Erasmus

The Erasmus Programme is a mobility initiative launched by the Europe Union in 1987 to provide international change opportunities for higher education students and teaching staff. Named after the 15th-century humanist philosopher and theologian Desiderius Erasmus, the programme aims to promote intercultural understanding, strengthen European identity, and contribute to the personal, academic and professional development of individuals. Over time, the Erasmus Programme has expanded its scope within time and is no longer limited to student exchanges; it has evolved to include youth, sports, adult education and vocational education like sectors.

Portrait of Desiderius Erasmus painted by Hans Holbein the Elder between 1500 and 1525. It is currently exhibited at the Louvre Museum. (World History Encyclopedia)

Historical Development

The Erasmus Programme was developed as part of the social and cultural dimensions of European integration. It began in 1987 with the participation of 11 European countries. Türkiye did not participate in the early years of the programme but gained the status of a “programme country” in 2004 and began full participation complete.

In 2007, Erasmus and several other EU education programmes were restructured under the umbrella of the “Lifelong Learning Programme” (LLP); this building was replaced in 2014 by the “Erasmus+” programme. Erasmus+ has further expanded in its most recent programming period covering 2021–2027 and has been redefined to include themes of green transformation, digitalization, inclusion and participatory citizenship.

Objectives and Principles

The core objectives of the Erasmus Programme are:

•To enable students to gain intercultural experiences through study in different countries,

•To improve foreign language proficiency to develop,

•To support academic cooperation at the European level,

•To enhance awareness of European citizenship among young people and educators,

•To foster partnerships and networks among educational institutions.

The programme adheres to the principles of equal opportunity and opportunity equality. Various financial support mechanisms and special measures have been developed to ensure access for socio-economically disadvantaged groups.

Scope and Activity Areas

The Erasmus+ programme encompasses a wide range of activity types. These activities can be grouped under the following four main headings:

Student and Staff Mobility

•Exchange of undergraduate, master’s and doctoral students for study and training abroad education,

•Mobility of academics and administrative staff for teaching and training purposes,

•Opportunities for joint degrees and common programme development.

Erasmus students (Anadolu Agency)

Vocational Education and Training

•Work placements in Europe for vocational school students and teachers,

•Development of training modules and cross-sectoral partnerships.

Youth Mobility and Youth Work

•Youth exchanges,

•Volunteering projects (formerly European Voluntary Service – EVS),

•Training and capacity-building projects for youth workers.

Support for Policy Reform and Cooperation

•Harmonisation of education, training and youth policies at the EU level,

•Dissemination of innovative practices,

•Establishment of partnerships between universities, NGOs and the private sector strategic.

Participating Countries and Structure

The Erasmus+ Programme is not limited to European Union member states. The following country groups may participate:

•Programme Countries: The 27 EU member states plus Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Türkiye, North Macedonia and Serbia

•Partner Countries: Countries outside Europe that can participate in specific projects (e.g. Japan, USA, South Korea, etc.)

The implementation of the programme is coordinated by the European Commission through National Agencies. In Türkiye, this responsibility is carried out by the Türkiye National Agency.

Erasmus Programme (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye, Directorate-General for European Union)

The Place of the Erasmus Programme in Türkiye

Türkiye became a full participating country in Erasmus in 2004. Since then, thousands of students, academics, youth workers and civil society society representatives have travelled to European countries under Erasmus or hosted participants from abroad in Türkiye.

Universities in Türkiye announce student and staff exchange plans at the beginning of each academic year. During this process, Erasmus Coordinations play an active role. Türkiye is also actively engaged in the youth sector, particularly in volunteerism and youth exchange projects.

Criticisms and Areas for Improvement

Although the Erasmus Programme is generally viewed positively, it has faced several criticisms. For example:

•It has often been criticised that students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds do not benefit sufficiently from the programme.

•Recognition and credit alignment issues during mobility can lead to certain academic losses for students.

•Complex application procedures and bureaucratic load reduce the quality and reach of applications.

To address such issues, the European Commission has introduced various improvements during the 2021–2027 programme period under headings such as digitalisation and process simplification, and this process continues.

Cultural and Social Impacts

The Erasmus Programme has significant cultural and social impacts beyond its academic benefits. Through the programme, participants gain exposure to different ways of life, develop intercultural understanding and build international friendships. The programme’s widespread success has contributed to the emergence of a new generation in Europe known as the “Erasmus Generation”. This generation consists of pluralistic, open-minded individuals committed to European values.