Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps 2021–2027
With the new programme generation of Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps Europe invests directly in the future. The EU provides almost twice as much money for Erasmus+ as in the last programme period: 28.4 thousand million euros will be invested in pan-European and international exchanges until 2027 – of which 83 per cent for education, 10.3 per cent for youth and 1.9 per cent for sports, and 4.8 per cent for management/other funds. Thus, over the next seven years, the European Union will spend 26.2 thousand million euros plus another 2.2 thousand million euros on additional international activities. Another thousand million euros is available for the European Solidarity Corps. Austria is expected to receive 683 million euros for Erasmus+ and the ESC from funds of the European Union from 2021 to 2027.
On 1 June 2021 the Austrian launch event and press conference took place at Porgy & Bess, Vienna in the presence of Werner Kogler (Vice Chancellor and Federal Minister for Arts, Culture, Civil Service and Sports), Heinz Faßmann (Federal Minister for Education, Science and Research), Susanne Raab (Federal Minister for Women, Family, Youth and Integration at the Federal Chancellery) and Jakob Calice, Managing Director of the OeAD, Austria’s Agency for Education and Internationalisation.
In the Erasmus+ education sector up to 240,000 participants from Austria are expected to do study periods, research periods or work placements abroad with Erasmus+ in the four sectors – higher education, school education, vocational education and training and adult education – until the end of the programme period 2027. This is an average of around 34,300 people per year. In the Erasmus+ youth sector it is 13,000 people per year, which means that by the end of the programme period approximately 91,000 people will have taken advantage of the exchange opportunities. The ESC assumes that there will be approximately 3,000 participants in the seven years.
Priorities of Erasmus+
Digital transformation, environment and climate change mitigation (Green Erasmus+) as well as virtual mobility and cooperation will be intensified as of 2021. Inclusive access to the programmes for all people is also a special focus for the next seven years. In addition, there is the European Solidarity Corps as an important programme directly targeting young people and youth initiatives.
The COVID 19 crisis has clearly shown the increased need to harness the potential of digital technologies for teaching and learning and to develop digital literacy for all. “The COVID pandemic has accelerated the digitisation process. For the Erasmus programme the Corona crisis holds great opportunities for innovation in European and international cooperation in education. Although virtual mobility cannot really replace getting to know other cultures and working and living environments it can involve bigger groups of people to a greater extent. As the pandemic has made clear, access to education is proving more than ever to be essential for ensuring a speedy recovery while promoting equal opportunities for all,” says Jakob Calice, the OeAD’s managing director.
About Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps
Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) facilitate stays abroad, promote European and global cooperation and give international impetus to the Austrian education and youth policies.
Erasmus+ offers mobility and cooperation opportunities in higher education, vocational education and training and further education, school education (including early childhood care and education), adult education and youth work – within Europe and, in some cases, also worldwide.
The European Solidarity Corps promotes the involvement of young people in projects and activities that benefit the community. The ESC offers young people (aged 18 to 30) the opportunity to get involved in community projects in their own countries or abroad. Organisations and companies can use the ESC to recruit young committed people for their teams. Different formats support the implementation of projects that benefit local communities and people across Europe.
The OeAD as Austria’s Agency for Education and Internationalisation is responsible for the implementation of the two EU programmes as national agency on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF), the Federal Chancellery, the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Civil Service and Sports (BMKÖS) and the European Commission.
Documents for download (top right in the download section):
Press kit on the relaunch of Erasmus+
EU funds Erasmus+ and ESC Total 2021-27
Estimated budget for Austria Erasmus and ESC 2021-27
Testimonials
Presentation Erasmus+ 2014-2020 per federal province (budget, mobilities, projects)