Erasmus, one of the main four sub-programmes under the Lifelong Learning Programme aims to improve the quality of higher education and also to reinforce the contribution of higher education and advanced vocational education

Operational objectives of the Programme

• To improve the quality and to increase the volume of students and teaching staff mobility throughout Europe
• To improve the quality and to increase the volume of multilateral cooperation between higher education institutions in Europe
• To increase the degree of transparency and compatibility between higher education and advanced vocational education qualifications gained in Europe
• To improve the quality and to increase the volume of cooperation between higher education institutions and enterprises
• To facilitate the development of innovative practices in education and training at tertiary level, and their transfer, including from one participating country to others
• To support the development of innovative ICT-based content, services, pedagogies and practice for lifelong learning. 

Who is eligible to benefit from this Measure?

• Students and trainees in all forms of tertiary level education and training
• teachers & trainers and also other staff within post-secondary institutions
• associations and representatives of those involved in higher education, including relevant student, university and teacher/trainer associations
• enterprises, social partners and other representatives of working life

Funded Measures under Erasmus are:

• Mobility
• Multilateral Projects
• Networks
• Accompanying Measures

In order for an educational institution to participate or to gain access to the Erasmus Measure it needs the Erasmus University Charter (EUC). This Erasmus University Charter sets out the fundamental principles and the general framework for all European cooperation activities that any higher education institution has to respect in order to participate under the Erasmus Measure. This Charter is awarded by the European Commission and specifies the Erasmus cooperation plan in coherence with the mission statement of the institution.

For further information please consult the following link:

http://ec.europa.eu/education/programmes/llp/erasmus/charter_en.html