The European Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students (ERASMUS) was created in 1987 by the European Union, and renamed Erasmus Plus in 2014. To date, over five million European students have benefited from this exchange program, which goes far beyond studying. Erasmus students describe it as a lifetime experience that has allowed them to not only expand their knowledge, but also discover new worlds and new possibilities — many of them have learned new languages and made international friends.
Erasmus: Back to the roots
Erasmus started as an exchange program intended for European Union students only. Students were entitled to a 3 to 12-month stay in any European Union country, either to study or to do an internship. The ultimate goal was to help them secure a job after completing their studies. However, Erasmus goes well above that. For students, it has also become a reference to international relationships and life beyond borders.
Over the years, Erasmus has extended to many more countries, such as Switzerland, Norway, and even Canada and Australia. The program is a real success with European students, and on its 30th anniversary Erasmus can rightfully boast about transforming the European higher education system. Through this program, the youth has developed a wider and more bright vision of its future.
The Erasmus generation
Serena, an Italian in Spain was an Erasmus Political Science and International Relations student in 2015-2016. “Erasmus has been the best experience of my life so far. I've been able to fulfill my dream of living abroad. Living alone for the first time allowed me to assess my strengths and weaknesses. I didn't have much trouble to adapt either, thanks to my university. I also met many other students from Europe, the USA, Mexico and South Korea, sharing the same interests and vision. It's been an extraordinary lifetime experience”.
For Jordan, a French student, it was more about polishing his German and learn English and Spanish. He moved to Germany with the Erasmus program in 2014. “I've always wanted to travel and discover new cultures, but learning German was definitely one of my priorities. So, I combined both through Erasmus. I had great support from my university. I also made a lot of friends on my arrival. That was awesome!”. Despite the huge differences between the French and German higher education systems, Jordan holds precious memories of his stay.
Willemien Mathon is an Adult Education and Training professional. Open minded, especially thanks to her international experience, she has participated to various programs namely Grundtvig, Comenius, Leonardo, and Erasmus. She now has a rich experience as an artist, scenographer, and Erasmus+ Developer among others. “Back to when I was a student, procedures were different, logical, sometimes easier in some countries and more difficult in others. Being in touch with scientific and education experts, I have also participated in many other programs that have really benefited me in various ways and allowed me to learn foreign languages. Today, I can speak four languages — Dutch which is my mother tongue, as well as French, English, German, and Italian. My three grown up children are bilingual as well”.
Being an avid contributor to education herself, Willemien has a message for the youth — “Be pragmatic! You should be ready to learn further, understand, think, express yourself and to share your knowledge and experience with others!”
How to join Erasmus
Want to be part of the Erasmus generation? Second year European students studying in a university in Europe can register, if they have successfully completed their first year, and the university they intend to go to as visitors is in line with their current curriculum. But given the high demand, it is best to start the procedures at least one year in advance. You have to seek an appointment with your university's international relations coordinator, who will guide you through the process. In general, you need a cover letter, a written request for scholarship, photocopies of your first year's grades, and recommendation letters issued by two professors. Upon approval, you will download the application form that has to be signed by you and your referent and remitted to the international relations coordinator.
Leave us a comment: Have you been a member of the Erasmus program? How did you find the experience? Do you intend to apply for an exchange program? Why?
