Why further invest in higher education in Europe? This important question is at the forefront of the ongoing political debates, as preparations of the new Erasmus+ programme (2028-2034) will soon reach a critical stage.  

Capturing a key moment to raise our voice with a joint policy statement, ACA members, national agencies funding and supporting European and international cooperation in higher education, aim at demonstrating the ultimate importance of the Erasmus+ programme and its higher education pillar for the EU’s renewed political agenda, its multiple ambitions and expected benefits. Bringing forward the compelling research and practice-based evidence for each of its five key messages, the statement advocates for:  

1. The contribution of the Erasmus+ higher education mobility actions for the EU skills agenda and Europe’s current and future innovation-driven and socially-inclusive growth.  
2. The core role of the Erasmus+ programme in Europe’s talent pipeline, attracting and retaining highly skilled graduates in Europe via dedicated higher education mobility actions and multi and interdisciplinary high-quality study programmes, supported under Erasmus Mundus, as well as in its global connectivity and positioning worldwide. 
3. The impact of the diverse portfolio of Erasmus+ cooperation projects connecting different actors on local and regional development and more effective innovation ecosystems in Europe, supporting upskilling, social mobility and enhancing institutional development.  
4. Europe’s key strength in making inclusion and diversity the key ingredient of its resilience, competitiveness and social cohesion, welcoming all students and all higher education institutions on equal footing and benefitting mutually from all enriching international collaboration opportunities.  
5. The importance of the Erasmus+ (higher) education pillar for all EU policy areas, requiring a significant increase in the programme’s future funding where the tripling of the Erasmus+ budget would allow to remain on a positive track, and a fivefold increase would secure a substantially larger systemic impact, benefitting the economy and society at large.  

This statement will be followed by ACA members’ next policy input on how to achieve these goals in concrete ways, through consolidation of current actions and some targeted innovations, and connected budgetary implications, due in April 2025. 

Five ACA members, represented by DAAD (Brussels Office), DZS/CZELO, HK-Dir, VLUHR and Movetia, as well as the ACA Secretariat will co-organise an event titled “The Future of Europe = the Future of Erasmus+” on 29 April 2025 in Brussels, in order to engage in a dedicated discussion with the key stakeholders. Stay tuned for the updates and the event agenda via this webpage.