Higher Education Sector Unites to Propose Concrete Amendments for a Stronger Erasmus+ 2028-2034

In a landmark display of unity, 17 prominent higher education organizations across Europe have come together to propose targeted amendments to the European Commission's draft regulation for the Erasmus+ programme spanning 2028 to 2034. This collaborative effort underscores the sector's commitment to evolving the flagship initiative into an even more robust tool for fostering mobility, cooperation, and skills development amid rising geopolitical tensions and economic pressures.770

The Erasmus+ programme, formally known as the European Union programme for education, training, youth, and sport, has been a cornerstone of European integration since its inception in 1987. With over 16 million participants to date, it has transformed lives and institutions by enabling cross-border learning experiences that boost employability, cultural understanding, and innovation.65 In the current 2021-2027 cycle, backed by a €26.2 billion budget, higher education remains the largest beneficiary sector, accounting for the majority of mobility flows and cooperation projects.

This joint push for amendments arrives just months after the Commission's July 2025 proposal, which outlines a €40.8 billion envelope for the next period—a near doubling from the previous frame but deemed insufficient by stakeholders to meet ambitious targets like the European Education Area and Union of Skills.58

🌍 The United Front: 17 Organizations Championing Change

Leading the charge is the European University Association (EUA), joined by CESAER, the Coimbra Group, Erasmus Student Network, European Students’ Union, EURASHE, The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities, and others including DAAD, LERU, UNICA, UNIMED, and YERUN. These groups represent thousands of universities, colleges, and students from every corner of Europe.77

Their joint document, finalized on February 11, 2026, and released publicly on February 18, meticulously details amendments to nearly every recital and article of the draft regulation. This unprecedented coordination reflects a shared vision: safeguarding Erasmus+'s core missions while adapting to new realities like digital transformation, climate resilience, and global talent competition.78

Student voices are central, with the European Students’ Union emphasizing equitable access and the Erasmus Student Network highlighting reintegration support post-mobility. University leaders, via EUA's survey of 500 institutions, affirm that Erasmus+ has enhanced institutional capacity and global attractiveness, yet call for simplification and better synergies.100

📊 Proven Impact: Why Erasmus+ Matters for Higher Education

Higher education dominates Erasmus+ participation. Mobility numbers have nearly doubled since 2014, with over 2 million student exchanges geocoded across Europe in recent years alone. In 2024, 196,000 interinstitutional agreements and 320,000 learning agreements were digitized, streamlining processes via the European Student Card Initiative.7466

The European Universities initiative exemplifies success: 65 alliances unite 570+ institutions from 35 countries, piloting joint degrees and micro-credentials that transcend borders. Participants report higher employability—studies show Erasmus+ alumni earn 23% more on average—and institutions gain from talent circulation and innovation.90

Yet challenges persist: rising living costs outpace grants, inclusion gaps for underrepresented groups, and administrative burdens. The sector's amendments address these head-on, drawing from real-world data like the 2024 ESN survey on barriers.78

💰 Budget Battle: From €40.8bn to €60bn Minimum

Central to the proposals is a demand for at least €60 billion—nearly 50% more than the Commission's figure—plus €6 billion from Global Europe for international activities. Indicative allocations prioritize higher education at 21.5% (€10.7 billion baseline), ensuring stability across seven years with balanced annual distributions to aid planning.78

• Higher Education: 21.5% – Core mobility and alliances.
• VET: 15.2% – Complementary skills training.
• Directly managed actions: 17% – Horizontal support.

This structure prevents resource diversion to new priorities, safeguarding core mobility amid inflation and expanded scope. As per the Draghi report on competitiveness, such investment is vital for Europe's talent pipeline.View the full joint amendments PDF.78

For universities eyeing expansion, explore Europe university opportunities or scholarships on AcademicJobs.com.

Photo by Antoine Schibler on Unsplash

🔄 Reaffirming Core Pillars: Mobility and Transnational Cooperation

Amendments explicitly reinstate learning mobility and institutional cooperation across all fields as primary objectives (Article 3). This counters risks of dilution by strategic scholarships, ensuring genuine added value via stakeholder consultation and committee oversight.78

Proposed enhancements include automatic recognition of qualifications (Recital 31), sustainable mobility incentives (Article 4), and lifecycle support for inclusion (Article 8). Step-by-step: (1) Pre-mobility preparation via digital tools; (2) Grant adjustments for actual costs; (3) Post-mobility validation and alumni networks.

Real-world case: The University of Bologna's alliances have enabled 5,000+ joint credits, boosting graduate employability by 15%.100

🌐 Expanding Horizons: International Dimension and Key Partnerships

A bolstered international arm offers more mobility for mutual benefit, emphasizing knowledge security over economic dominance (Recital 15). Crucially, a "clear pathway" for UK and Switzerland re-association (Article 13) promises continuity for 100,000+ annual mobilities.78

Partnerships with non-EU countries focus on shared values, capacity building, and policy dialogue. For faculty, this means enhanced faculty positions with global exposure.

🤝 Synergies and Resilience: Building a Future-Proof Programme

Explicit links to Horizon Europe, Competitiveness Fund, and National Recovery Plans amplify impact (Recitals 30, 37). New recitals (21a, 21b) embed crisis resilience: flexible funds for war/disaster-affected students/staff, scholarships for human rights defenders.78

Reintroducing a committee procedure (new Article 15a) ensures Member State input, sector-specific configs, and expert advice—proven effective in 2021-27.

📈 Stakeholder Views and Case Studies

EUA's 500-HEI survey reveals 100% view mobility indispensable, praising resilience during COVID via blended formats.100 LERU stresses research synergies; students demand grant hikes for living costs.

Case: KU Leuven's virtual exchanges reached 2,000 during crises, maintaining momentum. Future: Alliances as testbeds for joint PhDs, linking to postdoc opportunities.

Photo by Sorin Gheorghita on Unsplash

🚀 Challenges, Solutions, and Road Ahead

Challenges: Bureaucracy, funding shortfalls, recognition gaps. Solutions: Digitalization, indicative budgets, inclusion plans (Article 8).

Outlook: With Parliament and Council negotiations underway, these amendments could shape a €66bn+ powerhouse. For professionals, this means more career advice resources and jobs via Erasmus+ networks.

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