What is Erasmus?
Desiderius Erasmus (1465 - 1536) was a Dutch philosopher who emerged as one of the leading figures and greatest representatives of the Humanism movement that emerged with the Renaissance. Recognized for his contributions to the unification of Europe under a common umbrella of art and science and his influence on the educational philosophy of his time, Erasmus is considered an apt namesake for the Erasmus+ program.
Erasmus, akin to a wandering scholar, traveled across various countries in Europe throughout his life. His most important work, "In Praise of Folly" (Moriæ Encomium), continues to be relevant today and is regarded as one of the most significant works written against bigotry.
What is the Erasmus Program?
The Erasmus Program takes its name from Erasmus, a significant figure of Renaissance Humanism, as he had traveled as both a student and an academic across different European countries. He is somewhat considered as the precursor to today's Erasmus+ students.
The grants provided in the field of higher education under the European Commission-managed Lifelong Learning Program, which ran from 2007 to 2013 and ended in 2014, continued under the Erasmus+ Program between 2014 and 2020. The new Erasmus period will continue In the 2021-2027 period.
The Erasmus+ program aims to encourage higher education institutions to cooperate with each other. It provides unconditional financial support for higher education institutions to develop and implement joint projects with one another and make short-term student and staff exchanges.
The Erasmus+ Program aims to offer more effective tools promoting collaboration across different sectors, aligned with the objectives of the European 2027 Strategy for education, youth, and sports, addressing the emerging needs in these areas.
As for the field of higher education specifically, the program aims to enhance the quality of higher education, strengthen collaboration among higher education institutions, and foster collaboration between these institutions and the business world.
Erasmus+ activities are aimed, in the broadest sense, at institutions and organizations involved in higher education as well as their staff and students.
Our university first obtained the "Erasmus University Charter" by applying to the European Commission in 2021. Since obtaining the charter, our participation in Erasmus programs has continued to increase.
Erasmus Program Countries
The Erasmus program is open to higher education institutions in the 27 EU member countries (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden), as well as to Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway, which are part of the European Economic Area but not EU member states, and to the EU candidate countries Turkey, North Macedonia, and Serbia. All activities carried out under the Erasmus program require that at least one of the involved parties is from an institution in an EU member state.
Universities, graduate schools, academies, and similar institutions recognized as higher education institutions by the relevant official institutions of their countries are eligible to benefit from the Erasmus program. Upon being granted the Erasmus University Charter (EUC) by applying to the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), a unit of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Education and Culture, these institutions and their students and staff can benefit from the Erasmus program. Institutions wishing to carry out student internship mobility must obtain the Extended EUC.