Dear reader, Studying or training abroad to gain new skills and qualifications is one of the best investments anyone can make for their future. Employers are increasingly looking for graduates who are adaptable, creative and have good language skills. Our Erasmus programme and other exchange schemes enable students to acquire such skills by funding study periods abroad as part of a degree course. We also provide grants for students and other young people who want to take up a work placement or volunteer in another country.
The European Commission’s proposed new education programme for 2014-2020, Erasmus for All, will make it even easier to take advantage of such opportunities. Our aim is to nearly double the number of grants available so that many more people will be able to benefit from this invaluable international experience. We also plan to launch a loan guarantee scheme to help Master’s students to finance studies abroad.
Other plans in the pipeline include an expansion of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology following the success of its initial phase. Our target is to kick-start up to 600 start-up companies and to create new curricula and training for around 25,000 Master’s students and 10,000 doctoral candidates over the next decade. These courses will combine academic excellence with teaching aimed at developing students’ innovative and entrepreneurial potential.
So all in all, there has never been a better time to widen your horizons and participate in a study or training opportunity which you will never forget!
Androulla Vassiliou European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth