Erasmus Programme

The Erasmus Programme offers the possibility of studying abroad for between 3 months and 1 year, with scholarships, grants, and transferable tuition.

Objectives

• To enable students to benefit educationally, linguistically and culturally from the experience of learning in other European countries;
• To promote co-operation between institutions and to enrich the educational environment of host institutions;
• To contribute to the development of a pool of well-qualified, open-minded and internationally experienced young people as future professionals.

Who is Eligible?

European students may be able to study in Panama. The program is open to higher education institutions and organizations active in the field of higher education and research, as well as to students, doctoral candidates, teachers, researchers and university staff from any part of the world.

Eligible students must be enrolled at a Higher Education Institution that holds an ERASMUS University Charter in the EU Member States, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, and EU candidate countries. The student must be enrolled at least in the second year of higher education studies. Students may also enroll if they are enrolled in a short term higher vocational education course or if they are a part-time student that will study full-time during their period abroad. Postgraduate students can also take part in Erasmus, provided they have not already exceeded their grant quota.

Contact universities in Panama to see whether credits from other institutions are transferable. Note that the language of instruction may be different than that of your home institution. Erasmus Intensive Language Courses may be offered at host universities.

How to Apply

It is advised to start preparing for your stay at least 1 year before departure. The earlier you plan, the better chance you find the right Programme for you and are able to submit your applications before all pertinent deadlines.

The home institution of the students applies for ERASMUS mobility grants to its national agency while the students apply to their home institution. Students apply through their university with an Erasmus Coordinator in their subject area. Applicants must submit:

• Level of qualifications
• Level of language
• Current degree
• Desired courses

Applicants should be prepared to submit certified copies of all diplomas since the baccalaureat or A Level. Translations may be required.

ECTS

The European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) provides uniform credit across different educational institutions. Student workload consists of the time required to complete all planned learning activities such as attending lectures, seminars, independent and private study, preparation of projects, examinations, etc. One credit stands for around 25 to 30 working hours with 60 Credits representing the workload of a year of study (usually 30 Credits per semester and 20 credits per trimester). Those credits allocated to modules and courses can only be obtained after successful completion of the work required and appropriate assessment of the learning outcomes achieved.

To fully understand how the system works, read the article on the ECTS.

The strategic location of Sri Lanka has attracted many countries and has created great opportunities in the spheres of the trade. Currently trade volume between the countries is around 180 million US $ which has not reflected friendship, brotherhood and closeness between people and political hierarchy of the Sri Lanka and Turkey.

The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Turkey has initiated a robust and aggressive campaign and action plan to increase tourism, investment, cultural ties, people to people contacts and the trade volume in upcoming years to benefits to people and business community in both countries. Sri Lanka – Turkey Joint Commission for Economic & Technical Cooperation (JCETC) established to enhance trade, investment, and tourism, technical and cultural cooperation between the two countries will be meeting soon this year in Colombo. Turkey –Sri Lanka Business Council established under the umbrella of DEIK and Trade Desk for Turkey established under the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka has added to efforts of the Embassy’s initiatives to enhance trade and investments.

Presently Turkish Airlines flights operations from Istanbul to Colombo have given a boost to connect two countries people. Furthermore Sri Lankans have been given an opportunity to witness glimpse of Turkish culture and the beauty through quality television series shown in Sri Lanka’s main television stations. Currently there are four Turkish television series shown in Sri Lanka which are very popular among Sri Lankan folks. Sri Lanka is determined to utilize the potential that Turkey provides. Despite the pandemic situation in 2020, Sri Lanka managed to achieve some remarkable gains in Turkish market and Turkey has become top ten export market for Sri Lankan products in 2020. World’s finest Ceylon Tea, healthy Ceylon Cinnamon and spicy super Spices, classy and quality natural Rubber products such as tyres for industrial heavy vehicles, pneumatic tyres, surgical gloves, world renown branded Industrial Gloves i.e ATG Gloves, rubber products for white goods by processing raw rubber, high quality Coconut and Coconut based products leading the exports of Sri Lanka to Turkey. However, Sri Lanka has many more to offer which Turkey and its business community and people should taste and explore. Sri Lankan products always give a high quality, competitive prices and value for money for the customers.

We are exploring Turkish market for a mouthwatering variety of Sri Lankan Seafood, world famous Ceramic and Porcelain products, authentic Blue Sapphire and precious stones, Boat and Ship building, healthy Ayurveda and herbal products and quality apparel and garments.

The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (SLEDB) the apex body of the country’s export promotion operates as a conduit for foreign buyers to find Sri Lankan reliable suppliers/ exporters and quality export products. SLEDB exporter portal (https://www.srilankabusiness.com/exporters-directory/) gives information on our exporters/ suppliers.

