Banaras Hindu University’s (BHU) Faculty of Arts has secured a substantial **Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE)** grant from the European Union. The grant totals €780,000, roughly **Rs 8.2 crore**, for a three-year project focused on religious tourism.
Grant Details and Significance
This funding represents the largest **Erasmus** grant received by BHU to date. It also marks the first **Erasmus** grant awarded specifically to the university’s Faculty of Arts. This achievement highlights BHU’s growing international academic standing.
The project, titled “SacredTravels4Growth: Higher Education and Sustainable Growth through Religious Tourism,” will run for three years. Its operational period extends from **November 2025** to **October 2028**.
Project Goals and Scope
The primary aim of “SacredTravels4Growth” is to strengthen higher education capacity. This includes enhancing programs in religious tourism management and cultural heritage preservation. The project also targets sustainable regional development.
It will achieve these goals by fostering significant international collaboration. Knowledge exchange among partner institutions forms a crucial component. This collaboration aims to elevate educational standards and practical application.
A key focus involves sharing best practices. These practices originate from Europe and other partner countries. The objective is to promote responsible and sustainable tourism models globally.
International Partnerships
The project involves a broad international consortium. A total of 16 partner institutions are participating. These institutions represent eight different countries.
The participating nations include Albania, India, Spain, Greece, Slovenia, Moldova, Malta, and South Africa. This diverse geographical spread ensures a rich exchange of cultural and academic perspectives.
Within this international framework, Banaras Hindu University (BHU) and Karnataka University serve as the Indian partners. Their involvement underscores India’s role in global academic initiatives.
BHU’s Role and Team
The BHU project team is led by Pravin Rana. Key members supporting the initiative include Shyju PJ, Jyoti Rohilla, and Priyanka Singh. Their combined expertise will drive the project’s local implementation.
Administrative oversight and financial management will be handled by BHU’s sponsored research and industrial consultancy cell (SRICC). This ensures efficient and transparent execution of the grant activities.
Benefits for Students and Faculty
Participants in the project, including faculty members and students, will benefit from international training workshops. These workshops provide specialized knowledge and skills.
Scheduled study visits across multiple partner countries will offer direct exposure to diverse tourism practices. These visits foster a deeper understanding of global religious tourism trends.
The initiative will expand global academic networks for BHU. It will also create new collaborative research opportunities. This reinforces the university’s commitment to international engagement and academic excellence.