Erasmus - on the way back?

[OhDear111]

Good news? What could go wrong?

Truly, our friends would prefer us to be armed.

You’re pissing in the wind with the sharp elbowed middle class mothers who want nothing more than Theo and Saskia to experience a lovely bit of the continent which will look great on their LinkedIn CV for daddy’s friends. I wonder how many kids from the rough side of tracks benefit from the Erasmus programme compared to the scrubbed up grammar school types? None I bet.

Well, they're certainly not benefiting from the situation today, where you can only do an MFL course if your parents can sub your year abroad.

It's just another variant of "the wrong people going to university".

@Screamingabdabz

read my post - the scheme is much much more than a Uni exchange, there are many many opportunities open to all young people.

the only limiting factor is themselves finding and taking advantage of the scheme.

And what’s wrong with university exchange anyway? It’s a good thing. All dc in uk schools are taught a MFL. I suggest therefore that anyone csn study a MFL to a high level of good enough snd it’s nothing to do with money. It’s about being good at a subject and not giving up because mum snd dad and everyone else in your family thinks little Britain is the centre of the universe. I do hope the wider population can take advantage but to go to the EU they might need some MFL skill.

The armed forces will rob dc of their life if we force conscription. The young pay for everything it seems.

Like music, I'm afraid it is a bit to do with money ... mine did 17 exchanges between them and one did Erasmus. Don't regret it at all but cheap it was not.

@NoCommentingFromNowOnTuring was means tested at many universities and was spread very thinly. Remember the row now is about cost. Turing was a cheap imitation which loaded costs onto parents. That meant students were not automatically guaranteed the funds they needed and for some, there was a sub standard degree as a result. Erasmus is wider and better for participants and universities. I hope it promotes dc who need to go abroad as part of their course as before but we need to promote working with others in Europe at all levels.

This is fantastic news! I hope a lot of UK students will benefit from this after the UK decided to sabotage the youth's opportunities by leaving the EU. A year abroad could give our youth the opportunity to learn another language and network across 27th countries. I hope the youth mobility agreement follows shortly which should subsequently open the job markets across the EU for our young people. They have not voted to have their rights removed, they weren't even voting age at the time.

During a time when our young people struggle to find graduate jobs and apprenticeships, they need all the help they can get, this should be just the beginning.

This - Turing is just not workable for MFL degrees.

I'd also add that this government's policy decisions are netting them £35m a year from my university just from their NI increase and international fee levy. So it can afford to give a small fraction of that back to students whose degrees have been impacted by Brexit.

Personally I think the £5+ billion pounds we will have to pay to join this scheme really is not worth it as there is already the Turing scheme in place which covers worldwide not just Europe. It seems to be making travel for students less accessable not more accessible as no longer worldwide and at a hefty cost to tax payers.

Why just promote working with Europe? Surely working with other countries worldwide is far better.

Why just promote working with Europe? Surely working with other countries worldwide is far better.

It does both.

@caringcarer It did do both but most undergrads studying MFLs go on exchange to European countries as they study European languages. There were other opportunities but Turing took money away from those who were required to work or study abroad as a compulsory element of the degree and funded “nice to go” students where study abroad was not a requirement. I would like to see funding for all.

There's nothing to stop the government retaining Turing in addition to the Erasmus scheme if it wants.

That’s really not a fair or accurate account of the Turing scheme. It was set up specifically to enable students at a socio-economic disadvantage to have an International experience within their degrees.

Such experience is not “nice to have.” It’s an important part of an outward looking and relevant education. It shouldn’t be out of the reach of some young people because their families are poor.

And lots of degrees benefit from an international year, not just modern languages.

And again, nothing to stop the government offering this alongside Erasmus.

Being obsessed with Erasmus is the pinnacle of middle-class Mumsnettery.

Nobody normal gives a shit about what is basically a jolly for the children of the well off.

Interesting point in the Times today. It is only for University Students. Once again we in Britain neglect our Apprentice Students in favour of the Academics.
My point is because The EU have been pushing this very hard it must benefit them. Yes THEM not us. But of course Starmer fell for it again. Never mind the £Billion just so he can develop a nice warm glow for being nice to someone.

@ParmaVioletTea The nice to go students, in effect, stopped those who must go getting reasonable funding. It was a university lottery experience and didn’t prioritise those who must go. I’ve no doubt others benefitted but at the expense of many MFL students and their parents. Turing, in most peoples estimation, was a poor penny pinching substitute that left some students and parents very much out of pocket for doing an obligatory year.

£570 million for one year!

How about ...no. Imagine what they could do for young people with that money.

Or for any people!

@EmeraldRoulette We had a far better deal before Brexit of course. How stupid were we? However we need to be an effective member state of geographical Europe and that means giving young people a chance to broaden their horizons and improve this country at the same time. We are buying greater understanding of the world around us that has been sorely lacking.

Imagine what could have been done with all the billions wasted on Brexit.

Although as an MFL graduate and MFL teacher I am very much all in favour of closer ties with Europe and travel opportunities for students, I'm a bit confused by this. My dd is currently on her uni year abroad in Spain. They are referred to as Erasmus students by the Spanish university and already do not have to pay extra fees, so I don't really understand what is going to change!

@OttersMayHaveShifted That’s just shorthand though if it! The other exchange students are Erasmus!

Money - some universities have exchange deals with European universities and elsewhere. However Erasmus gave a living expenses grant. Many universities now means test via Turing and have to fund a large amount of the year abroad without any meaningful grant. It’s an expensive option!

Thanks for clarifying! Yes, dd chose to go to a Spanish uni which had an established link with hers. The real nightmare (and expense!) was getting the visa sorted. Shame rejoining Erasmus Plus won't get rid of that . I will certainly be warning all my future A Level students applying for MFL degrees to start that ball rolling asap if they are doing a year abroad!