Brussels, 08/12/2006 (Agence Europe) - On 7 December, the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso and Education and Training Commissioner Ján Figel' highlighted the leading role that the ERASMUS programme has played as a driver in the modernisation of Europe's higher education systems. They called for this role to be further reinforced as they launched the celebrations for the programme's 20th anniversary in Brussels. The ERASMUS programme was adopted in June 1987 and 3,244 students took part in that first year. By 2005, the number had risen to 144,032, almost 1% of the European student population. The proportion among university teachers is even higher. In a press release, the Commission points out that studies have confirmed that having participated in ERASMUS can be a key asset when it comes to finding a job and that the programme has been and remains a driver for change in European higher education. Mr Figel' said, “ERASMUS has been and remains a key factor in the internationalisation and somehow 'Europeanisation' of the EU's higher education systems”, but there are still challenges. Among these, “The ERASMUS grant remains far too low to allow students from less favourable financial backgrounds to enjoy the benefits of the programme,” he said. For that reason, the Commission has called on Member States to increase their support for ERASMUS, to open it to even more students, especially those from less privileged backgrounds. (ol)