The Scottish and Welsh Governments have raised serious concerns about the impact of a ‘no-deal’ Brexit on the popular Europe-wide international student exchange program Erasmus+.
In a letter to Secretary of State for Education Gavin Williamson, Scottish Further and Higher Education Minister Richard Lochhead and Welsh Education Minister Kirsty Williams have argued the case for continued participation in the exchange programme.
They say leaving the EU without a deal – and without the UK Government reaching an alternative Third Country agreement or other arrangement – would see universities, colleges, and schools across the UK ineligible to submit applications to participate in the final year of the current Erasmus+ programme in 2020.
Between 2014 and 2018, more than 15,000 students and staff from Scotland reaped the benefits of the EU-led scheme, which allows funded temporary study overseas as part of the their Scottish courses.
Mr Lochhead said: “Thousands of Scottish students benefit from Erasmus+ yearly, proportionally more than from any other country in the UK. The Scottish and Welsh Governments are clear that we must remain a full participant in Erasmus+.
“I am also alarmed to hear the UK Department for Education could be considering an Erasmus+ replacement programme for England only – with potentially no consequential funding for Devolved Administrations (DAs) to put in place their own arrangements. That’s why we have written to the UK Government calling for urgent action and assurances that Scottish students won’t miss out.
“It is the Scottish Government’s preference to remain in the EU, but in the event of a damaging ‘no-deal’ Brexit, students could now see the door to this fantastic cultural and educational exchange slammed shut.
“It is unacceptable that with less than 12 weeks left until the UK Government plans to take the United Kingdom out of the EU without an agreement in place, there is still no plan for alternative arrangements.”
The results of the impact studies show Erasmus+ significantly benefits students’ career prospects and personal development. The programme can act as a guide for students to discover what they want to do after their studies – making for a happier career; Erasmus+ has also been shown to drive innovation and social inclusion in higher education.
Every year, more than 300,000 students study or train under the Erasmus+ umbrella – over five million students have directly benefitted since the launch of the programme in 1987. The Higher Education Impact study found that 80 percent of Erasmus+ graduates are employed within three months of graduation, with 72 percent stating their Erasmus+ experience helped them land their first job. Nearly half of Erasmus+ trainees were offered a job in the company where they trained.
More than two-thirds of Erasmus+ students and trainees gained new insight about their career choices through studying or training abroad. This added awareness has allowed students to better orient their studies and training to match their career ambitions – leading to both happier careers and expanded professional opportunities.
The studies have also highlighted how Erasmus+ builds a sense of European identity and social cohesion. 90 percent of Erasmus+ students feel the programme has improved their ability to collaborate with people from different cultures, and are more positive about the role of the EU in society.
Erasmus+ mobility also supports the growth of innovative learning and teaching practices – as well as the expanded use digital technologies. Nearly 80 percent of academics reported their experience abroad has led to the development of more modern and innovative teaching practices and curricula in their faculties.
The impact study on Erasmus+ Higher Education Strategic Partnerships and Knowledge Alliances found that Erasmus+ has spurred equality in education – with nearly two-thirds of universities stating projects under Erasmus+ have increased social inclusion and non-discrimination in higher education.
Cooperation projects under Erasmus+ have also allowed students, higher education staff and other stakeholders to develop vital innovation and business skills. Over one in four projects under Erasmus+ contribute to strengthening entrepreneurial education and entrepreneurship – with nearly a third of these projects resulting in start-ups and spin-off enterprises.
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