Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 February 2021
539. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if plans are in place to ensure that third-level students will have access to the Erasmus+ programme in the academic year 2021-2022 despite Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5634/21]
View answerThe Erasmus+ programme is the main avenue through which my Department and the Higher Education community support studying abroad for third-level students. The European Commission has been engaged in work to examine what is possible given the current state of the pandemic across Europe.
The European Commission approved the new work programme for Erasmus+ (2021-2028) in December 2020. The Higher Education Authority (HEA), which acts as the National Agency for the Erasmus+ Higher Education programme, is expecting to announce a call for applications to all participating Higher Education Institutions in March 2021. The HEA is working with the Sector to help it to benefit from the flexible approach proposed in the new Erasmus programme. In response to suggestions to the European Commission made over a number of years, shorter duration mobilities and the use of blended modes of participation are now being introduced. These measures will help widen opportunities for learning mobilities in our higher education sector, but the ability to take these up will of course depend on the prevailing circumstances at the time.
In 2021/2022, students and staff will have the opportunity to undertake a physical mobility to their chosen destination, depending on restrictions in place at at that time, should the circumstances surrounding international travel and the Covid-19 pandemic permit this. Students can also undertake a blended mobility approach, combining a period of physical mobility with a period of virtual learning. If international travel is not possible, students can do a virtual mobility for the entire duration of their Erasmus experience
