Tempus is the European Union’s Programme which supports the modernisation of higher education in the Partner Countries of Eastern Europe, Central Asia, the Western Balkans and the Mediterranean region, mainly through university cooperation projects.
It also aims to promote voluntary convergence of Partner Country higher education systems with EU developments in the field of higher education such as the Lisbon agenda and the Bologna process . In addition to institutional cooperation Tempus also promotes a "people to people" approach.
Tempus provides support to consortia of institutions composed mainly of universities or universities associations. Non-academic partners can also be part of a consortium.

Objectives
The overall objective of Tempus is to contribute to the creation of an area of cooperation in the field of higher education between the European Union and Partner Countries in the countries neighboring the EU.
The specific objectives of Tempus are as follows:
• To promote the reform and modernisation of higher education in the Partner Countries;
• To enhance the quality and relevance of higher education to the world of work and society in the Partner Countries;
• To increase the capacity of higher education institutions in the Partner Countries and the EU, in particular their capacity to co-operate internationally and to continually modernize, and to assist them in opening up to society at large, the world of work and the wider world in order:
- to overcome inter-country fragmentation in the area of higher education and inter-institutional fragmentation in countries themselves;
- to enhance inter-disciplinarily and trans-disciplinarily between university faculties;
- to enhance the employability of university graduates;
- to make the European Higher Education Area more visible and attractive in the world;
- To foster the reciprocal development of human resources;
- To enhance mutual understanding between peoples and cultures of the EU and the Partner Countries.

Actions
Tempus finances three types of Actions:
- Joint Projects based on multilateral partnerships between higher education institutions in the EU and the Partner Countries aimed at exchanging knowledge and know-how between EU universities and institutions in the Partner Countries and between Partner Country institutions themselves in certain cases. Joint Projects are implemented at institutional level. They aim to help develop curricula, enhance university governance and address issues relevant for Higher education and society. Joint Projects may include small scale mobility activities of short duration for students, academic staff, researchers, university administrators and companies.
- Structural Measures seek to contribute to the development and reform of education institutions and systems at national level in the Partner Countries. They can address issues linked to the reform of governance structures and systems (qualification systems, quality assurance, etc.) or enhancing the links between higher education and society. Structural Measures can include studies and research, conferences and seminars, training courses, policy advice and dissemination of information.
- Accompanying Measures comprise of dissemination and information activities, such as thematic conferences, studies and activities aiming at the identification and exploitation of good practice, stakeholder consultations, etc.
Joint Projects and Structural Measures are implemented through regular Calls for Proposals, while Accompanying Measures are launched through Calls for Tender or Framework Contracts.
Every year, the Calls for Proposal contain all the necessary information on how to apply for funding and the criteria that need to be met in order to obtain funding.

Relevant contacts:
http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/tempus/
http://www.tempus-lebanon.org