Erasmus+ makes a difference in all kinds of ways – for individuals, universities, the economy and society as a whole. Over the years, various studies have consistently demonstrated the effectiveness of the education programme. The articles in this issue of the DAADeuroletter showcase more inspiring examples of its impact.
We begin with an interview with Erasmus alumnus and ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer, who reflects on his time as an exchange student in Leeds, England, in the early 1990s. He describes it as an incredibly positive experience that encouraged him to spend more time abroad, and as a defining moment in his career, which has taken him all the way to the International Space Station. «In England,» he recalls, «I learnt how to connect with people from a different culture, with a different language. It was a lesson in how peaceful coexistence within a united Europe is possible.»
Following 7 very personal reflections on Erasmus, each demonstrating the positive and profound impact the programme can have on personal lives and career trajectories, other articles in this issue focus on new initiatives that have been introduced in the current programme phase. These include the Blended Intensive Programmes (BIPs), funding modules aimed at fostering more inclusive and sustainable mobilities, measures implemented by the NA DAAD to improve Erasmus+ accessibility for disadvantaged groups and the European Universities initiative. Across the board, we see that these formats and actions are making a tangible impact!
The same is true of the Erasmus Mundus programme, which promotes collaborative transnational Master’s degree programmes and which turns 20 in 2024. To mark the anniversary of this programme, which has been part of the Partnerships for Excellence since 2021, we have taken a closer look at these guiding lights of internationalisation. We asked two German universities what Erasmus Mundus means to them, and their responses were clear: Erasmus Mundus is a central component of their internationalisation strategies, with an impact that extends far beyond the degree programmes and into the broader university community.
In 2024, we reach another milestone: 25 years ago, higher education ministers from 29 European countries gathered in the Italian city of Bologna – home to Europe’s oldest university – and pledged to establish a single European Higher Education Area. Today, the area encompasses 47 active member states. We look back at this major transformation in the European higher education landscape, which is widely regarded as a positive development. A recent study by the European University Association revealed that 98 percent of universities in the Bologna region consider Erasmus+ to be crucial for their work.
With that, as always, I wish you an engaging and thought-provoking read!
Dr Stephan Geifes
Director of the National Agency for Erasmus+ Higher Education Cooperation at DAAD