Brussels, 23/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 23 November, the European Commission adopted a proposed regulation and a communication on the Erasmus for All programme for the period 2014-2020, with a total budget of €19 billion. The aim is to help 5 million people (nearly twice the current number) to go and study or attend training abroad thanks to an Erasmus bursary. Around 3 million of them will be students in higher education and vocational training.
The European Commission is proposing an increase of around 70% to the Erasmus budget for 2014-2020 compared to the current budget over seven years (2007-2013). The figure of €19 billion takes account of estimates of future inflation and includes expenditure earmarked for international cooperation.
The new programme will support three types of action: - creation of learning opportunities for individuals, both within the Union and in third countries (studying and training, industrial placements, education and professional development projects, the voluntary sector); - establishing institutional cooperation between teaching establishments, youth organisations, businesses, local and regional authorities and NGOs; - setting in place support for the reform of policies in the member states and cooperation with third countries: European transparency tools, trans-national study and support for the Bologna (higher education) and Copenhagen (vocational education and training) processes.
Two completely new elements will be part of Erasmus for All: a loan guarantee scheme to help Masters degree students to finance their studies abroad and to acquire the skills needed for knowledge-intensive jobs; - the creation of 400 “knowledge alliances” (partnerships between higher education institutions and businesses which seek to promote employability). (LC/transl.fl)