The interest of German universities in the EU programme Erasmus+ continues unabated: For the next two years, a record amount of 157 million euros will be available for the international exchange of around 50,000 students and university staff. Funding is available for study and internship stays at all stages of study, including doctoral studies. This was announced today by the National Agency for Erasmus+ University Cooperation within the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). 

"In the current year, we are already recording 20 per cent more Erasmus applications from German higher education institutions than in 2021," said DAAD President Prof. Dr Joybrato Mukherjee in Bonn. "This shows: The desire for stays abroad among young Europeans is not only as strong as ever but has even increased in the Corona pandemic. We must and can now meet this growing demand. The Erasmus programme is a supporting pillar of the internationalisation of universities and strengthens the European identity of young people. Both need to be supported more than ever in these times of great European challenges." 

"The issue of equal opportunities is a central concern for us. With the current approval, we would like to make it possible for students in particular to spend a period abroad who need special support due to personal or health-related circumstances," said Dr Stephan Geifes, Director of the National Agency for Erasmus+ Higher Education Cooperation at the DAAD (NA DAAD). 

Equal opportunities mobility with Erasmus+

For the coming years, the Erasmus programme will focus in particular on equal opportunities and inclusion in all areas of mobility. Increased funding rates and target group-specific approaches are important for this. In addition, priorities such as digital transformation and sustainability will make an important contribution to achieving the EU's climate goals. For example, students will be able to complete their Erasmus stays in the future as short-term formats and so-called "blended mobility", a mixture of digital and physical stays abroad. In addition, the programme supports the use of climate-friendly means of transport for travel to and from the destination.

Erasmus+: "Enriching lives, opening minds"

Erasmus+ is the EU programme for education, training, youth and sport. Under the motto "Enriching lives, opening minds", it promotes Europe-wide cooperation in all areas of education. In various programme lines, German higher education institutions have the opportunity to promote the international exchange of their students and university staff, to establish cooperation and partnership programmes and to use a wide-ranging institutional exchange between higher education institutions in Europe and worldwide. There are 33 countries participating in Erasmus+ as programme countries: the 27 EU member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Northern Macedonia, Norway, Serbia and Turkey. Although the United Kingdom is no longer a programme country after Brexit, it remains a partner country. This means that mobility there can continue to be funded. 

In Germany, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) acts as the national authority for Erasmus in the higher education sector. As one of four national agencies, the DAAD is responsible for implementing the Erasmus programme in higher education.

2022 is the anniversary year for the Erasmus programme, which started on 15.6.1987 and thus turns 35 this month.