Wednesday, 14 June, 2017 - 15:55

On 13th June 2017, the 30th-anniversary celebrations of the Erasmus+ programme took place in Strasbourg. ESN was present with 4 members to represent the student-led movement that has been supporting the programme since the beginning - in 1989, two years after the establishment of the programme.

 

 

The event marked the launch of the brand new Erasmus+ App, developed by the European Commission with the support of the European University Foundation and the Erasmus Student Network.

 

 

The Erasmus+ App, now available on Android and iOS, was built as part of global efforts to bring Erasmus+ into the digital era. The app provides users with information on Erasmus+ opportunities for individuals and offers guidance through the mobility process - from the application phase to the return to their own country. The app also features Erasmus+ tips crowdsourced from Erasmus+ alumni and offers an easy way for Erasmus+ students to meet each other through community-led, locally organised ESN events all around Europe.

 

Notably, the Erasmus+ App brings together existing tools - such as the Online Linguistic Support and the Online Learning Agreement - that support and simplify the mobility process.

The celebrations also brought together representatives from each of the Erasmus+ programme countries - making it the perfect opportunity for some inspiring interviews. ESN capitalised on this opportunity by interviewing a series of Erasmus+ alumni for our #HumansOfErasmus campaign - in particular, Tiago Brandão Rodrigues, the Portuguese Minister for Education.

As part of the event, ESN also participated in a series of panel debates on the future of Erasmus+. Comments from participants and panellists alike highlighted global appreciation for the programme.

 

The debates, encompassing a wide spectrum of participants, yielded a series of desires from the audience: from an increased budget to a more inclusive programme.

 

From Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker to members of the audience, it seemed that everyone had a wish for #Eplusfuture.

 

 

Looking towards the future, it is clear that the Erasmus+ programme is a key part of the European narrative, and will be around for a long time to come.