1 March, 2021
Erasmus+: a successful European brand, but needs better performance measurement, say Auditors
Gerry O'Sullivan
Posted: 6 September, 2018
Student mobility under the Erasmus+ programme generates many forms of European added value and has a positive effect on participants’ attitudes towards the EU, according to a new report from the European Court of Auditors; countries would not be able to achieve such effects acting alone. However, the auditors found that the indicators used to measure the Programme’s performance should be better aligned with its objectives. They add that application and reporting processes are still too complex, despite some simplification.
The Erasmus+ Programme’s objective is to provide learners and staff with the opportunity to gain skills and undergo personal, socio-educational and professional development through study, training, work experience or volunteering abroad. It also aims to improve quality and foster innovation, excellence and internationalisation in educational organisations.
The auditors assessed the performance and European added value of Erasmus+ Mobility, a key action of the Programme in the area of education and training, which accounts for over half the €16.45 billion budget. By January 2018, more than 2.3 million learners and staff had benefitted from Erasmus+ Mobility.
Overall, Erasmus+ Mobility has met most of the targets set for it. On a critical note, the auditors found that the indicators used to measure the Programme’s performance should be better aligned with its objectives.
“Erasmus+ has enabled millions of people to study, train and work abroad, which made it a wellknown, successful EU brand,” said Rimantas Šadžius, the Member of the European Court of Auditors responsible for the report. “Erasmus+ Mobility generates many forms of European added value beyond its legal requirements, such as a strategic approach to mobility, an increase in the sense of European identity and multilingualism. These elements should be assessed as part of performance evaluation.”
Compared to previous programmes, Erasmus+ has introduced many innovations with a view to simplifying administration in the area of mobility. However, application and reporting processes are still too complex, say the auditors. Moreover, the innovative Student Loan Guarantee Facility has not produced its expected results.
For the future Erasmus+ programme, the auditors recommend that the European Commission should:
- suggest additional European added value elements, which should be prioritised at the project appraisal stage, monitored and reported on;
- improve the measurement of objectives achieved and prioritise performance when allocating funds;
- simplify the scheme further to reduce administrative burdens, with improved IT tools;
- include school students in Erasmus + Mobility and consider more flexibility for PhD students;
- assess the possibility of reintroducing funding for traditional classroom language teaching;
- include doctoral and undergraduate mobility under the Student Loan Guarantee Facility.
Mobility under Erasmus+: Millions of participants and multi-faceted European Added Value
-
-
-
-
22 February, 2021
EU to invest €150m in Coronavirus Research
-
-
18 February, 2021
UCD, Teagasc and Welsh Universities in Oats Research
-
15 February, 2021
EC Launches New European Bauhaus Initiative
-
3 February, 2021
UCD – Timely Report on Virtual Teaching Approaches
-
2 February, 2021
Almost 4400 HEIs in Europe awarded Erasmus Charter
-
1 February, 2021
Funding Call for Cross-Border Teacher Collaborations Announced
-
21 January, 2021
UCD and TCD to benefit from EU Horizon 2020 funding
-
-
16 December, 2020
Over 5000 events celebrate the Erasmus Programme in 2020
-
12 December, 2020
Next Erasmus+ Programme clears political hurdle
-
6 December, 2020
Erasmus Barometer Survey 2019-2020 Open
-
6 October, 2020
Four Irish HEIs in share of €5m EU Knowledge Alliance Funding
-
-
28 September, 2020
€239,696 in Jean Monnet funding awarded to two Universities
-
27 August, 2020
EU launches COVID Response Project Call
-
20 August, 2020
EC to launch Digital Education Strategic Partnerships Call
-
23 July, 2020
6 Irish HEIs to share in €36m Erasmus Mundus Programme
-
-
-
-
2 July, 2020
Europass: take the next step! New platform launched
-
22 June, 2020
Ulysses Call 2020 – Results
-
-
17 March, 2020
New Deadlines for Erasmus+ Sport Actions
-
12 March, 2020
Coronavirus – Statement from An Taoiseach
-
-
-
27 February, 2020
Erasmus+ Project opens door to Algerian partnership for UL
-
24 February, 2020
Intra-Africa Academic Mobility Scheme fourth Call
-
14 February, 2020
European Policy Experimentations – Call 2020
-
13 February, 2020
Secular cultures more welcoming according to new study
-
-
3 February, 2020
Coronavirus Research Call
-
-
8 January, 2020
Brazilian Universities develop new performance metrics
-
-
20 December, 2019
Photo Competition to celebrate 10 million Erasmus Students
-
16 December, 2019
Erasmus Days 2019 a huge success
-
12 December, 2019
Cork IT Erasmus Student wins prestigious music award
-
11 December, 2019
International Scholarship Call to issue in January 2020
-
8 November, 2019
Erasmus+ 2020 Call and Programme Guide 2020
-
4 November, 2019
Three HEIs in latest Erasmus Mundus awards
-
-
9 September, 2019
The future of European research must be inclusive
-
30 August, 2019
Government Investment to benefit internationalisation
-
28 August, 2019
Almost 100 Mobilities to Palestine in 2018 from Europe
-
26 August, 2019
Latest Edition of the Armenian E+ Office Newsletter
-
12 August, 2019
Irish Universities win nearly €2m of EU support
-
-
-
5 June, 2019
DCU – World Leader in addressing bullying
-
29 May, 2019
Brexit – Continuation of Erasmus+
-
-
-
-
-
11 March, 2019
Old Dominion University on a visit to Ireland
-
10 March, 2019
Carnaval at MIC
-
-
-
27 February, 2019
500 participants attend Palestinian National Erasmus+ Office INFO Day
-
26 February, 2019
Seed funding call for Teacher Education North and South launched
-
22 February, 2019
Universities UK calls on UK government to fund study abroad
-
-
19 February, 2019
U-Multirank Call 2019 – Deadline 1 May 2019
-
7 February, 2019
Erasmus+ and a “No Deal” Brexit – EC Statement
-
1 February, 2019
Erasmus+ Application Deadline extended to 12 February
-
-
20 December, 2018
Unusual Stats for Christmas
-
16 November, 2018
Erasmus+ Languages Survey
-
-
-
24 October, 2018
European Commission publishes Erasmus+ Call 2019
-
8 October, 2018
Mobility under Erasmus+: European Court of Auditors Report
-
17 September, 2018
RCSI to deliver joint pharmacy programme with Chinese University
-
10 September, 2018
World Suicide Prevention Day 10 September 2018
-
-
-
-
28 August, 2018
Finland aims to be at the forefront of the Arctic bioeconomy
-
-
-
14 August, 2018
EU agrees a number of joint initiatives with Japan
-
-
-
-
22 June, 2018
Ireland an EU leader in Innovation
-
21 June, 2018
EU’s External Budget – €123 billion proposed for 2021-27
-
-
-
-
15 June, 2018
Palestine Erasmus+ Office launches newsletter
-
-
3 June, 2018
Irish SMEs among winners in Commission Programme
-
-
11 May, 2018
RTÉ Brainstorm
-
3 May, 2018
Career Guidance – Public Consultation
-
-
-
27 April, 2018
Global Survey on Internationalisation
-
-