Adult learning

Erasmus+ opens the door to a world of employment opportunities. Whether you find a job in a new country or sector, or build upon knowledge relevant to your field, Erasmus+ is proven to improve your prospects for a successful career. In fact, mobile higher education students are twice as likely to have a job one year after graduation compared to their non-mobile peers. Volunteering also boosts participants' chances of finding a job, as 75% of employers value such experience.

Check-out the toolkit were you will find a wide variety of resources including infographics, factsheets and videos. All are available to anyone who would like to promote the programme, organise events or debates and generally contribute to the future of the Erasmus+ programme! You can also create a direct link from your website to the Erasmus+ website by using the widget!

Celebrating 30 years of Erasmus is not the only European accomplishment we’re honouring this year. In March we’re also celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the Treaty of Rome. These two anniversaries provide us with the perfect opportunity to reflect on the importance of openness, mutual understanding, and solidarity.

If you haven’t checked out the e-Platform for Adult Learning in Europe (EPALE) visit now for information on 24 themes on adult education and training. Whether you’re interested in social inclusion, immigrants, second chance schools, or more, the platform will help you find partners and participate in discussions. Learn more here.

Erasmus+ has been working to help adult prisoners find new pathways for years, to great success. This story highlights a man who took up painting while in prison in Bulgaria, and found it changed his life so much he now works in heritage preservation. That’s just one of many similar success stories to come out of implementing art education programmes in prisons. Now, a new project is looking toward bringing even more learning opportunities to inmates.

There are multiple pathways for adult learners with fewer opportunities to improve their skills, and many projects are making those pathways more obvious and readily available. Whether it’s helping adults with learning disabilities undergo training to become more autonomous, or proving that real-life competences gained during migration are applicable to many jobs, these projects are paving the way for less social exclusion throughout Europe.

Did you know that Erasmus+ is more successful and inclusive than ever? New figures published in the Erasmus+ Annual Report 2015 show that the programme invested €2.13 billion in more than 30,000 mobility projects during 2014 and 2015. This allowed around 1.3 million participants to go abroad, 10% of whom come from disadvantaged backgrounds or have special needs. The Annual Report also covers major developments in the Erasmus+ programme to address social inclusion in Europe. For example, a focus is put on the education needs, skills recognition and development of refugees arriving in Europe. Be sure not to miss all the latest updates!

The Erasmus+ programme addresses many key concerns of young people in Europe and beyond. We have a lot to share with you this year – so stay tuned to learn more about how the programme helps to tackle these issues and contribute with your own ideas! Throughout 2017 we will explore different themes relating to key social, economic, educational and cultural developments. In February, we take a closer look at social inclusion and integration.

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Erasmus, we want to hear about the highlights of your Erasmus+ experiences! Whether your time abroad helped to kick start a new career or to put in place new innovative practices, we want to hear inspiring Erasmus+ stories! To enter, simply share a photograph and a short description of your Erasmus+ experience; the best stories will win a travel voucher! More details can be found at the read more link, which can be shared with all Erasmus+ participants, past or present!

In 2017, we’re celebrating the 30 year story of Erasmus. The programme has enriched the lives of more than 9 million people, and following the launch of Erasmus+ in 2014, the programme reaches more people than ever before. The entire Erasmus+ community is invited to organise events to celebrate and debate on national and local levels as part of the 30th anniversary. National launch events in France, Germany, Poland and Cyprus have already taken place, with more events planned in 2017. Watch how more than 400 people kicked-off this anniversary year in Brussels on 26 January!