THE FACES OF ERASMUS+. Programme summary 2014–2020. Volume I
Dear Readers,
T
he first consolidated implementation period of the Erasmus+ Programme, the largest educational initiative of the European Union, is about to end. Being the successor to the Lifelong Learning and Youth in Action programmes, over the past seven years Erasmus+ has supported the reforms of education systems in the programme countries, and focussed on developing key competences in learners of all ages. The development of teachers’ professional and language competences and the use of ICT in the education process was another important objective of the programme. Activities undertaken within the projects also included co-operation with enterprises – they made it possible to adapt their education offer to the needs of the labour market and to modernise vocational education and training curricula. From the funding perspective, the most important sector of Erasmus+ was the Higher Education. In 2019 alone, the Foundation for the Development of the Education System acting as the National Agency of the Erasmus+ Programme in Poland allocated more than EUR 82 million for co-financing projects related to higher education, which was almost 80% more than in 2014. In total, since 1998, almost 250,000 Polish students have gone abroad to study or to serve a work placement, and there are still many more interested. To many young people, mobility to a university or technical university abroad has become an obligatory stage of their studies. It has also been the case with university staff. For the first time, the change in the rules introduced in the consolidated Erasmus+ financial framework has made it possible for university and research institution staff to benefit from the programme. Abroad, they completed teaching periods, took part in training, seminars, workshops and courses, expanded their knowledge and exchanged experiences. What is worth noting, not only the largest higher education institutions, but also those located in smaller academic centres, have benefited from funds assigned for development and internationalisation. The effects of the seven years of the programme can be seen today in the lasting relations with foreign partners, close co-operation on new initiatives, and a wide range of study programmes available in European languages or these using new technologies. It is particularly pleasing that thanks to new opportunities and established contacts, it is easier for Polish higher education institutions to find international partners to implement further innovative ideas, thus contributing to the development of our society. They also engage in other transnational initiatives, such as the European Universities, thanks to which students, doctoral students, higher education staff and researchers can share knowledge and resources freely in order to learn or teach joint study programmes. When the Erasmus+ Programme was launched, many people feared that using the name Erasmus – previously associated only with student mobility
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