More than 3 million students have benefited from Erasmus grants of the EU since the launch of the program in 1987. The statistics, which concern the 2011-2012 academic year, also indicate that the program has enabled more than 250 students - a new record - to complete part of their studies abroad higher education or to do an internship in a foreign company.
The most popular destinations chosen by students in 2011-2012 were Spain with 39.300 students, France with 28.964 and Germany with 27.872. These are the same countries from which the largest number of students have left. 41,1% of Erasmus students are those studying social sciences, economics and law; these are followed by students of humanitarian subjects and art (21.9%) and finally by engineers (15,1%).
Positive news also forItaly where there is a 6% increase in students sent abroad. Italy is also one of the main destination countries for foreign students: in 2011/2012 Bologna was the third European university by number of Erasmus students received, after Granada and the Complutense University of Madrid. Six countries have instead seen their statistics worsen: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Estonia, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Romania.
80% of those who received Erasmus support in 2011-2012 chose to spend an average of six months abroad (+7,5% compared to the previous year). The average monthly Erasmus grant intended to cover part of the additional costs caused by travel and life abroad was 252 euros.
The program will start from January 2014 Erasmus + which will build on the legacy of Erasmus by offering 2020 million people the opportunity to study, train, teach or volunteer abroad by 4. The program is expected to have a budget of around €14,5 billion for the period 2014-2020, an increase of more than 40% over the funding earmarked for current programs for mobility in education and training.
Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner responsible for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, said that “the latest record figures testify to the programme's success and popularity. Erasmus is more important than ever in times of financial hardship and high youth unemployment: the skills and international experience acquired by Erasmus students enhance their employability and make them more mobile on the labor market.”
Attachments: European Commission study on the Erasmus programme
