Do you think the well-known Erasmus program is just an exchange abroad? In reality it is much more and what you don’t imagine is that it is the most concrete way to move, train, gain experience and grow, inside and outside Europe.
Having become “Erasmus+”, it is today one of the strongest projects that the European Union has ever created, because it invests directly in you and your future. From your first study trip to an internship, from a youth exchange of a few days to an international master’s degree: Erasmus+ is designed to accompany you in different moments of your life, not in a single phase.
Are you ready to go?
What is Erasmus+?
Erasmus+ is the EU program for education, training, youth and sport in Europe. Born in 1987 with the name Erasmus, since 2014 it has been called Erasmus+ and is the best known of the programs financed by Europe in the context of mobility between EU countries. A record confirmed by the numbers, with over 16 million people involved from 1987 to today.
The name Erasmus is an acronym for EuRopean community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Studentswhich, at the same time, pays homage to Erasmus of Rotterdam, the great Dutch humanist who traveled far and wide across Europe to understand its different cultures.
Why participate in Erasmus+?
Because it allows you to experience Europe right from the moment you take a train to another country or when you learn a language in the field by comparing yourself with other boys and girls or when you share your home with people of a thousand nationalities or when you participate in a social or environmental project. At that moment Europe stops being distant and becomes home.
It helps you get to know the world and help you grow, making you better prepared for work, more open, more autonomous. It pushes for inclusion, but also focuses heavily on the green and digital transition, promoting sustainable travel and projects that talk about the environment and the future.
And, what you need to know, is that it is not something reserved only for university students: Erasmus+ is for students, young people outside traditional paths, associations, schools, institutions, informal groups. It is a huge network that brings together education, work, rights and sustainability.
Do you want to go abroad with Erasmus+? Here’s where to start
It is Key Action 1, called KA1, that constitutes the heart of Erasmus+ individual mobility opportunities. It is the one that allows people to physically leave for another country, for a period of study, internship or non-formal learning experience.
KA1 is not a “one-stop” program for individuals: in most cases, organizations, schools, universities, youth associations or local authorities present the projects. Then these realities select the participants and accompany them before, during and after the experience.
1) If you are at university
The starting point is always the website of your university, in particular the International Relations or Erasmus Office. Each university publishes internal calls for tenders, with their own destinations, requirements and timing. The European deadlines are the framework, but the selections for students take place at university level.
What you have to do, in practice: follow your university’s website (or ask the Erasmus office directly).
2) If you are not at university (or are looking for something else)
This is where the lesser-known but huge part of Erasmus+ comes into play. There is a huge lane dedicated to young people: youth exchanges (even for a few days), international training courses, educational projects, internships and mobility projects. In these cases, the projects are managed by associations, youth bodies, NGOs, schools and local authorities. You don’t present a project: you apply as a participant.
Where to look for Erasmus+ opportunities? Here’s where to start:
3) Long and structured experiences: Erasmus Mundus
If you are thinking of a high-level international academic path, there are also Erasmus Mundus Masters, joint programs between universities from different countries. They are selective paths, with specific criteria, but they represent one of the most complete opportunities of the program.
Erasmus+ is not just about leaving
KA1 is the best-known action of Erasmus+, but it is not the only one. The program works through several Key Actions, designed for different objectives.
KA2 – Cooperation between organizations
Key Action 2 is the one that brings organizations and institutions from different countries to work together. It is the action that allows schools, universities, associations, bodies and NGOs to work together in Europe. In this case, therefore, we do not start as individuals, but we build common projects, exchange good practices and strengthen organisations, even small ones or those with less experience.
KA3 – Support for European policies
This action works at the level of public policies and therefore at a broader level: it serves to improve European policies on education, training and youth, encouraging dialogue between institutions, states and civil society.
Simply put, if KA1 gets you started, KA2 and KA3 grow the projects and policies that make Erasmus+ possible.
Understanding is already starting
If you haven’t left for Erasmus+ yet, perhaps it’s just because you haven’t come across the right opportunity yet. Erasmus+ does not follow a single path: it is made up of different universities, associations, bodies and projects, each with its own times and methods. Taking some time to understand how it works is already a concrete first step. The rest often comes closer than you imagine.
Green EU&ME | Project co-financed by the European Union
The opinions expressed, however, belong to the author(s) alone and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the European Union or of the Representation in Italy of the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the providing administration can be held responsible
