Boris Johnson's Britain means uncertain horizons for young people post 2020
Lib Dems MPs recently tabled an amendment to the EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill to save Erasmus, so that students can live, study & work across the EU.
Last week, the Tories voted it down.
We will keep fighting to stop Boris Johnson limiting the horizons for young people.
The Liberal Democrat amendment would have inserted a clause in the withdrawal agreement bill requiring the government to seek continued participation in Erasmus+ on existing terms after Brexit, and to report on the progress of negotiations to parliament. But on Wednesday MPs voted down a second reading of the amendment, by 344 to 254.
What is Erasmus?
The Erasmus programme (European Region Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students) is an EU funded programme that organises student exchanges.
Each exchange is designed to enable the student to gain valuable international experience, either by studying part of their degree abroad, or undertaking a work placement (traineeship). The exchanges usually take place in the second or third year of a course, and can last up to twelve months. Universities that participate in this programme have a number of partner providers across Europe that offer student exchange placements.
What is Erasmus+ and the difference with Erasmus?
Erasmus - focuses on students and staff mobility between universities.
Erasmus+ still focuses on higher education students mobility but it also includes opportunities to study or train or volunteer abroad for vocational students for apprentices, for teachers, for youth workers and for volunteers.
Erasmus + is the European Union programme for education, training, youth and sport. It runs for seven years, from 2014 to 2020, with organisations invited to apply for funding each year for life-changing activities.
Erasmus+ aims to modernise education, training and youth work across Europe. It is open to education, training, youth and sport organisations across all sectors of lifelong learning, including school education, further and higher education, adult education and the youth sector.
Through Erasmus+:
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Young people can study, volunteer and gain work experience abroad, to develop new skills, gain vital international experience and boost their employability
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Staff can teach or train abroad, to develop their professional practice, build relationships with international peers, and gain fresh ideas
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UK organisations can collaborate with international partners, to drive innovation, share best practice, and offer new opportunities to young people.
Around €1 billion is reserved specifically for Erasmus+ projects led by UK-based organisations.
From 2014 to 2018, 4,846 Erasmus+ grants were awarded to UK organisations, worth around €680 million in total.
See Funding results for more information.
The Department for Education oversees Erasmus+ in the UK. The programme is managed by the UK National Agency which is a partnership between the British Council and Ecorys UK. We work to deliver the programme for the benefit of participating UK organisations, and the individuals who are able to study, train, volunteer or gain work experience abroad through the programme.
The UK Government has confirmed that the UK is committed to continuing full participation in the Erasmus+ programme but only until the end of this EU budget period in 2020. This only applies to Erasmus+ funded opportunities. Any future arrangements after BREXIT 2020 is like hundreds of other crucial issues subject to negotiation with the EU.
CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES TO LIVE, STUDY & WORK ACROSS THE EU
BORIS JOHNSON'S UK - POST 2021
By the end of 2020, Brexit will have already cost more than the entire net contributions we've made in the 47 years that we've been an EU member.
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