Erasmus+: a successful program with room for improvement in inclusion and digitalisation
Overall, survey participants are satisfied with the initial phase of program implementation and consider the communication activities of the Commission and national agencies to be effective. Communications regarding the challenges, as well as their goals and objectives, were clear and understandable according to the respondents. The main findings of the study include:
- The 2021-2022 budget was almost 100% spent, despite the delayed start of the program and the need to adapt to the post-COVID-19 environment and the context of the war in Ukraine.
- 70% of approved projects are on track to achieve their goals. This means that a significant number of successful applicants have to put in more effort to complete their projects.
- Grant application processes have improved compared to the previous programme, but a large number of national agencies and other stakeholders still believe that grants take too long.
- Progress has been made on inclusion and diversity, but respondents say there are still a number of financial and administrative barriers for individuals and organisations, from payment delays to overly complex language in documentation.
- The positive aspects that contribute to the effectiveness of the Erasmus+ program are the clarity of the calls and their objectives and the communication by the Commission and the national agencies. The biggest negatives are user-unfriendly project proposal forms and IT systems.
- The main benefits of participating in the Erasmus+ program are the increase of mobility in the field of informal and informal learning, the support of young people’s participation in democratic processes and civic engagement, the support of inclusion and diversity.
- Respondents, including national agencies, were dissatisfied with the European Commission’s IT system for grant applications, reporting and implementation tools.
The study therefore recommends, among other things, to strengthen the coordination of national agencies with the European Commission in order to ensure a better common understanding of the rules of the Erasmus+ program, to continue to simplify the program, including the complexity of the language, to solve problems related to the IT tools of the European Commission, to continue to support inclusion or to better respect and plan publication dates results and payment of grants.