The European Commission’s ERASMUS + Programme enables people at all stages of their lives to take part in stimulating learning experiences, as well as helping to develop the education and training sector across Europe. 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 organisations.
- Erasmus+ has opportunities for people of all ages, helping them develop and share knowledge and experience at institutions and organisations in different countries.
- Students: Studying abroad is a central part of Erasmus+ and has been shown to have a positive effect on later job prospects. It is also a chance to improve language skills, gain self-confidence and independence and immerse yourself in a new culture.
- Staff (teaching): With Erasmus+, opportunities are available to spend time teaching at an education institution abroad. These opportunities are available to both staff working in the education sector and to individuals working outside the sector invited to share their knowledge and experience.
- Staff (training): With Erasmus+, training opportunities are available to staff working in education, both in teaching and non-teaching capacities. Training periods abroad can consist of job shadowing, observation periods or specific training courses abroad.
- Trainees: Erasmus+ helps you gain valuable experience in the workplace by supporting traineeships abroad. Erasmus+ support for traineeships is available for higher education students and recent graduates, as well as vocational education and training students, apprentices and recent graduates.
- Young people: Erasmus+ is open to all young people, not just those currently enrolled in education or training. With Erasmus+, you can volunteer across Europe and beyond or participate in a youth exchange abroad.
- Youth workers: Erasmus+ supports the professional development of youth workers through training or networking periods abroad. Periods abroad can consist of training courses, study visits, job shadowing or observation periods at relevant organisations and more.
- Erasmus+ has opportunities for a wide range of organisations, including universities, education and training providers, think-tanks, research organisations, and private businesses.
- Organisations wanting to participate in Erasmus+ may engage in a number of development and networking activities, including strategic improvement of the professional skills of their staff, organisational capacity building, and creating transnational cooperative partnerships with organisations from other countries in order to produce innovative outputs or exchange best practices.
- In addition, organisations facilitate the learning mobility opportunities for students, staff, trainees, apprentices, volunteers, youth workers and young people.
- The benefits for involved organisations include an increased capacity to operate at an international level, improved management methods, access to more funding opportunities and projects, increased ability to prepare, manage, and follow-up projects, as well as a more attractive portfolio of opportunities for learners and staff at participating organisations.
