Erasmus for All – a simple introduction

If you’ve been keeping track of developments on the new education, youth and sport programme due to start next year, you’ll know that it’s quite a complicated area! With this in mind, we’ve asked our LLP Director, Chris Walker, to explain the proposal for the new programme as simply as possible…this short film is the result. Read the rest of this entry »


Read the latest edition of edUKation

The latest edition of edUKation is now available to download.  edUKation is our quarterly newsletter containing updates from the Leonardo, Grundtvig and Transversal programmes.

In this editioneduk21 (2)

In issue 21 you can read about how Borders College scooped the International Award at the 2012 Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) ceremony for their links and partnerships developed through mobility projects. You can also read about:

  • Enhancing skills and employability of UK Apprenticeships
  • Erasmus for All: moving closer to the new programme
  • 2013 European Year of Citizens

Download issue 21 of edUKation

Subscribe to edUKation

You can sign up to our mailing list to receive edUKation straight to your inbox.  You can also sign up for our monthly e-flashes for the Leonardo, Grundtvig and Transversal programmes: http://www.graphicmail.co.uk/rwcode/subscribe.aspx?SiteID=5307&SID=6&Email=

Previous editions

You can find previous editions of edUKation in our resource centre.


Erasmus for All – Charter for Higher Education Institutions

The European Commission has today published a Call for Higher Education Institutions as part of the Erasmus for All programme, even though the programme itself has not been agreed.

The Call is specifically to set up contracts between the European Commission and Higher Education Institutions (also known as HEIs) which will then allow HEIs to apply for funding under the new programme from 2014 onwards. It is not a Call for funding and does not affect any other kind of organisation.

Read the rest of this entry »


Funding opportunities under the Leonardo programme are now closed

As many of you will be aware the Lifelong Learning Programme is coming to an end and will be replaced by the next generation of funding programme.  While we are excited to see what the new programme will bring it does, sadly, mean that Leonardo, Grundtvig and Transversal funding will draw to a close by the end of 2013.

The deadlines for Mobility Projects, Partnerships and Transfer of Innovation have now passed which, in practical terms, means that there is no more funding available under the Leonardo programme.  If you have submitted an application in 2013 for any of these opportunities you will hear whether you have been successful or not in Summer 2013.

Do not worry, while the funding is drawing to a close, any successful application received in 2013 for Mobility Projects, Partnerships or Transfer of Innovation will be funded for the entire project lifecycle. Read the rest of this entry »


European Council commits to increase in funding for Erasmus for All

Heads of State at the European Council have committed to an increase in funding for the Erasmus for All programme as part of the EU Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) budget negotiated in Brussels on 8 February.

The negotiations for the whole EU budget running from 2014 – 2020 , saw, for the first time, a proposed cut of over 3% for the seven year period. However, the importance of investing in education and training for future growth and jobs was clear, with a budget increase agreed for the future funding programme currently known as Erasmus for All. The European Council recognises the future programme as having high potential to contribute to the objectives of the EU 2020 strategy.

The EU budget must now be approved by the European Parliament for it to become law. MEPs are expected to vote within three months and may be given the option to vote anonymously, a procedure rarely used in the European Parliament, which could potentially affect it becoming law.

The Erasmus for All proposal itself is still under negotiation. The current Irish Presidency has core responsibility for reaching an agreement on the future funding programme within its six month term which ends in June this year.

Keep up to date and follow progress on the budget #EUbudget and Erasmus for All at @llpUKecorys

About me

I’m Rebecca Fothergill and I am part of the Communications team here at Ecorys. I coordinate activities on our national thematic networks which are forums for engaging practitioners and policymakers on the cross cutting themes of the LLP. I have an interest in European education and employment policy, in particular the equality of opportunities. I coordinated the Inclusion network, led by Ecorys, which will help to make the current LLP and future EU education and training programme more accessible.


Get active at any age

During January I think it is a fairly safe assumption to say that most of us are trying to reduce our calorie intake after Christmas excesses and are hitting the gym, pounding the pavement or walking those extra few steps to start being more active.  For a lot of our projects these good intentions continue throughout the year rather than flagging during February.

Changing lives, sporting excellence

One such project is a Leonardo Mobility at South Gloucestershire and Shroud College (formerly Filton college) where students on the Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence have the opportunity to add value through a European work placement.  One of the apprentices that benefitted from this experience is Jack Bateson who is working towards the 2016 Olympics in Rio, he recently shared his story with us as part of our series of films on ‘Changing Lives’: Read the rest of this entry »


CULT Committee Press Release

Those of you who have been following our Erasmus for All updates may be interested to know that the CULT Committee have published a press release about their recent vote on Erasmus for All. You can find the press release which contains a useful summary of the key changes the Committee supports here. The European Parliament will meet in January 2013 to decide whether to endorse the Committee’s approach.


CULT Committee Says YES Europe!

Today saw the CULT Committee, which is responsible for drawing up the European Parliament’s proposal for the next generation of programmes, vote on the what the contents of the proposal should be.

Over 1000 amendments were introduced by MEPs to the European Commission’s original proposal and were voted on today. Due to the number of amendments considered, it isn’t possible to give you a detailed run down of all the changes and decisions. We have been able to pull out some of the most important amendments which should be confirmed in a final report from the Committee in the new year.

  • Endorsement of the name ‘YES Europe’ and rejection of other names proposed including ‘Erasmus for All’ and ‘Lifelong Learning Programme’.
  • Endorsement of separate chapters for education, youth and sport.
  • Definitions of lifelong learning, mobility activities and so on have been expanded to cover a wider range of activities.
  • Concern to broaden scope of youth activities, protect social inclusion element of programme, and emphasise non-formal and informal learning in the sector.
  • Increased emphasis on third countries and ‘international’ co-operation (not just European).

The proposal will now go to the European Parliament for a vote in January. It isn’t all over for ‘Erasmus for All’ just yet…

What are your thoughts?

We’ll continue to bring you the latest updates from the vote but why not let us know your thoughts and opinions on the confirmed amendments to the proposal? You can watch the CULT Committee meeting at http://www.europarl.europa.eu/ep-live/en/committees/video?event=20121127-0900-COMMITTEE-CULT and tweet us @llpUKecorys or leave a comment below.


Erasmus for All…..MEPs propose a new name

The European Parliament’s Culture and Education Committee met on the 19 September to discuss the Erasmus for All report compiled by Doris Pack, Chair of the Committee.  The report sets out some significant changes and recommendations to the Commissions current proposal for the next generation of programmes.

The name ‘Erasmus for All’ has always been unpopular with the Committee.  As part of her work, Doris Pack asked the European Commission to suggest a new name and this was put forward for the first time during the meeting – Youth, Education and Sport Europe – ‘YES Europe’. The proposed new name received overall support from the Committee.

Doris Pack gave clarification on some of the recommendations outlined in the report, this included: Read the rest of this entry »


Erasmus for all, the next steps

It has been just under a year since the European Commission released its proposal for ‘Erasmus for All’, the next generation of programmes that will be the successor to the current Lifelong Learning Programme (LLP).

Since then there have been many debates taking place across the UK and Europe about the new programme. We have kept you up to date with the latest developments and the next steps for Erasmus for All.

So what’s been happening?

March

March saw the decision makers’ discussions taking place with the House of Lords’ European Union Committee meeting to give their broad support to the proposed expansion of the education and training programme ‘subject to reduction being made in budget’. Read the rest of this entry »


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