Europe should cooperate with the UK and Switzerland on Erasmus+, with the long-term goal of supporting their reassociation to the program, according to a group representing European universities.
The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities has set out recommendations for the future of the mobility program, including working with schemes like the UK’s Turing, further incentivising green travel and providing support to displaced students and scholars.
In its contribution to an interim review of the current Erasmus+ program by the European Commission, the Guild “strongly” supported prioritising continued cooperation with the United Kingdom and Switzerland.
Aligning different schemes with Erasmus+ rules would simplify the current landscape, “with the ambition of reassociation of the United Kingdom and Switzerland”, authors of the paper wrote.
The UK left the Erasmus+ program as part of Brexit trade deals in 2020, while Switzerland dissociated six years prior after a Swiss vote against free movement.
Both countries have since introduced their own mobility schemes, including Turing, Taith and the Swiss-European Mobility Programme.
The Guild also argued the Erasmus+ program should “raise its ambition” for environmental sustainability and green practices, including by increasing green travel grants and improving awareness among students and staff about their carbon footprints.
In 2022, 11% of Erasmus+ students and 16% of staff members used sustainable transport. The Guild supported an ongoing call for free Interrail train passes to be made available to all students participating in the mobility program.
Ole Petter Ottersen, acting secretary-general of The Guild, added that Erasmus+ should better respond “to the global ambitions of universities”.
“The contribution of Erasmus+ to societal cohesion must be central in our discussions”
Erasmus+ was opened up to worldwide mobility in 2015, rather than just European destinations, but the Guild said this move has had “limited impact” due to low numbers and a complex application process.
”Strengthening the Erasmus+ program is essential in this polarised world of ours,” said Petter Ottersen. “That is why the contribution of Erasmus+ to societal cohesion must be central in our discussions. Another important area where Erasmus+ can make a difference is in supporting sustainable ways of cooperation with our partners around the world.”
Authors added that the flexibility given to universities to use Erasmus+ funding to support students from Ukraine in the aftermath of the Russian invasion was welcome, but Europe still lacks dedicated schemes to support students and researchers affected by geopolitical crises.
