The Consortium is composed of partners representing eight European countries (Sweden,Italy, Poland, UK, Ireland, France, Austria, and The Netherlands) and five Asian countries(India, China, Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh). When choosing partners, excellence ineducation and research have been the main criteria, but we have also taken into account theheritage from existing EMECW China and India projects, where mechanisms for cooperationare well established and functioning. All the partners that have been chosen are outstandinguniversities in their respective countries and most are comprehensive and research-oriented.We believe that by choosing the very best partner universities possible, the project will havea stronger societal impact in the Third Countries concerned: individuals chosen for mobilitywill return home better equipped to help shape their home region's future. In the process,strong links to Europe will have been established, helping both Asia and Europe betterunderstand and cooperate with one another.Central to the project are the mobility opportunities offered to 106 individuals. Equallyimportant is establishing or strengthening links between partner universities and overallcapacity building at partner institutions. We view this as the key to ensuring that allcooperative endeavours initiated with the help of the project will outlive its duration.If our proposal is approved, the first Consortium meeting will be held in Lund, Sweden, in lateSeptember 2010. Decisions will be made about selection procedures, the distribution ofsums for the organization of mobility, the selection of a steering committee, and work groups,etc. We will also focus on group discussions regarding such matters as visibility strategy,3how to best reach different target groups, and quality assurance. One of the primary tasks forthe steering committee will be to decide about the project's nomination list. Nominations willbe based on the validation made by the Asian partner universities, the ranking lists made bythe hosting (European) universities, and the mobility scheme presented in the application.Special efforts will be made to attract individuals from vulnerable groups to the programme,such as victims of natural disasters, ethnic minorities, or more generally students and stafffrom exceptionally poor economic backgrounds. Our associate partners will play a key role inreaching out to these groups