* “More and better opportunities to support Europe’s future generations” *
In its first year, Erasmus+, the enhanced EU programme for education, training, youth and sport with a budget of over EUR 2 bln, has already offered more than 1 mln people the opportunity to take part in 18,000 funded projects.
More flexible opportunities for collaboration across sectors are also helping Europe’s education, training, youth and sport systems to try out innovative practices and contribute to reform and modernisation, the European Commission announced in Brussels.
Cyprus, too, has benefited generously from the programme, with nearly half of the EUR 5.52 mln for studying, training or volunteering abroad allocated to higher education, while cooperation projects absorbed a further EUR 2.73 mln, representing 14 strategic partnership and 79 organisations.
Of the nearly 3,600 people who studied, volunteered or trained abroad, the majority ended up in Greece, Spain, UK, Belgium and Italy, while Cyprus also received students from Poland, Germany, France, Lithuania and Greece.
Compared to the predecessor “Erasmus exchanges” programme, over the past seven years the numbers have more than doubled for outgoing and incoming students, as well as staff.
“During the first year, Erasmus+ has proved a true success. The impressive number of participants is proof that the programme is making a difference in improving young people’s employment prospects, helping them acquire new skills and experiences and supporting the modernisation of Europe’s education, training and youth systems,” said Tibor Navracsics, EU Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport.
“We will continue to build on this popularity to reach out to more people with different interests, profiles and social backgrounds.”
The figures reveal that in 2014, Erasmus+ already benefited more people through a wider range of opportunities. In its first year, the programme supported a record 650,000 mobility grants for students, trainees, teachers, volunteers and other young people and paved the way for the first student loans for a full Master degree abroad. For the first time, the programme also funded policy support projects involving public authorities and international organisations and provided funding for projects in the field of sport.
A strengthened Erasmus+ is also delivering stronger support to its beneficiaries. This can be seen in improved recognition of studies abroad once students return to their home countries. Moreover, teacher and staff mobility is being integrated better into professional development strategies backed by their home institutions.
The new Erasmus+ is also more open, with a strong focus placed on promoting social inclusion, active citizenship and tolerance. To achieve this, more financial support than ever has been made available to participants with fewer financial means or those with special needs. A further EUR 13 mln has also been committed for 2016 to fund projects tackling issues like social inclusion of minorities and migrants and other disadvantaged social groups.
The programme has also strengthened initiatives to improve young people’s employment prospects and facilitate their transition from education to work. This has seen an increase in traineeship and apprenticeship opportunities in the programme.
Spain, Germany and France still top destinations for students
In a separate report, the Commission also published the statistics on student and staff mobility for the final academic year (2013-2014) of the former Erasmus programme for higher education, which formed part of the umbrella Lifelong Learning Programme. The data reveals that a record number of students (272,000) and staff (57,000) took part compared to any previous year. Spain, Germany and France remained the three most popular destinations for Erasmus students to study or train abroad in 2013-2014.
In addition, a new Erasmus Regional Impact Study confirms that while undertaking an Erasmus student exchange significantly improves young people’s chances of securing high quality, managerial jobs, this is especially true for students coming from Southern and Eastern Europe.
The seven year programme (2014-2020) of the Erasmus+ has a budget of EUR 14.7 bln – a 40% increase compared to previous spending levels, reflecting the EU’s commitment to invest in these areas. Erasmus+ will provide opportunities to over 4 mln Europeans to study, train, gain work experience and volunteer abroad.
For the first time, the programme also offers dedicated funding for actions in the area of sport to contribute to developing its European dimension and tackle major cross-border threats such as match fixing and doping. The programme also supports the development of teaching and research on European integration through Jean Monnet actions.