Sri Lanka-Turkey Trade Volume

Source: Turkish Statistical Institute

Sri Lanka and Turkey relations have a deep history dating back to the 19th century and currently enjoy extremely friendly brotherly relations and continue to flourish and strengthen to the benefit of peoples of the two countries. Though there is hardly any substantial documented evidence some historians through some historical traces suggested that there were exchanges even during Selcuk Turks due to spice, Cinnamon trade and religious reasons. During Ottoman Sultan, Abdul Hamid II, perhaps in 1864, established an Honorary Consulate in Galle, Sri Lanka. Further the imperial ship (Ertugrul) while voyage to Japan, was docked for logistical requirement in Colombo on November 1, 1889. Turkey one of the first country to recognize and established formal diplomatic relations with Sri Lanka after Sri Lanka’s independence on 4th February 1948. Ever since, political, economic, cultural, technological bilateral relations by and large people to people to contacts between the peoples of the two countries magnified in many fold. While Sri Lanka celebrates 73rd Anniversary of the Independence this year, Sri Lanka and Turkey reaches milestone of 73 years of establishment of diplomatic relations. Sri Lankans always admire friendship of Turkey as a true friend and Turkey stood by Sri Lankans when in trouble and difficulties. President His Excellency Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, when he was Prime Minister in 2005 visited Sri Lanka after the Tsunami in 2004 to show the solidarity to Sri Lankan people affected by Tsunami and gifted a housing settlement in “Midigama”, South of Sri Lanka for the families affected by Tsunami which Sri Lankans up to date pay gratitude to the government of Turkey and President Erdogan. Sri Lanka also gratefulness for medical donations dispatched to Sri Lanka recently for the use of government of Sri Lanka’s effort to fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. The State visit to Turkey by then President H.E. Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2008 and official visit of Hon. Mevlut Cavusagolu, Foreign Minister of Turkey to Sri Lanka further strengthened the bond between the two countries. Visionary leadership of His Excellency Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the 7th Executive President of Sri Lanka through his national policy framework, “Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour” leading Sri Lanka to achieve desirable goals to make Sri Lanka a prosperous, peaceful and develop country in the region. Friendship between His Excellency Gotabaya Rajapaksa and His Excellency Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the determination of the two leaders will enhance cooperation in a diverse array of fields and prosper longstanding brotherly relations between Sri Lanka and Turkey.

After regaining of independence in 1948, the formal diplomatic relation between the two countries was established.  The Turkish Mission in New Delhi was concurrently accredited to Sri Lanka while the Sri Lankan Mission in Cairo was concurrently accredited to Turkey. However, when Sri Lanka opened its resident Mission in Tel- Aviv, the relations with Turkey was handled through that Mission until year 2012 when Sri Lanka opened its resident Mission in Ankara.  Following year that was in 2013 Turkey opened its resident Mission in Colombo.

High Level Visits

1. Former Prime Minister Ranasinghe Premadasa visited Turkey in 1986 .The visit has been the first highest level visit to Turkey from Sri Lanka.

2. Immediately after the tsunami disaster in 2005 Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan  visited Sri Lanka bringing aid for the tsunami victims and promised continued assistance towards rebuilding the lives of affected people during talks with President Mahinda Rajapaksa who was then Prime Minister on 10 February 2005. The Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was the Chief Guest at ceremony held at Midigama in Weligama to mark the commencement of construction of a brand new Model Township in aid of Matara city Renewal Action Programme (McRAP). This is the first ever visit of a Turkish Prime Minister to Sri Lanka.

3. Former Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey Mehmet Ali Sahin visied Sri Lanka an Opened the 450-house Turkish Village of Midigama Housing in the Matara District for the benefit of families who were victims of the December 2004 tsunami on 23 December 2006.

4. Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa visited Turkey on a four-day official visit on the invitation of Turkish President Abdullah Gul in 2008 when he was President of Sri Lanka. The visit paid by President Mahinda Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka in 2008, has been the first Presidential visit from Sri Lanka to Turkey.

5. Hon. Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs, paid an official visit to Sri Lanka on 14-15 June 2016 on an invitation extended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mangala Samaraweera. This was the first official visit by a Turkish Foreign Minister to Sri Lanka.

Agreement/MoUs in Force Between Both Countries 

1. Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation between the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Government of the Republic of Turkey.

2. Bilateral Air Services Agreement between the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Government of the Republic of Turkey.

3. Treaty on Extradition between the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Republic of Turkey.

4. MoU for Cooperation between the center for Strategic Research of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey and the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute for International Relations and Strategic Study of the Ministry External Affairs of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.

5. MoU between the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (ICTA) of the Republic of Turkey.

6. MoU for Cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey on Diplomatic Training, Exchange of Information and Documentation.

7. Twinning Agreement between Sabaragamuwa Province of Sri Lanka and the city of Gaziantep of Turkey.

8. Agreement on Trade between Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Government of the Republic of Turkey.