Press Releases
Education
Erasmus programme in 2008/09: the figures explained
21/06/2010
The European Commission today published new figures on the number of students, teachers and other staff in higher education who participated in the EU’s Erasmus programme in the academic year 2008/2009. The data shows that 198 600 European students and 36 000 staff in higher education received Erasmus funding to go abroad for studies, placements, teaching or training. This memo contains more information about Erasmus in this period, including a breakdown of the figures by country.
Erasmus: Record numbers of students receive EU funding to study or train abroad
21/06/2010
More students than ever went abroad for studies and company placements with EU support through the Erasmus programme in 2008/09. According to new figures released today, almost 200 000 higher education students received grants to study or train abroad. This represents an overall increase of 8.7% on the previous academic year and means that more than two million young Europeans have benefited from Erasmus funding since the programme's launch in 1987. The biggest increase is in the number of students going on company placements – up more than 50% on the previous year. In addition, last year more than 36 000 staff from higher education institutions went abroad to teach or receive training in one of the 31 European countries participating in the Erasmus scheme.
EU policy on vocational education and training - Frequently Asked Questions
09/06/2010
(see also IP/10/707)
Commission encourages vocational education and training
09/06/2010
The European Commission today presented its new vision for the future of vocational education and training. Vocational education and training is chosen by an average of around 50% of all students in upper secondary education. However, the sector needs to be modernised to make it a more attractive and high-quality option, so that it provides young people with the right skills to find a suitable job and adults with an opportunity to update skills throughout their working life. Therefore, the Commission wants to encourage more people to take up vocational education, to improve the quality of the training on offer and to make it easier to move between jobs and countries. EU ministers are expected to discuss and adopt the plan in the second half of this year.
Traditional stereotypes remain the biggest challenge for gender equality in education
07/06/2010
The European Commission today presented a new study which examines how gender inequality in education is addressed in European countries. It shows that gender differences persist in both choice of study and outcomes.
