Erasmus Programme: 38 Years of Transforming Education, Training, Youth, and Sport in Europe

On 15 June 1987, the Council officially adopted the Erasmus Programme, and launched officially on 1 July 1987. Over nearly four decades, Erasmus has grown into one of the EU’s most iconic and successful initiatives, supporting millions of students, educators, and youth workers across Europe. The choice of the name “Erasmus” refers to Erasmus of Rotterdam, a leading scholar and inspiring lecturer during the Renaissance period who travelled extensively in Europe to teach and study at a number of universities. But at the same time, the word “Erasmus” also served perfectly as the acronym for The European Community Action Scheme for Mobility of University Students. The Programme’s mission is to empower individuals, modernise systems of education and training, support youth development, and strengthen the role of sport in building inclusive and resilient communities. Through mobility and cooperation, Erasmus+ fosters innovation, dialogue, and shared European values. Evolution of the Programme:Erasmus begins as stand-alone programme for European cooperation and mobility that ran through two programme phases between 1987 and 1994. It becomes the higher education sectoral programme within the broader “Socrates” programme for education (1995-2006) and the Lifelong Learning programme (2007-2013). EU programmes on education and culture expand, with “Socrates” and “Leonardo da Vinci” covering education and training (in the period 1995-2006) and the "Lifelong Learning” programme...