European Union’s Erasmus+ Programme is the European Commission’s Programme for Education, training, youth, and Sport for the term 2021–2027, following the previous programme (2014–2020). The word “Erasmus” also acted as the acronym for “European Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students”. As a unified programme, the EU Erasmus+ programme presents more opportunities for the mobility of learners and team and collaboration across the education, training, and youth sectors and is more comfortable to access than its predecessors, with simplified funding management and a structure that seeks to streamline the administration of the programme. The new Erasmus+ Program, ranging from 2021–27, is more digital, inclusive and creative, as well as greener.
Erasmus+ programme for the European Union concerns the 27 EU Member States and 6 non-EU-associated nations with 55 National Agencies mandated for the decentralized administration of most of the programme’s activities. Other nations across the world may also partake in certain parts of the programme. The overall obligation for the programme’s management, direction and assessment lies with the European Commission (Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture), helped by its Education, Audio-visual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA).
What is the main goal of the Erasmus+ programme?
The purpose of “Erasmus+” is to facilitate transnational learning mobility and collaboration between organisations and policy architects, as a mechanism of improving quality and excellence, backing inclusion and equity, and promoting creativity and innovation in the domains of education, professional education, youth and sport. In all these areas, the goal is to deliver support, through life-long learning, for the academic, professional and subjective development of parties in Europe and beyond.
Key Components of the Erasmus+ Programme
The programme’s goal is followed through three critical actions:
- Key action 1: Learning mobility of individuals
- Key action 2: Cooperation among organisations and institutions
- Key action 3: Support to policy development and cooperation
Other activities possess “Jean Monnet” actions, which back teaching, learning, research and discussions on European integration issues, such as on the EU’s forthcoming challenges and opportunities.
How has the Erasmus+ programme evolved since its inception?
Erasmus+ also known as Erasmus Plus was the new 14.7 billion euro catch-all framework secheme for education, training, youth and sport from 2014 to 2020. The Erasmus+ programme incorporated all the EU’s schemes for education, training, youth and sport, including the Lifelong Learning Programme. The Erasmus+ regulation was inscribed on 11 December 2013.
This EU Erasmus+ programme delivered grants for a broad range of actions including the prospect for students to embark on work placements abroad and for teachers and education attendants to attend training courses. Projects are split into two parts – formal and non-formal education – each of them with three key steps. Erasmus+ key action one delivers a unique opportunity for teachers, headmasters, teachers and other staff of education institutions to partake in international training courses in different European countries.
On 30 May 2018, the EU Commission assumed its proposal for the subsequent Erasmus programme, with a doubling of the funding to 30 billion euros for the period 2021–2027. Further negotiations were predicted to take place during the 2019–2024 European parliamentary period with the European Parliament and the European Council before the final programme is assumed. The deal between the European Parliament and the European Council was assumed and the publication of the new regulation 2021/817 specifying the new Erasmus+ programme was created on 28 May 2021.
For the second stage of the programme, the EU has dedicated itself to expanding “Erasmus+” further and enriching it by submitting a new ´greening´ dimension as well as a strong new digital education segment. The new greening size is designed to assist in combating climate change and managing other global challenges including health, while the digital education strand aims in particular to enhance the quality of online education in Europe which has increased greatly in the aftermath of the COVID 19. Additional transversal preferences for the programme are the obligation to social inclusion and diversity, and to promote more robust participation in democratic life, shared values and civic engagement.
Participation and outcome of the programme
Almost 14 million people have partaken in the Erasmus programme since its composition. The number of young participants has grown significantly since 1987. About 300,000 a year corresponded with only 3,244 in 1987. Spain is the nation that has permitted most people to partake in Erasmus with more than 40,000 per year, narrowly ahead of France, Germany and Italy. The nations receiving the most Erasmus pupils are Spain with more than 47,000 students and then Germany with 32,800. EU Erasmus+ programme has positively influenced higher education, bringing educational, social, cultural, and economic advantages to institutions. It professionalizes international collaboration, supports academic ties, boosts research collaborations, and comprises informal networks, building friendships across borders.
The schedule has become an appreciated source of ‘soft power’ and diplomatic value for partaking countries. There are presently more than 4,000 higher institutions partaking in Erasmus across the 37 nations. In 2012–13, 270,000 participated, the most popular destinations being Spain, Germany, Italy and France. Erasmus students designated 5 per cent of European graduates as of 2012.
