Erasmus+

Erasmus+ Logo

Erasmus+ is the European Union's (EU) programme to support education, training, youth, and sport in Europe. With a budget of €14.7 billion, it provides opportunities for over 4 million Europeans to study, train, gain experience, and volunteer abroad. The programme, established in 2014, is set to last until 2020, but it has been extended and expanded in scope for the 2021-2027 period with a proposed budget of €26 billion. Erasmus+ aims to contribute to the Europe 2020 strategy for growth, jobs, social equity, and inclusion, as well as the aims of ET2020, the EU's strategic framework for education and training.

Objectives

Erasmus+ seeks to promote the sustainable development of its partners in the field of higher education, improve the quality and efficiency of education and training, reduce levels of skills mismatches and shortages in the European labor market, and foster quality youth work. It also aims to enhance the international dimension of education and training, particularly through cooperation between the EU and its partner countries.

Key Actions

Erasmus+ is structured around three key actions:

1. Mobility of Individuals - This action supports mobility in education, training, youth, and sport, allowing students, staff, trainees, teachers, volunteers, and others to experience learning and/or professional experience abroad.

2. Cooperation for Innovation and the Exchange of Good Practices - This action enables organizations to collaborate in order to improve their provision for learners and share innovative practices.

3. Support for Policy Reform - This action aims at supporting European policy tools and cooperation with partner countries, with a focus on reducing barriers to mobility and improving the recognition of qualifications.

Programme Countries

Erasmus+ is available to the 27 EU member states, as well as non-EU programme countries that include Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Turkey. Partner countries from all over the world can also participate in certain Actions of the programme, further promoting the international dimension of Erasmus+.

Impact

The impact of Erasmus+ is far-reaching, offering participants the chance to improve their language skills, gain soft skills, and increase their employability. For organizations, it provides opportunities for professional development of staff, capacity building, and the creation of transnational partnerships aimed at innovation and quality improvement in education.

Criticism and Challenges

Despite its success, Erasmus+ has faced criticism, including its accessibility to individuals with fewer opportunities and the complexity of its administrative procedures. Efforts have been made to simplify the programme and increase its inclusiveness, ensuring a wider range of participants can benefit from it.

Future of Erasmus+

The future of Erasmus+ looks promising, with the European Commission proposing to double the budget for the 2021-2027 period. This expansion aims to support even more individuals and projects, further contributing to the EU's goals of promoting education, training, and youth work across Europe and beyond.