Erasmus Programme

The Erasmus Programme is a flagship educational initiative of the European Union (EU), named after the renowned Renaissance scholar Erasmus of Rotterdam. This programme is designed to promote academic exchange and cooperation across Europe, facilitating student mobility and fostering a sense of European identity through shared educational experiences.

History and Development

The Erasmus Programme was officially established in 1987, emerging from the broader European Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students. The visionary behind the original concept was Sofia Corradi, an Italian pedagogist, who is often referred to as "Mamma Erasmus" due to her pivotal role in advocating for the official recognition of study periods abroad.

Structure and Objectives

The Erasmus Programme is part of the larger Erasmus+ framework, which covers the period from 2021 to 2027, intended to enhance education, training, youth, and sport across Europe. It aims to:

Improve the quality of higher education in Europe by fostering international collaboration and cross-cultural exchanges.
Equip students, trainees, staff, and volunteers with new skills and broaden their professional and personal outlooks.
Enhance cultural understanding and promote a shared European identity.

Erasmus Mundus

As part of the broader Erasmus+ scheme, Erasmus Mundus specifically focuses on higher education initiatives. It seeks to enhance the quality of European higher education through scholarships and academic cooperation between the EU and the rest of the world.

Swiss-European Mobility Programme

Although Switzerland is not a participant in Erasmus+, it has its own Swiss-European Mobility Programme (SEMP), which functions similarly by providing opportunities for student and staff mobility between Swiss institutions and their European counterparts.

Impact and Legacy

The Erasmus Programme has significantly impacted higher education, having enabled over 9 million participants to study, train, and gain experience abroad. Its success has inspired similar initiatives globally, such as the Turing Scheme in the United Kingdom, which was established following the UK's departure from the EU.

The Erasmus Student Network (ESN) plays a crucial role in supporting participants, offering guidance and fostering a vibrant community of Erasmus alumni and incoming students.