Sustainability in Academic Cooperation: Within and Beyond Visegrad Borders

The issues of systematic and purposeful international cooperation are key
areas for further development of higher education, supported by a number
of positions and policies of the various regional groupings and countries. The
Erasmus + programme for the years 2014–2020, is one of the most famous
in the conditions of the European Union, focusing on the development
and modernization of education, youth and the application of the young
generation in the labour market. The issues of scientific research collaboration
are addressed by the EU Framework programme for research and innovation.
In order to promote the ideas of solidarity and cooperation in the Visegrad
region, the International Visegrad Fund promotes various grant schemes and
scholarship programmes. The purpose of the fund is to facilitate and promote
the development of closer cooperation among citizens and institutions within
the region as well as between the V4 region and other countries, especially the
Western Balkans and countries of the Eastern Partnership. The fund does so
through grant support of common cultural, scientific and educational projects,
youth exchanges, cross-border projects and tourism promotion, and through
individual mobility programs (scholarships, residencies). Non-governmental
organizations (NGOs), civil society organizations (CSOs), municipalities and
local or regional governments, schools and universities, but also private
companies or individual citizens are eligible for grant support, provided that
their projects deal with the region and further develop cooperation among
project partners based in the region (Visegrad, 2014).