30 December 2020
By Elaine Murphy
elaine@TheCork.ie
Ireland historically had low take up of programme – says Cork based MEP Deirdre Clune,
but budget available for Erasmus expected to double over the coming years, so now is the time to ramp up numbers
Over the last few years, the number of people applying for the Erasmus programme in Ireland is very low compared with other EU countries. This year the programme has been cut back due to the Covid-19 pandemic however once it is safe to travel again the programme will resume in full.
Deirdre Clune MEP
Pic Diane Cusack
Ireland South MEP Deirdre Clune said that as a nation we need to engage more in Europe and to understand different cultures and backgrounds.
The Erasmus+ programme has expanded from 11 to 32 countries and provides opportunities not just for students but for teachers, staff, trainees and volunteers to live and work in Europe. There is a plan to have almost €26.5 billion made available in the next seven years for Erasmus+, which is almost doubling the budget.
The Erasmus+ programme for the 2021-2027 period will see an inclusion of specific measures to enable more people to participate in the programme. The programme will aim to help people from who previously may not have been able to afford to go on the programme or who may not have qualified for other reasons.
MEP Clune said: “Ireland does not engage sufficiently with EU educational opportunities because of geographical isolation. We need as a nation to engage more in Europe and to understand different cultures and backgrounds. Of course this year people have been unable to travel on the programme but once it returns I would urge Irish students, teachers, trainees and volunteers to engage more with the EU Erasmus programme.”
MEP Clune said the European Parliament had objected strongly to cutting funding for the Erasmus+ programme, despite COVID difficulties.
“The programme gives a means of living, working and studying in another country, with financial support and the support of an educational institution. The Erasmus+ programme also improves language and employment opportunities and I would strongly encourage people to take advantage of the programme.”
Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, 4,500 Irish students saw their participation in the programme cut this year. In total 60,000 Irish students have travelled abroad on Erasmus+ since its foundation in 1987, while 100,000 students have travelled here to learn at Irish institutions.
Ireland South MEP Deirdre Clune said: “The Erasmus Programme is a fantastic initiative for young people in Ireland and across all of Europe and I am delighted to see it continue and grow. EU Feedback reports say that most people who have done an Erasmus have said that their experience has encouraged them to be more open-minded and confident in their newly-acquired skills. Erasmus is by far one of the most popular EU programmes operating in Ireland and it really is one of the EU’s success stories.”
“These days, Erasmus Plus, as it’s now known, is not only for university students but has expanded its reach to vocational training, apprenticeships and youth workers,” said MEP Clune.
Erasmus has been the EU’s flagship programme for education, training, youth and sport since 1987. Millions of young people and thousands from Ireland have enjoyed living in another country, seeing how different and diverse the EU is. This makes Erasmus one of the most popular EU programmes and one of the EU’s success stories.
