Representatives of the European institutions reached agreement on Friday 11 December on the Erasmus+ programme for the exchange of students and apprentices for the period 2021-2027. In the end, they have retained the same name as in the previous programming period with the small “+”, to highlight that the programme is broader than higher education alone.
Created in 1987, the Erasmus programme aims to encourage student exchanges. The 2021-2027 version covers all levels and types of education and training, which means that people attending adult education – such as training in digital skills or evening courses for professional or personal development – will be able to participate. It also continues to support cooperation on youth policy and to encourage participation in sport.
For all these fields of action, the main specific objectives of the Erasmus+ programme are as follows: – promoting learning mobility of individuals and groups in the field of education and training; – promote non-formal and informal learning mobility and the active participation of young people in the field of youth; – promote learning mobility among sports personnel.
The program has been financed with more than €26 billion, consisting of €24.5 billion at current prices and an additional €1.7 billion at 2018 prices. In particular, this will enable it to support new flagship initiatives, such as European universities, Erasmus teacher academies, centres of professional excellence and DiscoverEU.
The Vice-President of the European Commission, Margaritis Schinas, welcomed this positive outcome on “Europe’s most emblematic programme, the jewel in our crown”. “Over the last three decades, participation in Erasmus+ has boosted the personal, social and professional development of over 10 million people, almost half of them between 2014 and 2020. With almost double the budget for the next programming period, we will now work to reach 10 million more over the next seven years”, continued Education Commissioner Mariya Gabriel.
Like the Solidarity Corps (see other news), the Erasmus+ 2021-2027 programme focuses on inclusion. Both the Commission and the Member States will need to develop action plans to identify barriers and increase the participation of disadvantaged people. In addition, they will be able to provide additional subsidies, including advance payments for those who have to pay the initial costs. According to the agreement reached, projects cannot be rejected because of higher costs caused by inclusion measures. (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)