To be so sad and angry about the loss of the Erasmus scheme

[Biber]

Yesterday the government voted against an amendment to the Withdrawal Agreement Bill that would have aimed to keep the Erasmus scheme open for our youngsters.

I knew brexit woud bring losses to our children but it feels like a punch in the gut that parliament have voted so clearly against my grandchildren having the opportunity for funded study in another EU country. Just as it is being extended to people in apprentiships too.

@GCAcademic

Who will pay for this funding? and why can't they discriminate on the basis of cost? surely that happens now with the difference in eu vs non eu tuition fees?

Erasmus mainly benefited middle class kids, especially those from grammar and private schools

There is no evidence for this.

And Erasmus isn't just for students. There was someone on Twitter who benefited from Erasmus in the last couple of years and they are 61.

You can all stay on your island gibbering English to each other - it's what you wanted

Was it? I thought only half the voting population voted to leave the EU and youngsters starting university now were too young to vote in the referendum anyway. What an insulting comment. It doesn't bode well if people in other countries take such an uneducated broadbrush view but does accord with my fear that even if British people do carry on studying and working in EEA countries, they'll be told their country(wo)men are insular and stupid and will be made to feel unwelcome.

Who will pay for this funding? and why can't they discriminate on the basis of cost? surely that happens now with the difference in eu vs non eu tuition fees?

The universities will have to pay it. My department, for example, has to pay out quite a lot of money for field trips because you can't ask students to fork out for something that is a component of their course. In practice very few of our students will do these European exchanges, so it won't add significantly to the cost of other exchanges (e.g. to the US and Australia) that we already offer.

I hear you brits who think you are 'good' at languages every day - you all suck at it

Those who do degrees in foreign languages don't suck at them, they speak them very well.

I did a Masters in Germany and wrote my dissertation in German. I did not suck at it (horrible expression by the way - you could just say "you're not as good as you think you are"). It's a bit rusty now because I've not lived there for 20 years but I dare say after a week of being there and speaking nothing but German it would come back.

@BlaueLagune please let the broadmindedness work both ways .

I'm don't agree with the 'island gibbering English', but to be fair there has been some nasty statements against the EU from your side during this brexit shamples. Some not looking at the bigger picture (trying to be diplomatic here) take offense.

Same - absolutely gutted - my Erasmus year was like a bomb exploding inside my brain , new friends, new languages, new passions, new food...and coming from an ordinary background semi rural environment... I know several people whose lives became more enriched thanks to Erasmus

@ACautionaryTale good on you for having an experience in the US...but it is also important that the youth of today learn and experience the countries on their doorstep, which are arguably more difficult for us to access - eg we can all read the New York Times but how many of us can read El Pais or Der Frankfurter Zeitung...wasn't it a positive that that the EU was prepared to invest in our young people and help them to go abroad via grants, establishing exchanges, facilitating contacts via institutions...actually putting their money where their mouth is.

@rosehip10 sorry, I have to disagree with you - in Scotland, where working class kids can access higher education for free, there were kids from very very ordinary backgrounds) - and Erasmus wasn't just for unis but also for colleges, football clubs, sports clubs, cookery schools, apprenticeships, disabled youth groups, mental health groups, post addiction rehabilitation schemes etc etc

I would say though that the kids that benefitted the most were the ones already learning or involved with languages...this helped them adapt more quickly once abroad.

@BlaueLagune

Like it or not, many in europe see Brexit as the UK telling the EU to xxxx off, the result of the 2019 GE confirms this.

It's not ill educated to feel that way, it's a fairly accurate assessment.

You can all stay on your island gibbering English to each other

If you are going to gibber in any language, English isn't a bad one, and it doesn't restrict you to this island. A very large and diverse proportion of this planet's population can gibber in English to some extent.

@jasjas1973 - Like it or not, many in europe see Brexit as the UK telling the EU to xxxx off, the result of the 2019 GE confirms this.

Very much so. I'm Irish, and most people I know originally hoped the UK would change their mind and remain. Now, most of us just hope you go with minimal damage to Ireland, the GFA, peace in NI and the EU generally. We feel the UK is a hugely negative influence and that the EU will be better without you. Yes, there will be a financial hit but we don't need a country that seems to be trying to destroy the EU from within. Obviously I'm not speaking for all Irish people, but that is the consensus in my social group.

I know many of you don't feel this way and while, I feel sorry for those in that situation, you had an opportunity to reform your electoral system a number of years ago and didn't, so your current government is a case of reaping what you've sown.

“ Erasmus mainly benefited middle class kids, especially those from grammar and private schools”
It hugely benefitted kids from our local secondary modern school- which has a very deprived catchment and over 37% PP pupils.

The votes for brexit and the tories came predominantly from the less educated.

How can you possibly know this?

Probably, because like me, she's been unfortunate enough to meet some of them.

Like it or not, many in europe see Brexit as the UK telling the EU to xxxx off

Well how else should they see it? That's exactly what it is!

We feel the UK is a hugely negative influence and that the EU will be better without you. Yes, there will be a financial hit but we don't need a country that seems to be trying to destroy the EU from within. Obviously I'm not speaking for all Irish people, but that is the consensus in my social group.

It's an entirely justified viewpoint.

Dh had an amazing life enriching year. He was the first in his family to even go to university so the “posh middle class” sneers very unfair

The Erasmus scheme had issues long before Brexit.

The Erasmus scheme had issues long before Brexit.

Your point being ? That Brexit was really just about getting the UK out of Erasmus ?

I'm sure Coventry cathedral had some woodworm before WW2.

SerendipityJane

Did you miss the "because of brexit" posts?

SerendipityJane Did you miss the "because of brexit" posts?

Probably.

I learned a while back not to waste too much time getting facts straight when it comes to Brexit. It didn't improve the level of debate and just took up valuable cross stitch time.

The Erasmus scheme had issues long before Brexit

So, instead of reforming and making it better for our educated/ant to be educated/get up and go youth, we tell them all to F off and we'll set up our own version just for us!!!!

jasjas1973

Things have been suggested and have been ignored or refused on many counts.

This is a long running issue.

BoneyBackJefferson

What "things" has the UK suggested to improve Erasmus over say the last 15 years? that have been adopted, refused or ignored?

Sorry. Apologies all, I am thinking of the wrong scheme.

I thought that this was something else.