Erasmus-programma voor studentenuitwisseling: steeds meer Oost-Europese studenten doen mee (en) -

The European Commission's flagship action in the field of education, the university exchange programme Erasmus, continued to expand in the academic year 2004/05. The overall number of students taking part on Erasmus exchanges rose by over 6% on the previous year, while the number of university teachers exchanged under the scheme grew by almost 13%. The biggest impact of the scheme has been felt in the Central and Eastern European countries. Student exchanges rose on average by an impressive 36% in the new Member States, while growth in teacher mobility was even more dramatic, rising on average by almost 77%.

Ján Figel', European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture, and Multilingualism, said "These figures reveal that the new Member States are fully taking part in the benefits of membership of the EU. Their rapid integration into the Erasmus scheme directly contributes to its continued success, ensuring that additional generations of Europe's bright young people can enjoy the benefits of academic, cultural and linguistic exchange. This is all the more significant, as we celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the Erasmus programme next year."

"Already, Europe's universities are welcoming the grown-up children of former Erasmus students. The hundreds of thousands of students who have benefited from the scheme since 1987 form a growing body of highly educated Europeans with cross-cultural and multi-lingual experience, essential requirements for the dynamic, knowledge-based European Union of the future."

In the academic year 2004/2005, 144,037 Erasmus students benefited from a university exchange, an increase of 6.3% on the previous year. Over the same period, 20,877 university teaching staff also participated in Erasmus exchanges, an increase of 12.9%. Most of the 31 participating countries experienced a growth in incoming mobility, whereas the figures for outgoing mobility from the participating countries were more varied.

Spain remained the most popular destination for students, welcoming 25,511 over the year, with France in second place (20,519), followed by Germany (17,273) and the United Kingdom (16,266). Germany was again the primary destination for teaching staff, hosting 2,623 over the year, followed by France (2,261) and Italy (1,897).

However, the most dramatic increases in student and teacher mobility were observed in the new Member States. Student exchanges in those countries rose on average by 36.3% during 2004/05, the first full academic year since they joined the EU, while Erasmus teacher mobility increased by an average of 76.7%.

The academic year 2004-2005 was also the first in which Turkish universities participated in the Erasmus programme: some 1,142 Turkish students benefited, while 299 students from other participating countries spent a few months in Turkish universities.

The Commissioner pointed out that "Student exchanges between the Central and Eastern European Countries were not permitted under the Erasmus scheme before full membership of the EU, but for the ten new Member States it is now possible for Erasmus student and teacher exchanges to take place among them."

Business studies was again the most popular subject area for student exchanges, followed by languages/philology and social sciences. The profile was slightly different for Erasmus teacher exchanges, where the most popular subject area was languages/ philology, followed by engineering/technology and business studies.

Erasmus gives university students (except for students enrolled in their first year of higher education) the opportunity to study for a period of 3-12 months at a university or higher education establishment in another participating country. Erasmus also provides support for teachers giving generally short courses, as part of the official curriculum of a partner university in another European country.

For further information see:

http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/education/programmes/socrates/erasmus/erasmus_en.html

Actual Number of outgoing ERASMUS Students (by Country of Home institutions) 2002/03-2004/05

Country of home institution	Year
2002/03	2003/04	2004/05
Austria	3325	3721	3809
Belgium	4620	4789	4833
Cyprus	91	64	93
Czech Rep.	3002	3589	4178
Denmark	1845	1686	1793
Estonia	304	305	444
France	19365	20981	21561
Finland	3402	3951	3932
Germany	18482	20688	22427
Greece	2115	2385	2491
Hungary	1830	2058	2316
Ireland	1627	1705	1572
Italy	15225	16829	16440
Latvia	232	308	607
Lithuania	1002	1194	1473
Luxembourg	119	138	116
Malta	72	119	130
Netherlands	4241	4388	4743
Poland	5419	6276	8390
Portugal	3172	3782	3845
Slovakia	653	682	979
Slovenia	422	546	742
Spain	18258	20034	20819
Sweden	2656	2667	2698
UK	7973	7539	7214
Iceland	163	221	199
Liechtenstein	7	19	26
Norway	1010	1156	1279
Bulgaria	612	751	779
Romania	2701	3005	2962
EUI[1]	12	10	5
Turkey	-	-	1142
Total	123957	135586	144037

Actual Number of incoming ERASMUS Students (by Host Country) 2002/03-2004/05

Host country	Year
2002/03	2003/04	2004/05
Austria	2836	3161	3536
Belgium	4053	4504	4728
Cyprus	63	62	95
Czech Rep.	971	1298	1946
Denmark	2,887	3393	3880
Estonia	170	166	275
Finland	4433	4929	5351
France	18833	20260	20519
Germany	16106	16863	17273
Greece	1545	1593	1658
Hungary	856	951	1297
Ireland	3473	3584	3649
Italy	10982	12713	13370
Latvia	45	65	150
Lithuania	132	216	388
Luxembourg	13	14	16
Malta	202	250	310
Netherlands	6355	6724	6842
Poland	996	1456	2332
Portugal	3280	3766	4166
Slovakia	131	181	284
Slovenia	129	201	378
Spain	21302	24049	25511
Sweden	5326	6080	6626
UK	16994	16621	16266
Iceland	171	199	253
Lichtenstein	7	11	17
Norway	1244	1518	1841
Bulgaria	67	89	179
Romania	355	536	602
Turkey	-	-	299
Total	123957	135453	144037

[1] EUI : European University Institute Florence

Data source : National Agency final reports