Tempus finances two types of actions:

1. Joint Projects are based on multilateral partnerships between higher education institutions in the EU and the partner countries. They can develop, modernise and disseminate new curricula, teaching methods or materials, boost a quality assurance culture, and modernise the management and governance of higher education institutions.
2. Structural Measures contribute to the development and reform of higher education institutions and systems in partner countries, to enhance their quality and relevance, and increase their convergence with EU developments.

Partnerships are made up of consortia of organisations including higher education institutions, businesses, ministries, NGOs, and other organisations working in higher education; both from the EU and partner countries.

Launch of Tempus IV

The latest phase of the programme, Tempus IV, started in 2008 with a call for proposals lasting from January to April. The total budget for this call was around €51 million, with individual projects able to gaining funding of between €0.5 and €1.5 million. New projects under this call start at the end of 2008.

Tempus is managed by the European Commission's education and culture, enlargement and aid departments. It is financed through three of the European Commission's external assistance instruments such as the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (Western Balkans). The Erasmus Mundus 'External Co-operation Window' is a complimentary programme that funds higher education student and teaching staff mobility activities between European universities and universities from targeted third-countries.

The following projects recommended for funding include a high number of WBC participants (see list for details such as participationg countries and coordinating institutions): 

• WBC Virtual Manufacturing Network - Fostering an Integration of the Knowledge Triangle (see # 3 in the list)
• Modernisation and Reconstruction of University Management and Structure (# 9)
• Fostering Entrepreneurship in higher education - FoSentHE (# 14)
• Development of lifelong learning framework in Serbia (# 20)
• International Accreditation of Engineering Studies (# 29)
• SEE Doctoral Studies in Mathematical Sciences(# 31)
• Regional Joint Degree Master of Intellectual Property Law (# 32)
• Entrepreneurship and Local Economic Development in Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia (# 36)
• Development of Public Administration and Management Studies in Serbia (# 38)
• Video Conferencing Educational Services # 40)
• Designing and implementing of the NQF (# 42)
• Introduction and implementation of academic program in Community Youth Work (CYW) through enhancing interregional cooperation in the countries of Western Balkans (# 43)
• Conversion Courses for Unemployed University Graduates in Serbia (# 44)
• Opening University towards Society: Linking Education-Research-Innovation (# 49)
• Higher Education Learning Partnerships (# 55)
• Internal Quality Assurance at Serbian Universities (# 58)
• Fostering and Developing the Quality Culture at the University of Prishtina (# 59)

Sources:

List of projects recommended for funding: http://ec.europa.eu/education/programmes/tempus/doc/selectionIV_en.pdf (as accessed on January 7, 2009);

Tempus website: http://ec.europa.eu/education/external-relation-programmes/doc70_en.htm