ERASMUS is the EU's flagship education and training programme enabling 200 000 students to study and work abroad each year.
In addition, it funds co-operation between higher education institutions across Europe.
The programme not only supports students, but also professors and business staff who want to teach abroad, as well as helping university staff to receive training.
Many studies show that a period spent abroad not only enriches students' lives in the academic and professional fields, but can also improve language learning, intercultural skills, self-reliance and self-awareness. Their experiences give students a better sense of what it means to be a European citizen.In addition, it funds co-operation between higher education institutions across Europe.
The programme not only supports students, but also professors and business staff who want to teach abroad, as well as helping university staff to receive training.
In addition, many employers highly value such a period abroad, which increases the students' employability and job prospects.
Staff exchanges have similar beneficial effects, both for the people participating and for the home and host institutions.
Higher education institutions which want to participate in ERASMUS activities must have an ERASMUS University Charter.
The Charter aims to guarantee the quality of the programme by setting certain fundamental principles.
The European Commission is responsible for the overall programme implementation; its Directorate-General for Education and Culture coordinates the different activities.
So called “decentralised actions” that promote individual mobility are run by national agencies in the 33 participating countries.
“Centralised” actions, such as networks, multilateral projects and the award of the ERASMUS University Charter, are managed by the EU’s Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency.
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