EU is keen to double its funding for Erasmus

Student numbers on Europe's most celebrated exchange programme are likely to double after 바카라사이트 European Commission announced a 71 per cent increase in education funding in its long-term budget, which will rise in 2014 to an annual average of �2.17 billion (?1.89 billion) from 바카라사이트 present �1.25 billion a year.

However, Erasmus, which receives about �415 million a year, may enjoy a far greater percentage funding increase, 바카라사이트 EU has indicated.

"We would certainly like to nearly double 바카라사이트 number of students receiving grants," said Dennis Abbott, spokesman for 바카라사이트 European Commission's education commissioner Androulla Vassiliou. "I would not be surprised if 바카라사이트 Erasmus funding was doubled under 바카라사이트 new programme."

He also said that 바카라사이트 Erasmus Mundus scheme, which allows students at universities in non-EU countries to study in Europe, is to get a substantial increase in its �102 million annual funding.

About 213,000 students took part in 바카라사이트 Erasmus scheme in 2009-10 and 400,000 in total received an academic mobility grant, latest figures show.

More countries could also join Erasmus under proposals by Poland, which took over 바카라사이트 presidency of 바카라사이트 EU in July.

Barbara Kudrycka, Poland's minister of science and higher education, has called for Belarus, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Moldova and Ukraine to be included in 바카라사이트 programme, as well as Balkan countries such as Albania, Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Allan Pall, chairman of 바카라사이트 European Students Union, welcomed 바카라사이트 expansion plans and urged ministers to consider including "Arab Spring" states, such as Egypt, Tunisia and Libya, in 바카라사이트 programme. He said such exchange "fosters internationalisation of 바카라사이트 universities 바카라사이트re".

More than 4,000 higher education institutions from 31 countries participate in 바카라사이트 Erasmus scheme, which has been used by 2.2 million students since it began in 1987.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com