New mobility programme for students and lecturers: Erasmus+
Erasmus+, the new EU programme for education, training, youth and sport, due to begin in January, was approved by the European Parliament.
Aimed at boosting skills, employability and supporting the modernisation of education, training and youth systems, the seven-year programme will have a budget of €14.7 billion - 40% higher than current levels. More than 4 million people will receive support to study, train, work or volunteer abroad, including 2 million higher education students, 650 000 vocational training students and apprentices, as well as more than 500 000 going on youth exchanges or volunteering abroad. Students planning a full Master's degree abroad, for which national grants or loans are seldom available, will benefit from a new loan guarantee scheme run by the European Investment Fund. Erasmus+ will also provide funding for education and training staff, youth workers and for partnerships between universities, colleges, schools, enterprises, and not-for-profit organisations.
"EU's new education programme Erasmus+ is very good news to millions of Europeans," say European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth Androulla Vassiliou and Chair of the EU Committee on Culture and Education Doris Pack.
Students can apply for the new mobility programme from February and lecturers from May.
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