Brussels, 21/06/2010 (Agence Europe) - Almost 200,000 higher education students received grants to study or train abroad in 2008-2009, an overall increase of 8.7% on the previous academic year. According to the European Commission, which published the figures on Monday 21 June, this is a record number which will be difficult to beat in the near future given Europe's current budgetary problems. More than two million young Europeans have benefited from Erasmus funding since the programme's launch in 1987. The Commission notes, too, that the biggest increase is in the number of students going on company placements - up more than 50% on the previous year. In addition, last year more than 36,000 staff from higher education institutions went abroad to teach or receive training in one of the 31 European countries participating in the Erasmus scheme.
In academic year 2008-2009, a total of 198,600 students went to one of the 31 countries participating in the Erasmus scheme (EU member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Turkey). The record numbers of students taking part in the Erasmus scheme reflects the 12% increase in the budget available in 2008-2009 for Erasmus studies, placements and other mobility initiatives. This also led to an increase in the average monthly grant - up from €255 to €272 - that Erasmus students received from the EU in 2008-2009. Only two countries, Iceland and Liechtenstein, sent fewer Erasmus students abroad than previously. The Commission points out that it will be difficult for the programme to expand at similar rates in the near future without additional resources.
168,200 students received Erasmus support to study abroad and spent an average of six months in the host country. This is an increase of 3.4% compared to numbers in the previous year. In two countries (Germany and Poland), the number of students choosing this option did not increase and eight countries (Austria, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Iceland, Ireland, Liechtenstein and the United Kingdom) recorded a decrease. Factors behind this decrease are believed to include a shift to placements, competition from non-European destination countries, the start of the economic crisis and low grants.
Since 2007, Erasmus has offered students the opportunity to go abroad for placements in businesses or other organisations. 2008-2009 saw an increase of more than 50% on the previous year, to 30,400 students. A desire by students to increase their job prospects through practical work - as shown by a Eurobarometer survey in 2009 - is seen as a main reason behind the increasing popularity of Erasmus company placements.
The countries sending the highest numbers of Erasmus students were France (28,300 students), Germany (27,900) and Spain (27,000). As a share of their student population the top performers were Luxembourg (15.5%), Liechtenstein (3%), Austria (1.9%) and the Czech Republic (1.7%). The most popular destinations for Erasmus students were Spain (33,200 students), followed by France (24,600) and Germany (22,000).
During academic year 2008-2009, Erasmus supported more than 36,000 exchanges of staff from higher education institutions (up 13.6%). In 28,600 cases teachers received grants to teach abroad and in 7,700 cases staff spent time in another country for training in businesses or partner institutions.
Currently, an estimated 4% of European students receive an Erasmus grant at some stage during their studies. Erasmus not only caters for students and university staff, but also supports higher education institutions in working together through networks, multilateral projects and other measures. There is also an increased focus on reaching out to the world of business and society. With Croatia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia joining the Erasmus scheme in 2009, the number of participating countries has risen to 33.
The Commission believes the Erasmus programme can contribute to the Union's EUROPE 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth by equipping young people with the adaptable skills needed for a competitive, knowledge-based society. (O.L./transl./rt)