ERASMUS
ERASMUS + GENERATION
Translation by Matteo Aristei
June 2019
Erasmus + is the EU ‘s programme to support education, training, youth and sport in Europe . This project provides opportunities for over 4 million Europeans to study, train, and gain experience abroad . The aim of Erasmus + is 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 . Erasmus + also aims to promote the sustainable development of its partners in the field of higher education, and contribute to achieving the objectives of the EU Youth Strategy .
The programme currently covers 33 countries ( all 28 EU countries as well as Turkey, North Macedonia, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein ) and is open to partner countries across the world . As far as Brexit, on 19 March 2019, the Council and Parliament adopted a Regulation to avoid the disruption of Erasmus + learning mobility activities involving the United Kingdom in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal (“ no – deal scenario ”).
Recently the European Commission and the Parliament are calling for new priorities for the next Erasmus + programme . MEPs propose to triple the budget and ensure there is more co – funding and cooperation with other European programmes . They also call for the introduction of centres of vocational excellence, international centres providing quality vocational training so that people can develop useful skills in key sectors .
Members are also keen to have more people who are disadvantaged participate . Special support should include language training, administrative support or e – learning opportunities .
Furthermore, on 28 March, Parliament also approved the new priorities for Creative Europe, another major EU culture programme . It will focus on more support for artists ’ mobility, better use of digital technologies and improved distribution of works .
More than three million students have already benefited from the Erasmus programme, since it was launched in 1987 . Last year a record number of 250,000 students took part in the programme to either do part of their studies or an internship abroad .
With the new Erasmus + programme, sport initiatives such as those against doping, violence, discrimination and intolerance are also funded . In addition students who want to embark on a Masters degree in another EU country can apply for a loan with favourable terms .
Following an agreement with the Council in June, Parliament ‘s culture and education committee backed the proposal on 5 November . MEPs voted in favour of the new Erasmus + programme on 19 November .
Erasmus + includes Erasmus, Erasmus Mundus, Leonardo da Vinci, Comenius, Grundtvig and Youth in Action programmes and also for the first time sport . Different budgets for different programmes will be clearly separated .
It is European added value to regional, national and sometimes local policies in the field of education and youth . In the Erasmus + there is also the European voluntary service, which gives people the possibility to try learn and experience work in other countries, all while being paid and socially secure .
Erasmus + will also support new partnerships between teaching institutions and firms . « Knowledge alliances » and « sector skills alliances » should permit training in a real working environment, new teaching approaches and new courses tailored to the world of work .
ARTICLE SOURCES
https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/about/brexit_it