The registration period for the Erasmus+ programme will be open until 15 February. This programme allows students, scholars and teachers to participate in youth projects around the world

From more than three decades, the European Union has helped about three million people to further their higher education at teaching centres throughout Europe through the Erasmus programme. For the last four years, Erasmus+ has extended this programme. In addition to European students and countries, the programme is now available to teachers, scholars, or any other person who wishes to do volunteer work. An educational, training, youth and sports programme that opens new opportunities for educational and international mobility and cooperation.

Erasmus+ seeks to improve individuals’ levels of basic skills and capabilities, to promote their active citizenship, intercultural dialogue and social integration, improve the quality of work through cooperation between the organisations, complement local, regional and national policies, and enhance the international dimension of youth activities and the role of workers and organisations as support structures for young people in EU member states and in other countries, such as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Turkey, and Macedonia. Certain projects are also open to countries such as Albania, Bosnia or Serbia; Georgia, Armenia or Azerbaijan, Russia and countries on the southern Mediterranean coast, such as Egypt, Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia.

The following people can apply for these Erasmus+ scholarships:

– Students: Undergraduate, master’s and postgraduate students. Their stay will vary between 3 and 12 months and it can be carried out in a number of exchanges as students or as internships. They include travel and subsistence expenses and are exempt from tuition, enrolment and examination fees and, students may even be eligible for additional grants from their institutions, public administrations, or other sources.

– Fellows: for students and young graduates in higher education and in vocational training and apprentices. The stay may vary between 2 and 12 months. Candidates may receive an Erasmus+ scholarship as a contribution to their travel expenses and stay, and there is also the possibility of additional funding for work experience periods.

– Professionals: higher education, preschool, primary and secondary education, adult education, vocational training and joint Erasmus Mundus Master’s degrees. The stay must be a minimum of 2 days and a maximum of 2 months and all travel and stay costs will be covered.

– Young People: There are two options; to participate in a volunteering programme or in cultural exchanges. The European Voluntary Service (EVS) is aimed at young people between the ages of 17 and 30 who, for a period from 2 weeks to 12 months undertake to work selflessly with an organisation abroad on several types of projects (working with young people, cultural activities, social assistance or protecting the environment, etc.). The grant provides for accommodation, meals and local transportation and the volunteers will receive a small allowance for personal expenses. They will also be covered by insurance.
In the case of the youth exchanges, the participants from various countries (aged 13 to 30) can meet, coexist and work on common projects for periods lasting between 5 and 21 days. The EU provides grants for travel expenses.

– Youth workers: activities may include training courses, study visits, observing professional activities in organisations, etc. for a period between 2 days and 2 months. The EU provides grants for travel expenses, as well as for practical costs related to the activities.

This is in the context of three types of actions managed by the Spanish National Agency:

– Action 1. The mobility of persons on the grounds of learning: Mobility of students and people who work in the field of youth-related activities, cultural exchanges and volunteer work.

– Action 2. Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices: Strategic associations through innovative projects that improve the quality of education, training and youth.

– Action 3. Support for policy reforms and structured dialogue: contact between young people and decision-makers, promote encounters between young people and policymakers in the field of youth, and encourage the participation in democratic life in Europe.

If you are interested in participating in any of these actions, the period for applying for projects on which you wish to collaborate in 2018 opens on 15 February.