THE EUROPEAN Union (EU) has awarded 53 Filipinos with the prestigious Erasmus+ scholarship, which allows them to pursue their master’s and doctorate degrees in different universities across EU member states.

The EU Delegation in Manila on Saturday said the 53 are scheduled to fly to various parts of Europe in the coming weeks.

EU Delegation Chargé d’Affaires a.i. Frederic Grillet congratulated the Erasmus+ students in a send-off ceremony on Friday and urged them to become ambassadors of goodwill who strengthen the EU-Philippines partnership.

Erasmus+ is structured to allow students to pursue their studies in more than one EU member state, giving them the opportunity to benefit from the academic expertise and culture of more than one university.

The program consists of a fully integrated curriculum, covering at least two study periods in two countries, of which at least one must be an EU member state.

The degree awarded at the end of the program are either a joint degree or multiple degrees. (PNA)