In line with the important commitments on digitalization, today the European Commission launched the new Erasmus+ application. This new application will provide a digital European Student Card, valid all across the European Union, and ensure to the youth a more digital future. In addition to the student card (which will grant them access to services, museums, cultural activities and special deals in their host university and country), on this new app, students will be able to browse and select their destination among their university's partners; sign their online learning agreement; discover events and useful tips about their destination and get in touch with other students. The system currently involves over 4000 universities Europewide.

Erasmus+ is one of the oldest EU policies still in place and allowed throughout its existence to over 10 million people to have an exchange experience abroad, either as a study period, a traineeship, an apprenticeship, or a staff exchange. In line with the Digital Education Action Plan, the new Erasmus+ programme will be financed with an increased budget of over €28 billion for the 7-year period covered by the 2021-2027 multiannual budget. The increased budget is due to the extremely positive results, showing that the programme has positive effects on professional, social, educational, and personal development of the participants. Additionally, in 2019 over 90% of the Erasmus+ students improved their ability to work and collaborate with people from different cultures and feel they have a European identity.

This action is a new step for the Erasmus programme, and one of those following up President von der Leyen’s proposal to make 2022 the Year of the European Youth. For the current academic year (2021-2022), 600,000 higher education students are expected to go abroad thanks to Erasmus+.

Image © European Parliament, 2021