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The Erasmus Charter for Higher Education 2021 – 27 Call has been published in the Official Journal of the European Union. Being awarded an ECHE for the 2021 – 27 period is the entry ticket for all higher education institutions into the new Erasmus+ programme. The new ECHE will strengthen the success of the existing programme and encourage more target groups to be included, especially individuals with fewer opportunities.

Climate change is a topic unlike any other. While the prospect of human-induced global destruction may sometimes seem too overwhelming to address, everyone has a part to play in halting it. If we all need to act differently, what does this imply for the way in which we educate our children?

Which countries in Europe provide clear information to students about mobility opportunities? How are disadvantaged learners supported in mobility programmes? Can students take their grants and loans abroad? Eurydice’s new edition of the Mobility Scoreboard platform and the latest background report covering 2018/19 have the answers to these and more questions on the learning mobility of higher education students in 38 European countries! This second edition of the report includes updated background information for six composite indicators on information and guidance, foreign language preparation, portability of grants and loans, participation of disadvantaged learners, recognition of learning outcomes and the automatic recognition of qualifications.

Looking for concise information on the duration of compulsory education/training in 43 European education systems? In this new Eurydice's publication, you will definitely find what you're searching for: the duration of compulsory education/training throughout Europe, the starting and leaving ages of pupils in compulsory education. You will discover, for example, that in most European education systems, compulsory education starts at the beginning of primary education, often at the age of 6. However, attending at least the last year of pre-primary education is compulsory in 16 education systems. France and Hungary report the earliest starting age for compulsory education (3 years old). By contrast, in Estonia, compulsory education starts at the age of 7. In slightly more than half of European education systems, full-time compulsory education/training lasts 10-11 years and ends at the age of 15-16. The information is available for 43 European education systems covering 38 countries.

On 7 March, the Irish government launched Empowering through Learning, the Action Plan for Education 2019. One of its goal is to support the progress of learners at risk of educational disadvantage and learners with special educational needs.

Sweden education system has served to the rest of Europe as a model of integration of migrants. Nevertheless, a recent PISA survey highlighted some difficulties that migrant students face, in contrast with their native-born classmates. The OECD has identified four priority areas for Sweden for closing the gap between immigrant and native students. Find them out!

Every year, more than 300 000 students study or train under the Erasmus+ umbrella. A recent Higher Education Impact study found that 80 percent of Erasmus+ graduates are employed within three months of graduation, with 72 percent stating their Erasmus+ experience helped them land their first job.

In the last few years, at the same time as people's use of various digital environments, be it computers, smart phones and even virtual reality has increased significantly both at home and in the work place, the discussion of incorporating more technology-based learning environments into teaching has intensified considerably. Consequently, a question arises: will pen and paper become as obsolete as rubbing two sticks together to make fire?

In many countries, political debate is becoming ever more polarised. Fuelled by amoral media seeking out scandal and dispute, contemporary politics thrives on controversy and opposing views. Is this black and white world view positive for our democracy?

Climate change is a topic unlike any other. While the prospect of human-induced global destruction may sometimes seem too overwhelming to address, everyone has a part to play in halting it. If we all need to act differently, what does this imply for the way in which we educate our children?

“No one leaves home unless home is the mouth of a shark.” - Warsan Shire

Poverty, physical and emotional stress, gaps in language learning affect children's future educational trajectories and integration into a new society. Discover 'Petite Ecole', a project that started out as a volunteering initiative in 2015. Today "Petite Ecole", in Brussels, is an unconventional school that helps children with little or no previous schooling to access education.

The European Commission celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Jean Monnet Activities through a series of events and initiatives around the world. Jean Monnet beneficiaries and success stories are encouraged to celebrate through debates, conferences, workshops, public debates and other activities. The European Commission will be present in the European University Institute’s State of the Union event on 2 May in Florence.

This report highlights both the potential benefits and risks associated with AI implementation. While AI can offer advantages like formative feedback and lesson planning assistance, there are also risks, especially when used without proper oversight. It is an outcome of the AI squad (working group) of the European Digital Education Hub which is an initiative of the European Commission, funded by the Erasmus+ programme (2021-2027).

The Slovenian education system has recently adopted two changes in legislation opening up routes of access to education and support to ease inclusion into the system for migrant students and providing equal access to students under international protection. In the 2018/19 school year, out of the 73 000 upper secondary students, 3 700 students have foreign citizenship and 611 of them enrolled in Slovenia for the first time.

Approaches to integration of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in schools vary widely in Europe. In particular, the teaching language to be used with newly-arrived migrant pupils can be a controversial topic. Should they learn only the host country language or should they be encouraged to keep their mother tongue?

Bullying impacts severely on the victims' physical and mental health, also having adverse effects on educational outcomes. This can violate the rights of children and young people to a quality education (SDG no 4). What can schools do concretely to prevent bullying? The starting point is to have a good understanding of the phenomenon and the different forms that it takes.