Investing in people : making Erasmus even better.
Date: 2018-07-09
Institutions: Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture
Subjects: EU budget, EU financing, EU investment, EU programme, cooperation in the field of education, education policy, educational exchange, student

INVESTING IN PEOPLE
MAKING ERASMUS EVEN BETTER 

#EUBudget #EURoad2Sibiu #FutureofEurope

May 2018

"Education,  training,  mobility  and  cooperation  across  national  borders  are  
critical in giving Europeans the forward-looking knowledge, skills and compe-
tences they need to innovate and prosper in the future world of work. There is 
no better European instrument than Erasmus to foster it. By doubling its budget 
we can ensure that Erasmus can make an even bigger impact on the lives and 
create opportunities for many more people from different backgrounds."

Tibor Navracsics, Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport,  
Erasmus 30th anniversary closing event, Brussels, 30 November 2017

Since its launch in 1987 Erasmus has enabled 9 million people to study, train, volunteer and gain professional expe-
rience abroad. For the future Erasmus programme, which will run from 2021 to 2027, the European Commission 
is proposing to double its budget to €30 billion. This would enable 12 million people to participate in the pro-
gramme, three times the number currently able to participate. 

Enriching lives, opening minds 
through EU-funded learning opportunities abroad, partnerships, support to reform

2014 - 2020
billion EUR

14.7

Opportunities abroad for over 
Opportunities abroad for over 
 million people 

 million people 44

2021 - 2027
billion EUR

30
1212

Opportunities abroad for over 
Opportunities abroad for over 
 million people 
 million people 

Source: A Modern Budget for a Union that Protects, Empowers and Defends. The Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027.

Source: A Modern Budget for a Union that Protects, Empowers and Defends. The Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027

 
THE FUTURE ERASMUS PROGRAMME AT A GLANCE: 

   Many more people benefitting from the programme 

   Simpler and more accessible to people with fewer opportunities and to small and grassroots organisations 

    More effective support for education, training, youth and sport, including the creation of a European Education 

Area by 2025

THE NEXT ERASMUS PROGRAMME 2021-2027

MAKING IT MORE INCLUSIVE 

    Better outreach to disadvantaged people through new formats such as virtual exchanges and shorter learning 

periods abroad.

    Creating more opportunities for school pupils, to learn abroad and meet pupils from different countries, including 

through eTwinning, the world’s biggest teachers’ network developing projects and virtual exchanges.

MAKING IT MORE ACCESSIBLE

    Opening  up  the  programme  to  smaller  and  grassroots  organisations,  so  participants  can  set  up  small-scale 
partnerships – creating shorter projects involving lower sums of money and simpler administrative requirements.

   Reducing the administrative burden on all beneficiaries, for instance with simpler online application forms.

MAKING IT BROADER AND FORWARD-LOOKING

    Supporting cooperation among European universities located in different Member States to establish networks of  

‘European Universities’ in order to increase their quality, performance and attractiveness.

    Providing support for the development of ‘Centres of vocational excellence’, establishments offering vocational  

education and training that will act as drivers of excellence and innovation within this field.

    Boosting Erasmus sports exchanges by enabling sports coaches and staff to learn abroad through courses, study 

visits, and job shadowing.

MAKING IT MORE INTERNATIONAL

    Extending the opportunities for young European students in higher education and introducing the possibility for  

vocational students to have an experience outside of Europe.

DiscoverEU: 
a unique opportunity for 18 year olds to explore Europe

With
700 million euro
the EU will support the travel of

1.5 million
young Europeans between 2021-2027

Source: European Commission

Source: 

A modern Budget for a Union that Protects, Empowers and Defends. The multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027. 
Proposal for a Regulation establishing 'Erasmus': the Union programme for education, training, youth and sport

Erasmus will provide increased support to all education 
and training sectors as well as to the youth and sport sectors
0.55

Erasmus 
allocation 
to sectors 
in billion €* 

0.45

1.19

3.10

8.64

3.79

5.23

Higher Education
Vocational Education &Training
School Education
Adult Education
Jean Monnet Actions
Youth
Sport

Source: European Commission

* only reflecting the minimum pre-allocated funding 

* only reﬂecting the minimum pre-allocated funding
Source: Proposal for a Regulation establishing 'Erasmus': the Union programme for education, training, youth and sport

DID YOU KNOW?

   Erasmus alumni have much better chances to find a 
job soon after graduation and earn more than their 
peers who did not go abroad.

   After an Erasmus exchange, 83% of higher education 

students feel more European.

   Through the Erasmus programme, online linguistic 
support is not only available to Erasmus exchange  
students but also to refugees.

   An Erasmus app guides participants through their 

learning experience and makes their experience easier.

ERASMUS PROJECT RESULTS PLATFORM: 

ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/projects/

Luxembourg:  
Publications Office of the European Union, 2018

© European Union, 2018

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