EU programme for education, training, youth and sport

Erasmus+, the new EU programme for education, training, youth and sport, due to begin in January, has been approved by the European Parliament.

Aimed at boosting skills, employability and supporting the modernisation of education, training and youth systems, the seven-year programme will have a budget of €14.7 billion, including an estimated £793million (€940 million) to the UK.

More than four million people aged 13 to 30 will receive support to study, train, work or volunteer abroad, including two million higher education students, 650,000 vocational training students and apprentices, as well as more than 500,000 going on youth exchanges or volunteering abroad.

Erasmus+ will also provide funding for education and training staff, youth workers and for partnerships between universities, colleges, schools, enterprises, and not-for-profit organisations.

For further information visit http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-13-1110_en.htm.

The European Commission has published detailed guidance for organisations interested in participating in Erasmus+, the new programme for education, training, youth and sport.

The Call for Proposals, available to download at www.erasmusplus.org.uk/sites/default/files/erasmus-plus-call-for-proposals.pdf.  and the Programme Guide, available to download at www.erasmusplus.org.uk/sites/default/files/erasmus-plus-programme-guide_en.pdf, set out all the application information on the new programme including: deadlines; eligibility criteria; funding levels; project activities and durations; and the application process.

The 2014 deadlines will be from mid-March onwards.

Universities Minister David Willetts has announced the contract to deliver Erasmus+ in the UK had been awarded to the British Council, in partnership with Ecorys UK.

For further information visit www.gov.uk/government/news/800-million-to-help-uk-students-study-overseas.

In addition, the European Commission has published The Youth in Action Programme in 2012, which gives an overview of projects funded by Youth in Action, the previous EU Programme for young people.

To download the report visit http://ec.europa.eu/youth/documents/jea2012execution20pe01_pour_imp.pdf.