1. Erasmus: A European Phenomenon
David Hibler
British Council

2. Introduction What is Erasmus? Who can take part? What can you do?
Key Statistics
What are the benefits?
Future perspectives

3. Background
Launched 1987 to encourage student and staff mobility in the EU
Largest organised student mobility programme in the world
Involves over 4,000 Higher Education institutions in 33 countries
Forms part of the EU’s Lifelong Learning Programme
Managed in the UK by the British Council since 2006/7

4. Who Can Take Part?
Students registered for a higher education degree or a short term higher vocational education course
Students from all subject areas - from art to zoology
Part-time students are eligible
Higher Education Staff – both academic and administrative

5. What Can You Do?
Students can study for 3-12 months in another European country as a part of their degree programme
Students can also carry out a work placement which provides a good preparation for future employment
Other parts of the programme offer opportunities for participating in short courses abroad, often over the summer

6. Erasmus in Numbers:
Over 3 million students have participated since 1987
The UK
In 2011/12, 13,633 students took part - the largest number since the programme began
216,591 UK students have taken part since 1987
The UK ranked 6th for number of students who have gone abroad and 4th for incoming students in 2010/11
France, Germany and Spain are top sending and receiving countries

7. Benefits Stand out in the job market Gain life-skills
Acquire intercultural understanding
Adapt to new environments
Get a grant (c €370/month)
Earn credits – ‘academic recognition’
Learn a language
Gain international experience
Return more motivated and confident
Have a fun, life-changing experience!

8. The Benefits: the student perspective“
I gained a great deal from my experience, socially, culturally and academically. Erasmus helped me win my PhD scholarship and land a great job with a prestigious firm (Deloitte). Elisa Chami-Castaldi ”

9. “
Taking part in Erasmus transformed my whole university experience. I hadn’t really been abroad before, apart from holidays to Spain, so to go to an Eastern European country really opened my eyes. I got a job before I graduated and the experiences I had had from my Erasmus semester were the main talking point in the interview.
Since then I’ve been promoted four times in my job. I undoubtedly, 100% believe that my Erasmus experience has had a big part to play in that.
Shaun Marrinan ”

10. Benefits: the evidence
Better degrees and higher salaries: Higher Education Funding Council for England, 2009, “Attainment in higher education of Erasmus and placement students”
Employability - multinational employers are looking for:
ability to work collaboratively
communication skills
drive and resilience
cultural agility
(CIHE, 2011)

11. Benefits: the evidence
'International student mobility literature review’, commissioned by HEFCE and the British Council: ‘We suggest that…the Year Abroad (especially if it produces a four-year degree) acts rather like a one-year Master’s or MBA as an additional differentiating factor which can boost the chances of some students who have this extra element of educational capital and life experience.’

12. Future Perspectives
Erasmus+ ( ): schools, VET, HE, adult learning, informal/non-formal learning
Increased financial support for mobility
Additional support for joint programmes and joint degrees
Master’s degree loan facility
Global dimension

13. Thank you