BY: KERSTY-JO ZAMMIT, NICOLE SPITERI, JEANELLLE DECELIS, ANDREA CACHIA, AMY SAYDON, RIONA MALLIA AND KIMBERLY BUGEJA

WHAT IS ERASMUS+?

ERASMUS stands for European Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students.

It was named after the philosopher, theologian and humanist Erasmus

The Erasmus+ programme aims to boost skills and employability, as well as modernising Education, Training, and Youth work.

Erasmus+ provides opportunities for over 4 million Europeans to study, train, gain work experience and volunteer abroad.

WHAT IS ERASMUS?

Erasmus+ supports transnational partnerships among Education, Training, and Youth institutions and organisations.

It is fostering co-operation and bridging the worlds of Education and work in order to tackle the skills gaps we are facing in Europe.

It also provides support for Sport programmes.

WHAT ARE THE INITATIVES AVAILABLE THROUGH ERASMUS+ TO PROMOTE YOUTH ACTIVISM?o Youth Exchanges :

1. Offer international mobility in the safety of a group and are usually done in short durations

2. A good setting for discussion and learning about diversity issueso European voluntary Service:

1. Usually Last from 2- 12 months 2. Can be shorter if involving young people with fewer opportunities starting

from two weeks.o Transnational Youth Initiatives:

1. Allow informal groups of young people in a minimum of 2 countries to address challenges faced in their communities.

2. This project can be set up and managed by the youths themselves.

WHAT ARE THE INITATIVES AVAILABLE THROUGH ERASMUS+ TO PROMOTE YOUTH ACTIVISM?

Erasmus+ also has projects that allow youth workers to improve their skills and competence in inclusion, diversity, partnerships and practice such as :

Training and networking – Allows youth workers/ leaders to exchange and gain professional abilities to work on inclusion and diversity.

Strategic Partnerships – Introduced under Erasmus+, aims to support projects that develop ground-breaking practices and ideas.

Structured Dialogue – Allows organisations to set up national /international meetings to talk to policy makers, get the voice of young people heard and target the topic of inclusion.

The projects mentioned above are also for youth workers, leaders and project managers interested in developing their knowledge and skills on Erasmus+ projects.

THE OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECTS ARE:

To increase the quality of mobility projects for young people

who have never been involved in non-formal learning activities.

To support inclusive project development which will ultimately increase the motivation of the youth to be active.

To provide space for networking between youth mobility providers and youth policy makers in order to support quality impact of the youth mobility projects.

To promote Erasmus+: Youth in Action programme to new users of the programme and support them in adding value to the youth activities they are offering.

Eligibility - They should be from the following countries: I. EU-28 ( including Overseas Country and Territory

depending on Denmark, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom )

II. Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Switzerland III. Turkey and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

Costs: All costs related to accommodation and board as well as travel expenses are covered.

2 million higher education students will study and train abroad

650 000 vocational students will spend part of their education and training abroad

200 000 Master’s students will benefit from a new loan guarantee scheme and more than 25 000 scholarships for Joint Master Degrees

500 000 young people to volunteer abroad and take part in youth exchanges

800 000 lecturers, teachers, trainers, education staff and youth workers to teach or train abroad

WHAT ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS:

ERASMUS+ SUPPORTS: Opportunities to study, train, gain work experience or

volunteer abroad. Education, training and youth sector staff to teach or learn

abroad. The development of digital education and the use of ICTs. Language learning. Recognition of skills, including those learned outside the

formal education system. Strategic Partnerships among educational institutions and

youth organisations with peers in other countries in both their own sector and other sectors, in order to foster quality improvements and innovation.

REFERENCES:

https://www.um.edu.mt/int-eu/erasmusplus http://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/discover/index_en.htm http://www.mladiinfo.eu/2015/02/18/newcomers-in-erasmus-youth-in-

action-preparing-for-quality-mobility-projects/https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/about_en#tab-1-1

Erasmus+ Best Place to get the latest opportunities.mp4