Julian Baggini is right to laud the opportunities for European student exchange activities, with the announcement that the UK will rejoin the Erasmus scheme in 2027 (Britain rejoining Erasmus+ won’t halt the nativist tide – but it’s a step in the right direction, 17 December). Until Brexit, there were diverse chances for students to sample courses, cultures and environments in unfamiliar settings, enriching their experiences in ways that had lasting benefits. As one example, I looked after the UK arm of a consortium of European universities that enabled up to 10 students each year from each of six participating universities from six European countries to attend a 10-day environmental field course in one of these countries. We were able to continue this arrangement without a break for 12 years from 1997, funded almost entirely through Erasmus, so the cost to students was minimal.
The field course venue was hosted by rotation, so each university only had to organise the course once every five or six years. Every year, participating students experienced working closely with peers from each country, and were exposed to different ideas and ways of approaching environmental issues, and environments that included the Mediterranean, central Europe and the far north. Lasting international friendships developed that in many cases endured long after the end of the course, and everyone enjoyed the experience, including staff, who developed working collaborations across Europe. These opportunities were only possible through the Erasmus scheme – its reinstatement will allow future students the benefits of similar experiences and life enhancement.
Graham Walters
Walthamstow, London
The UK needs a globally skilled workforce to negotiate, connect and engage internationally. Student mobility is crucial to achieving this, so it is very welcome news that the government has announced its association with Erasmus+ (UK to rejoin EU’s Erasmus student exchange programme, 16 December).
The British Council has a longstanding commitment to supporting international exchange. We were a lead partner in the Erasmus+ UK National Agency from 2014 to 2020, where Erasmus+ made a significant contribution to the UK’s cultural relations activities, funding 4,846 projects, engaging 128,000 UK participants and awarding more than €679m to UK organisations.
Erasmus+ has a proven track record in changing lives, opening up new learning experiences, providing insight into different cultures and nurturing the concept of global citizenship, not only among higher education staff and students but also across non-formal education, schools, technical and vocational education and training, and sport. Reassociation with Erasmus+ can only be a good thing for young people throughout the country.
Maddalaine Ansell
Director education, British Council
It is disappointing to see much of the media fail to recognise that Erasmus has now acquired a “plus”, and it is not solely for higher-education students. The programme might have begun with higher education in 1987 but it now includes schools, youth groups, sports teams, and vocational and adult education. As an organisation supporting schools, we look forward to the reinstatement of eTwinning, teacher job shadowing and in-service programmes, which were taken from the UK in 2020. Indeed, we have already had enquiries from schools in Spain, Denmark and France seeking partner schools in the UK.
Ray Kirtley
Chair, UK Global Learning Association for Schools
