ERASMUS+
1.What is Erasmus?
Erasmus+ (Erasmus Plus) is the European Union (EU) exchange programme that aims to improve the quality of the education between universities by contributing to the cooperation between EU and non-EU programme countries (Erasmus+ KA103), partner countries neighbouring the EU (Erasmus+ KA107) and other partner countries. Erasmus+ enables students to have international education experience and also universities to enhance collaboration among countries. Besides the academic exchange programmes and youth works, Erasmus+ also consists of training and sports projects that are key to promote common European values, foster social integration, enhance intercultural understanding and a sense of belonging to a community and prevent violent radicalisation, offers participants the opportunity to identify common values with persons from different countries in spite of their cultural differences and promotes the respect of cultural diversity and fight against racism or xenophobia. The programme also enhances the opportunities for cooperation and mobility with Partner Countries, notably in the fields of higher education and youth.
Erasmus+ programme provides an opportunity to academic staff, youth workers, the staff of education of institutions and civil society organisations to undertake a learning and/or professional experience in another country as well as Bachelor, Master’s and PhD students of higher education.
Being carried out within the scope of Lifelong Learning Programmes between the years of 2007-2013, Erasmus programme is named as “Erasmus+” since the year 2014. Under the name of Lifelong Learning projects such as Comenius, Erasmus, Leonardo da Vinci, Grundtvig, Youth Programmes and 5 international cooperation programmes which are Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree (EMJMD), Tempus, Alfa, Edulink and Education Cooperation Programmes under the framework of Industrialised Countries are brought together under Erasmus+.
Higher Education Institutions (HEI) must hold an Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE) and the students of HEI can apply to an Erasmus+ Mobility for students. Erasmus+ mobility for students are divided into two sub-activities:
- Student Mobility for Study (SMS)
- Student Mobility for Traineeship (SMP)
1. Students of mainstream HEI can apply to Erasmus+ Mobility for Study Programme for 1 semester or 2 semesters (between 3-12 months) within 1 academic year. Participants to Erasmus+ Mobility for Study have the opportunity to be an exchange student abroad.
2. Students of mainstream HEI can apply to Erasmus+ Mobility for Traineeship (work placement) Programme abroad in an enterprise or any other relevant workplace between 2-12 months. This programme enables students to obtain overseas work experience.
To participate Erasmus+ activities, Higher Education Institutions must be awarded the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE) and they must sign bilateral agreements with partner institutions. Mobility period for all cycles (Bachelor, Master’s, PhD) is minimum of 2 months and maximum of 12 months. In case of mobility for studies, the student must be enrolled at least in the second year of higher education studies. For traineeships, this condition does not apply.
NOTE: Departure, accommodation, passport and visa procedures are the responsibility of the student.
NOTE: Eligible participants to Erasmus+ for traineeship or study should attend to orientation sessions presented by the International Relations Office (IRO). Those sessions play an important role for the students since they will be informed of their responsibility during the procedure and will find a chance to ask their questions to the IRO advisor (staff) of PAU.