Inclusion has been identified as the priority - among the four in the programme, alongside the digital transition, climate and civic participation - that is best implemented in Erasmus+ 2021-2027, all sectors combined.
According to a study by the consultancy firm ICF, published on Tuesday 15 July by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture to help it carry out the interim evaluation of Erasmus+ 2021-2027 and the final evaluation of Erasmus+ 2014-2020, the proportion of participants recognised as having fewer opportunities has risen from around 10% during the 2014-2020 period to around 15% in 2023.
Furthermore, the people concerned have been found to have developed skills, broadened their international outlook and improved their career prospects in the same proportions as other participants.
The youth sector has the highest participation rate of people with fewer opportunities, and almost 50% of cooperation projects include objectives relating to inclusion and diversity.
From 2015, following the migration crisis, a process was put in place to achieve these objectives. At the time, the mid-term review of the multiannual financial framework led to a budget renewal targeting inclusion objectives. And since 2021, all the national agencies have been taking action to promote inclusion, compared with only 38% in 2015.
Nevertheless, the report notes areas for improvement, such as the heterogeneous definitions of the notion of “people with fewer opportunities” between countries, difficulties in identifying the groups concerned and a lack of harmonisation of statistical data.
The study therefore recommends providing better support for the national agencies, implementing specific communication campaigns, improving the monitoring of the inclusion and diversity strategy and considering an increase in funding in areas where the social consequences may be the greatest.
To read the study, go to https://aeur.eu/f/hzj (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)