Erasmus+, the EU's new funding
programme for education, training, youth and sport, will be launched in
Nicosia on Friday (24 Jan) by Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner
for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth. The event at the
Filoxenia Conference Centre (10.00-13.45) is organised by the European
Commission, the national agency responsible for implementing Erasmus+
and the Cyprus Youth Board (ONEK). The new programme will provide grants
for more than four million Europeans to study, train, gain work
experience or volunteer abroad over the next seven years. Erasmus+ will
have a total budget of €14.7 billion – 40% more than previously. Around
15 000 Cypriots are expected to benefit from Erasmus+, which builds on
the success of the Erasmus student exchange scheme and other training
and youth programmes. On Friday evening, the Commissioner will meet Dr
Clea Hadjistephanou-Papaellina, the new chair of the Cyprus sports
association (KOA), to discuss funding opportunities for grassroots
sport.
"I urge my
fellow Cypriots to take full advantage of the grants available under
Erasmus+. The budget increase we have secured means that many more
people will benefit from EU support to gain international experience
that will boost their skills, personal development and employability.
The new programme will also provide funding to set up or improve
cooperation between education and employers; these partnerships will
contribute to addressing the skills mismatch which is a major cause of
the high youth levels of youth unemployment faced by many countries in
the EU, including Cyprus," said Commissioner Vassiliou.
Who benefits from Erasmus+?...
- 2 million higher education students will be able to study or train abroad, with 450 000 traineeships available;
- 650 000 vocational students and apprentices will receive grants to study, train or work abroad;
- 800 000 teachers, trainers, education staff and youth workers will teach or train abroad;
- 200 000 Master's degree students doing a full course in another country will benefit from loan guarantees;
- More than 25 000 students will receive grants for joint Master's degrees, which involve studying in at least two higher education institutions abroad;
- More than 500 000 young people will be able to volunteer abroad or participate in youth exchanges;
- 125 000 schools, vocational education and training institutions, higher and adult education institutions, youth organisations and enterprises will receive funding to set up 25 000 'strategic partnerships' to promote the exchange of experience and links with the world of work;
- 3 500 education institutions and enterprises will get support to create more than 300 'Knowledge Alliances' and 'Sector Skills Alliances' to boost employability, innovation and entrepreneurship;
- 600 transnational partnerships in sport, including European non-profit events, will also receive funding.
Who benefits from Erasmus+ in Cyprus?
Between 2007 and 2013, around 10
000 Cypriot students, young people and education, training and youth
staff took part in the EU's Lifelong Learning and Youth in Action
programmes. It is estimated that 15 000 (50% more) could benefit from
Erasmus+ over the seven years.
Cyprus will receive a total of
€8.6 million in 2014 from Erasmus+, a 14% increase compared with the
funding it received in 2013. It is envisaged that, as with other
participating countries, the annual allocation will increase each year
up to 2020. Cyprus can also benefit further from grants for
transnational sports projects and the Jean Monnet action for European
integration studies in higher education.
Background
Erasmus+ is being launched at a
time when nearly six million young people are unemployed in the EU, with
levels above 50% or more in Greece, Spain and Croatia and nearly 40% in
Cyprus. At the same time, there are over 2 million job vacancies, and a
third of employers report difficulties in recruiting staff with the
skills they need. Erasmus+ will help to address this skills gap by
providing opportunities for people to study, train or gain experience
abroad.
Giving students and apprentices
the opportunity to study or train abroad also makes it more likely they
will want, or be able, to work abroad in future, thus increasing their
long-term job prospects.
The programme will also increase
the quality and relevance of Europe's education, training and youth
systems through support for training of education staff and youth
workers, as well as stronger partnerships between education and
employers.
The €14.7 billion budget takes
account of future estimates for inflation. Additional funds are expected
to be allocated for higher education exchanges and administrative
support involving non-EU countries; the decision is due later in 2014.
Erasmus+ for the first time includes support for sport. It will allocate around €265
million over seven years to help address cross-border threats such as
match fixing, violence and doping. It will also support transnational
projects involving organisations in grassroots sport, promoting, for
example, good governance, gender equality, social inclusion, dual
careers and physical activity for all.
