Erasmus+: The Flagship Programme for Mobility in Europe
International mobility is today a major challenge, in education and training but also to reinforce the connections between the people of different countries. It is in this context that the Erasmus+ programme was established by the European Union. Due to its success, it has become the symbol of European cooperation in education and one of the main symbols of European cooperation in general. But beyond the image, what are the real challenges of this programme? How does it work, and what are the benefits for European students? Dive into the heart of this emblematic programme of the European Union.
Erasmus+: A European Education and Training Programme
Created in 1987, Erasmus+ is an ambitious programme aimed at strengthening skills and increasing employment opportunities for young people in Europe. Widely recognized for its contribution to higher education, the Erasmus+ programme also extends to other sectors of education and training, providing support for people working in vocational education and training.
Based on the principles of cooperation and mobility, Erasmus+ embodies the idea of a European Union concerned with the education and training of its youth. Erasmus+ funding extends beyond student mobility, supporting initiatives like strategic partnerships for innovation, entrepreneurship, and digital skills. It also backs capacity-building projects to strengthen higher education systems and promotes policy reforms for modernization and inclusivity.
Key Actions of the Erasmus+ Programme
The Erasmus+ programme is divided into several key actions that contribute to its effective implementation. Each of these actions meets specific objectives and targets precise audiences.
Key Action 1, “Mobility of Individuals,” is perhaps the best known. It allows students, educational staff, and young people to move within the European Union to study, train, gain work experience, or participate in youth activities.
Key Action 2, “Cooperation for Innovation and the Exchange of Good Practices,” aims to promote cooperation, knowledge exchange, and innovation within educational and training institutions in Europe. It also encourages the creation of strategic partnerships to develop and share new practices and approaches.
Key Action 3, “Support for Policy Reform,” aims to support the efforts made by Member States to improve and modernize their education and training systems.
These key actions are complemented by the Jean Monnet programme, which promotes excellence in teaching and research on the European Union, and by the European Solidarity Corps, which offers volunteering and work opportunities in the field of solidarity.
How the Erasmus+ Programme Works
The Erasmus+ programme is based on a network of higher education institutions throughout Europe. It allows students to spend part of their studies in another European country, generally for a semester or an academic year.
To participate in the Erasmus+ programme, students must be enrolled in a higher education institution participating in the programme and have completed their first year of studies. They can then apply for an Erasmus+ scholarship that will cover part of the costs associated with their mobility. Since 1987, more than 13 million students have benefited from the Erasmus+ programme, to spend a semester or a year in another European
But the Erasmus+ programme is not limited to student mobility. Through different calls for proposals, it supports the implementation of Partnership for cooperation, excellence, and innovation, but also European policy experimentation in the field of education, the facilitation of transparency and recognition of skills and qualifications throughout the EU, and the dissemination of good practices.
The Benefits of the Erasmus+ Programme for Students
Taking part in Erasmus+ offers students and workers an enriching experience on many levels. Beyond the academic aspect, it’s a unique chance to discover a new culture, perfect a foreign language and develop intercultural skills. What’s more, it boosts job prospects, with employers increasingly valuing international profiles, as various studies have shown.
Aware of the importance of the programme, both for education and for creating a real European community, the European institutions pushed for an increase of the Erasmus+ budget during the last negotiations of the Multiannual Financial Framework (2021-2027), bringing the budget to a record-high of 26 billion euro for 7 years, almost doubling the budget of the previous MFF (2014-2020).
Conclusion
The Erasmus+ programme goes far beyond simple student exchanges to encompass a wide range of initiatives. It offers mobility and collaboration opportunities for students, teaching staff, young professionals and researchers, as well as for organizations active in the fields of education, training, youth and sport. This broad scope not only enriches academic career paths, but also fosters personal, professional and social development through a diversity of experiences and innovative projects. This makes Erasmus+ a genuine catalyst for change and progress on a European scale and beyond.