Erasmus for all... managers
At the 25th anniversary of the Utrecht Network, a European
university cooperation network in the area of internationalisation
and mobility, Mr. Wächter used the opportunity to encourage rectors
and university board members to pay close attention to the 'Erasmus
for all'-proposal that the European Commission has put forward.
According to the European Commission, Erasmus for all is the new
programme for education, training, youth and sport. Starting in
2014, it would significantly increase the funds allocated for the
development of knowledge and skills.
"Erasmus for all is based on the premise that investing in
education and training is the key to unlocking people's potential,
regardless of their age or background. It helps them to increase
their personal development, gain new skills and boost their job
prospects".
Erasmus as a panacea
The Brussels' based Academic Cooperation
Association (ACA) is somewhat more critical. ACA is afraid that the
lack of clarity in the Commission's proposal will lead the European
Parliament and the Council to transform the proposal into "anything
the current political climate would like it to be - a panacea for
all the social problems facing Europe today - and not what the
programme was originally designed to do."
The ACA also points to the lack of detail
in the 'Erasmus for all-proposal', being just "another case of the
Commission's famed 'constructive ambiguity' approach." According to
Wächter the proposal would do away with any sector-specific
sub-programmes and would therefore not be able to allocate money to
for instance higher education.
Accountability craze
Wächter: "What drives these reforms is the
drive for managerial efficiency. If they simplify the categories,
they can have the same application form. But… if they don't get
this single form right, they mess everything up. It is
simplification at the end of the programme managers, I don't think
it will get worse, but I don't think it will get much better
either. Accountability craze is the Zeitgeist, there I have no
hope."
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Projected key figures
Erasmus for all (2014-2020)
Overall budget
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€19 billion (includes €1.8 billion for international
cooperation)
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Overall mobility opportunities
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5 million people
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Higher education
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2.2 million students
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Staff mobility
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1 million teachers, trainers, youth workers and other staff
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Vocational education and training
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735 000 students
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Volunteer and youth exchange schemes
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540 000 young people
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Master's degree loan guarantee scheme
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330 000 students
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International students
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135 000 students
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Joint degree grants
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34 000 students
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Cooperation targets:
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Strategic Partnerships
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More than 20 000 linking together
115 000 institutions
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Knowledge Alliances
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200 set up by 2000 higher education institutions and
businesses
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Sectoral Skills Alliances
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200 set up by 2000 education and training providers and
businesses
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