Education stakeholders in Brussels are voicing their priorities and expectations for the design of a successor of Erasmus+ that goes beyond its current success.
As one of the most prominent European programmes, the far-reaching impact of Erasmus+ (E+) is widely recognised, benefiting individuals, educational institutions and the broader European economy and society. Beyond its popularity, E+ plays a supportive role in driving change and aligning with the EU’s goals of competitiveness and preparedness. Its international dimension offers opportunities for talent identification and cross-border collaboration. The current generation of the programme is expected to benefit over 10 million participants by its conclusion. Moreover, supporters of the programme consider it to be mature enough to stand as a driver for change and solid enough to deliver tangible and long-term results. However, increasing demand has placed pressure on available resources, suggesting that increased financial support may be necessary to maintain the programme’s reach.
During a successful conference on the future of the E+ programme and its potential evolution, higher education stakeholders and members of EU institutions reinforced the importance of the programme and its contribution to the EU project. The Swiss perspective and progress towards association to E+ was also presented during one of the panel discussions. Following the event, the Academic Cooperation Association (ACA) published a policy paper outlining proposed measures and strategic directions for the next generation of the E+ programme. The propositions ensure that the programme continues to have a meaningful impact and that the higher education sector can fully contribute to that impact, in line with the EU political agenda and priorities of the moment.
ACA members advocate for an E+ next generation programme that builds on its strong points, with mobility remaining the programme’s cornerstone. They propose simplifying administrative procedures and making formats more flexible to attract more diverse participants, especially those from less internationalised fields. This simplification is already being investigated by initiatives such as Erasmus Without Papers. They emphasise the need to enhance traineeship mobility through industry collaboration, fostering civic engagement and integrating community work into curricula. ACA stresses the importance of keeping a balance between centralised and decentralised actions while ensuring education institutions retain freedom in partnerships and cooperation formats. They also call for better industry involvement, drawing from successful EIT practices and stronger global engagement within E+, notably through Erasmus Mundus. They further recommend wider inclusion of enlargement countries, which they believe should be fully eligible to participate in E+ actions. Furthermore, partnerships with industrialised countries, such as Canada for example, should be further integrated.
As a response to the Commission’s public consultation on the EU’s next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), several other education organisations beyond the higher education sector also submitted their considerations for the design of the next programme generation of E+. Across their contributions, EARLALL, EUA, EURASHE and the Coimbra Group of Universities strongly converge on the need for a significant increase in investment in education, research and innovation. They call for preserving E+ as an independent and distinct programme. The importance of simplifying procedures is also strongly advocated for, as well as reduced complexity and more flexibility to adapt to current priorities and regional realities. The organisations also highlight the crucial role of mobility in fostering European cooperation and global competitiveness. EARLALL emphasises the need for a decentralised E+, where regions are strategic partners, and calls for further support for the expansion of Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs). EURASHE stresses the need for applied and practice-oriented education to be better funded. EUA recommends to create synergies between EU funding instruments to make programmes more effective for universities and the Coimbra Group argues for academic freedom and interdisciplinary collaboration to be safeguarded, underscoring the need for international cooperation and supporting a rapid association of Switzerland to E+.
The successor to Erasmus+ is set to be unveiled this summer, raising questions about whether it will truly meet the evolving needs of European education. The education community in Brussels awaits what is coming next.