Erasmus+ is a European Union (EU) funding program that supports education, training, youth, and sport activities in the EU and partner countries. It was established in 2014, and it has a budget of over €14 billion for the period 2021-2027.
The program is open to a wide range of individuals and organizations, including students, teachers, school staff, higher education institutions, vocational education and training organizations, youth organizations, and sports organizations. The main objectives of Erasmus+ are:
- To improve the quality and relevance of education and training across Europe.
- To promote transnational mobility and cooperation among students, teachers, and other education and training staff.
- To support the development of skills and competencies that are needed in the labor market.
- To encourage innovation, entrepreneurship, and social inclusion.
Erasmus+ provides opportunities for individuals to study, train, or work in another country, as well as for organizations to develop partnerships and collaborative projects. Some of the specific activities that can be funded under Erasmus+ include:
- Student and staff mobility: This includes opportunities for students and staff to study, teach, or train in another country.
- Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices: This involves partnerships between organizations to develop innovative practices and share knowledge and experience.
- Strategic partnerships: This involves partnerships between organizations to work on specific themes or issues of mutual interest.
- Capacity building: This supports the development of the education and training systems in partner countries outside the EU.
- Support for policy reform: This supports the modernization and reform of education and training systems in EU member states.
Overall, Erasmus+ aims to contribute to the development of a more skilled, mobile, and innovative workforce in Europe and beyond, and to promote cooperation and understanding among people from different countries and cultures.