Overview
17th June 1987 Erasmus programme launched with first exchange of just over 3 000 students between 11 Member States (Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece, France, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and United Kingdom). 1988 Luxembourg joins Erasmus. 1992 Six European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries join the programme (Austria, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland). 1994 Liechtenstein joins Erasmus. 1996 Introduction of Erasmus Intensive Language Courses (EILC). 1997 Erasmus teacher exchanges introduced.
Erasmus is the EU’s flagship education and training programme that enables students to study or do a traineeship abroad. It also supports individuals in higher education and companies interested in lecturing in a university in another country. Over the past 25 years more than 2.7 million students have benefitted from the programme and currently some 4 % of all students in participating countries in Europe receive a grant during their studies to go abroad. Experience abroad contributes to enriching students’ academic knowledge and professional competences, supports their personal development, forges a European identity and helps to make the mobility of people during all their lifetime – which is a central part of the European project – a reality. The programme’s success has helped to shape higher education in Europe and led to the: • Launch of the Bologna Process, which introduced comparable and compatible study degrees; • Establishment of the European Credit Accumulation and Transfer System (ECTS), which allows student to earn credits for their degree when studying abroad; • Internationalisation of higher education and Higher Education Institutions (HEI); and • New and improved services, methods of learning and of teaching and working in HEI, as well as new forms of cooperation, and a greater understanding of the opportunities available beyond their borders.
Erasmus through the years The Erasmus programme has flourished throughout its development, evolving through different phases. • Originally it was a stand-alone project for 11 Member States. In its first year 3 244 students went abroad, providing for many their first insight into different cultures and ways of life.
6
EAC-Erasmus25_brochure_120330_EN.indd 6
30/03/12 12:55