Erasmus+: New programme phase has started
The University of Konstanz has been awarded the “Erasmus Charter for Higher Education 2021-2027” – the entry ticket for participating in the Erasmus+ programme during this period.
The new programme phase of the European Union’s Erasmus programme has now started. The focus continues to be on promoting the mobility of European students in the context of cooperation agreements, fostering the mobility of teaching staff and academic support staff as well as providing opportunities for international internships. By awarding the “Erasmus Charter for Higher Education 2021-2027”, the EU Commission recognizes the University of Konstanz’s excellent internationalization activities including effective international mobility measures for students, researchers and administrative staff.
New programme phase – new priorities
The three new goals that are now included in the programme clearly show that it is about more than just mobility: the promotion of sustainability, digitalization and inclusion. The digitalization project “Erasmus Without Paper” will play a central role: online availability of documents, the digitalization of administrative processes through interfaces between the ZEuS and MobilityOnline portals and the “European Student Card”. “These are ambitious visions for the years ahead,” says Renate Krüßmann, ERASMUS+ coordinator in the International Office at the University of Konstanz. “These new features will be a cornerstone for the European mobility of the future – and elegantly replace the stacks of paper required up to now.” In addition to this, more online teaching formats (“Blended Intensive Programmes”) will enhance the digital skills of students and staff. Through additional mobility and support options for under-represented groups, such as persons in special circumstances and students and teachers of smaller subjects, the new generation of the ERASMUS Programme focuses more on providing equal opportunities.
As before, the Erasmus+ programme also provides project funding for European consortia, such as strategic partnerships, transnational study programmes ("Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees") and the European University Initiative. In this particular initiative, the University of Konstanz is involved as a partner in the “European Reform University Alliance“ (ERUA), a network of five European reform universities.
Current situation
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, there are some delays at the European level. On 25 March 2021, the programme guide for the new Erasmus+ generation was published, kicking off the practical implementation of the new programme phase. Over the next few weeks, we will successively include the corresponding information on our websites. Part of the mobilities in the academic year 2021/2022 are funded through the former Erasmus programme.