If you are a participant of the Erasmus Programme, you might have questions connected to your activity. Keep reading to know more about the impact that the coronavirus has on your programme.
Erasmus programme 2020
In September, when the student went back to school a new cycle of Erasmus programme started. This year the crucial mobility aspect is in danger, therefore exchange programmes will be delivered in an altered way. Some universities are only providing online classes, others are offering full or blended mobility, which allows students to learn remotely and travel when circumstances are normalized.
Mobility programmes in Tenerife
The Canary Islands are one of the most visited holiday destinations in Europe. In previous years Tenerife was full of Erasmus students from all around the world. Steady sunny weather, luxurious hotels, stunning beaches, and the huge turnover of tourism allowed interns to come to the island at any time of the year.
In general, students can participate in different hospitality programmes according to their needs. For example Sales and Marketing, Administration and Management, Sport and Entertainment, Beauty treatments and therapies, Cook and kitchen assistant, Gardening and soo on. The Erasmus programme aims to develope skills and competences that encourage creativity and boost quality, the innovation of youth work.
There are intermediate agencies specialized for Erasmus mobility programmes. They provide you great services to find the best host company on the island. If you feel yourself alone in searching, contact with Tenerife Job Training or FU International Academy Tenerife. I can warmly recommend their assistant. TJT (Tenerife Job Training) is located in the south of Tenerife while FU International Academy Tenerife place in the north part. Besides you can make your own enterprise research in Tenerife. It depends on what are your needs relating to your Erasmus programme.
Even though the Canary Islands reopened its borders since the 1st of July, many students won’t leave home. This year internship abroad will look differently for participants. The Covid-19 pandemic, the new travel restrictions and the closed or socially distanced host partners (hotels, restaurants, enterprises) mean fears around traveling abroad. Therefore, fewer students want to participate in the Erasmus programmes.
European Commission’s response to COVID-19
The coronavirus pandemic situation negatively affects ongoing and planned activities of Erasmus programmes. According to the European Commission, the main aim is the safety and the protection of all participants. Therefore two Erasmus programmes were launched on 25 August 2020 to support digital education readiness and creative skills.
One of the calls will support digital education readiness including digital learning opportunities in school, vocational education, higher education and training. The other call is partnerships for creativity. It will support youth projects, school education and adult education. The good news for students is that grants for the Erasmus programme calls will remain the same as before. Each call provides €100 million to respond to the coronavirus epidemic. The application deadline is the 29 October 2020, click here to read more about the programme.
Digital Erasmus is the future?
It is not easy to tell what will happen exactly to the Erasmus programme in the future. The main goal would be to start a new more digitized Erasmus from 2021. Investigation of online education and skills can be the solution for the present and the future.
The European Commission proposed the allocation of €30 billion for the upcoming budget cycle for 2021-2027. The doubled budget (from15 billion up to €30 billion) would be necessary to make the program more inclusive and applicable with the current restrictions national wide regardless of the crisis. It is crucial to continue providing the opportunity for young people to increase their knowledge and skills through experience abroad. It would allocate grants for individuals, Erasmus programme partnerships including travel incentives to students, different targets for non-EU countries and enhancing the digitization of application procedures. It is still not confirmed how the budget is going to be allocated between the different education sectors. It creates unknown factors regarding the arrangements of the New Erasmus programme January 2021.
Next to the planning insecurity because of the virus, it is difficult to say how long the countries are able to keep the pandemic under control. Currently, some universities will only provide online classes, others are offering full or blended mobility, which allows students to learn remotely and travel when circumstances are normalized.
All in all, it looks like coronavirus has moved forward with this type of student exchange, as well as updating the Erasmus programme application process. Hopefully from January 2021, as the starting date of the Erasmus program will be prepared for the new circumstances and states will provide a safe environment for the students at the national level.
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28. 10. 2020.
Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
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