes its name from the famous medieval geographer, cartographer and botanist أبو عبد الله محمد الإدريسي ( Abū Abd Allāh Muhammad al-Idrīsī). He is the author of one of the most important works of medieval Geography نزهة المشتاق افي اختراق الآفاق (kitāb nuzhat al-mushtāq fī ikhtirāq al-āfāq; Journey of one who is eager to traverse horizons) and Botany كتاب الجامع ﻷشتات النبات (kitāb al-ǧāmiʿ li-aštāti ʾn-nabāt; Compendium of Plant Species).
Logo: Al Idrisi's world map
The logo of the Erasmus Mundus - Al Idrisi II project is derived from one of the most famous maps drawn by Al Idrisi (see below). It shows mostly Europe, Africa and Asia. Please note that the north is represented at the bottom and the south at the top. This reflects quite nicely the new views and change of perspective that Erasmus Mundus - Al Idrisi II aims to promote. The small rosette between Al and Idrisi is the symbol that Al Idrisi used for indicating the location of mayor cities on his maps (see below an example of Al Andalus).
Al Idrisi's world map
[public domain image copied from http://wapedia.mobi/commons/File:Al-idrisi_world_map.jpg]
Al Andalus
Al Andalus from kitāb nuzhat al-mushtāq fī ikhtirāq al-āfāq (Journey of one who is eager to traverse horizons) also called Tabula Rogeriana (Sicily 1154; 13th century copy, Maghreb; Bibliothèque Nationale de France)
[image copied from http://classes.bnf.fr/idrisi/grand/c4s1.htm]
Erasmus Mundus - Al Idrisi II: A scholarship scheme for exchange and cooperation between Europe and North Africa is an Erasmus Mundus Action 2 - Strand 1 partnership for Lot 1 (Algeria, Egypt, Ligya, Morocco, Tunisia) that will establish an active institution-based mobility network among 19 North African and EU partner universities and 6 associate universities supported by 3 associate institutions and the Ministries of Higher Education in the region. The project will allow undergraduate, master and doctoral students, post-doctoral fellows and academic and administrative staff to gain valuable experience, knowledge and contacts abroad. Some North African students will even have the possibility to return to their home countries holding a relevant master or doctoral degree. The project focuses strongly on regional needs in North Africa and the development of specific and relevant areas that were defined by the partners. Furthermore, the project will provide improved education and training opportunities for vulnerable groups and socio- economically disadvantaged students and promote equal access to higher education for students from less developed areas.
Erasmus Mundus - Al Idrisi II is co-financed by the European Commission in the framework of the Erasmus Mundus programme.
If you are interested in the scholarship scheme, please have a look at the menu items Scholarships and How to apply.
Erasmus Mundus - Al Idrisi II is a project that provides scholarships for undergraduates, master and doctoral students, post-doctoral fellows, academic and administrative staff. The grants are financed by the European Commission and include a monthly subsistence allowance, travel expenses, insurance costs and tuition fees if applicable. Only mobility flows between North Africa (Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia) on the one side and the European Union on the other side are eligible for funding. The following pages give you an overview of the objectives, the acronym, the logo and the management of the project. For further information about the scholarship scheme, please have a look at the menu items Scholarships and How to apply.
Comment: If you would like to read this information for the first edition of Erasmus Mundus - Al Idrisi, please click on the following link: Al Idrisi I: A European mobility project
Al Idrisi 2