“Whatever you do, young people will travel”

And that is why we encourage partnerships between universities so that gradually, they raise their standards. And mobility helps – especially mobility of teachers and staff. They bring back to their universities new systems, new methods of teaching, and they improve their educational institutions.

The PIE: I understand negotiations with Switzerland about its involvement with Erasmus+ and Horizon 2020 has been suspended?

AV: Yes. For the time being, the negotiations have been suspended, because for us the freedom of movement is very important. It has to do with the signing of the protocol with Croatia: because Croatia is a new member state, and Switzerland must sign an agreement with Croatia for the freedom of movement, which they have not done. We have to wait and see. If they do it, we shall be very pleased to resume their Erasmus.

But in the meantime, the Swiss government has decided to have transitory measures allowing their students to become mobile and also allowing some European students to go to Switzerland, but they cover the expenses.

The PIE: Do you think the referendum voting for a cap on EU immigration will damage student mobility long-term?

AV: I think it will be damaging, yes, of course. Probably before the referendum they did not think seriously of the repercussions, but we knew very well that this would happen if they took that decision. And of course, students – probably, I don’t know – they will suffer, certainly, from this, but the point is the participation in the voting was very low. So I don’t know to what extent students realised what was coming, and whether they voted, because I think it was less than 40% participation.

It’s a very unfortunate situation which will harm not only the Swiss students but also the rest of the European students because we had a very good relationship between our young people and our universities, and it will be a shame to postpone it.