WHAT IS ERASMUS+?

Erasmus+ is the EU’s programme to support education, training, youth and sport in Europe. Its budget of €14.7 billion will provide opportunities for over 4 million Europeans to study, train, and gain experience abroad. Set to last until 2020, Erasmus+ doesn’t just have opportunities for students. Merging seven prior programmes, it has opportunities for a wide variety of individuals and organizations.

WHO CAN TAKE PART

Erasmus+ is open to many individuals and organizations, although eligibility varies from one action to another and from one country to another. Individuals can take part in many of the opportunities funded by Erasmus+, although most will have to do so through an organization taking part in the programme. The eligibility of individuals and organizations depends on the country in which they are based. Eligible countries are divided into two groups, Programme countries and Partners countries. Although Programme countries are eligible for all actions of Erasmus+, Partner countries can only take part in some, and are subject to specific conditions.

Individuals

Erasmus+ has opportunities for people of all ages, helping them develop and share knowledge and experience at institutions and organizations in different countries.

Organizations

Erasmus+ has opportunities for a wide range of organizations, including universities, education and training providers, think-tanks, research organizations, and private businesses.

AIMS

The aim of Erasmus+ is to contribute to the Europe 2020 strategy for growth, jobs, social equity and inclusion, as well as the aims of ET2020, the EU’s strategic framework for education and training. Erasmus+ also aims to promote the sustainable development of its partners in the field of higher education, and contribute to achieving the objectives of the EU Youth Strategy. Specific issues tackled by the programme include:

OUTCOMES

The outcomes of Erasmus+ are available in reports and compendia of statistics, as well as through the Erasmus+ Projects Platform, which includes most of the initiatives funded by the programme, as well as a selection of good practices and success stories.

HOW IS IT MANAGED

European Commission

The European Commission handles the overall management of the programme, including:

The Education, Audiovisual, and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) of the European Commission is in charge of managing the “centralized” elements of the programme, including:

The EACEA and Commission also carry out studies and research, as well as managing and financing the other bodies and networks supported by Erasmus+.

National Agencies

In the EU countries, the Commission entrusts much of the management of Erasmus+ to National Agencies. Outside the EU, and specifically in the field of higher education, this role is filled by the National Erasmus+ Offices. The Commission provides funding to the National Agencies, who use these funds to manage the programme’s “decentralized” activities. This allows the Agencies to adapt the programme to suit their national education, training, and youth systems. The National Agencies are responsible for:

These Agencies also support beneficiaries of the programme from the application stage to the end of a project. They also work with beneficiaries and other organizations to support EU policy in areas supported by the programme.

For more information, please refer to the Erasmus+ Program Guide. *here we shall add the program guide as a hyperlink for downloading.