Estonia has expanded its analysis of Erasmus+ mobility by assessing the programme’s direct financial contribution to the local economy. According to ACA member, the Education and Youth Board of Estonia (Harno), students and educators arriving in the 2023/24 academic year contributed approximately EUR 7.4 million, with higher education participants accounting for EUR 4.75 million in living costs and support. The University of Tartu and Tallinn University were among the top hosts of Erasmus+ students and staff.  

Beyond higher education, learners and educators in general, vocational and adult education accounted for a further EUR 2.65 million. In total, Estonia welcomed over 6500 mobility participants, most commonly from France, Germany and Finland. Harno underlined that the findings demonstrate the broader relevance of Erasmus+ mobility, which generates added value for the economy alongside its educational benefits. 

The analysis aligns with broader European efforts to assess the economic footprint of mobility programmes. It also reasonates with an ACA-led research initiative involving five national agencies, which aims to develop a comparative framework for evaluating the economic impact of incoming Erasmus+ students. Estonia’s experience was also shared as part of this collaborative project (for more details, see ACA Newsletter – Education Europe,  January 2025).  

Read more here (in Estonian).