Erasmus Programme: 38 Years of Transforming Education, Training, Youth, and Sport in Europe

On 15 June 1987, the Council officially adopted the Erasmus Programme, and launched officially on 1 July 1987. Over nearly four decades, Erasmus has grown into one of the EU’s most iconic and successful initiatives, supporting millions of students, educators, and youth workers across Europe.

The choice of the name “Erasmus” refers to Erasmus of Rotterdam, a leading scholar and inspiring lecturer during the Renaissance period who travelled extensively in Europe to teach and study at a number of universities. But at the same time, the word “Erasmus” also served perfectly as the acronym for The European Community Action Scheme for Mobility of University Students.

The Programme’s mission is to empower individuals, modernise systems of education and training, support youth development, and strengthen the role of sport in building inclusive and resilient communities. Through mobility and cooperation, Erasmus+ fosters innovation, dialogue, and shared European values.

Evolution of the Programme:

Erasmus begins as stand-alone programme for European cooperation and mobility, that ran through two programme phases between 1987 and 1994.
It becomes the higher education sectoral programme within the broader “Socrates” programme for education (1995-2006) and the Lifelong Learning programme (2007-2013).
EU programmes on education and culture expand, with “Socrates” and “Leonardo da Vinci” covering education and training (in the period 1995-2006) and the “Lifelong Learning” programme succeeding these from 2007-2013, Tempus (1993-2013) supporting modernisation of higher education systems in the EU partner countries.
In 2014, the EU created a single overarching programme for Education, Training, Youth and Sport – Erasmus+.
And the +: given its resounding success over the years and the fact that “Erasmus” was far more widely known than the other programme titles, it was decided to extend the “Erasmus” brand name to the whole of the new programme. The “+” is meant to recall that the programme supports more sectors than just higher education as it did at its origins.

Ukraine and Erasmus+: A Longstanding Partnership

Ukraine’s integration into EU education and youth programmes dates back well before 2014. Ukrainian institutions actively participated in earlier EU-funded programmes such as:

Tempus (1993) – supporting the reforms of higher education systems.
Jean Monnet Actions (2001) – promoting excellence in teaching and research on European integration.
Erasmus Mundus (2004) – enabling joint degrees and academic mobility for students and staff.
Youth in Action (2007) – fostering active youth participation and international exchanges.

Since 2014, Ukraine has become an active participant in the EU’s Erasmus+ Programme as a Partner Country – not associated to the Programme within Eastern Neighbourhood Countries Region, significantly expanding its involvement in the fields of education, training, youth and sport. Ukrainian organisations and individuals have benefited from international learning mobility, virtual exchanges, capacity-building to implement reforms, development and implementation of joint master programmes, strategic partnerships, innovative alliances and European Studies promotions, additionally received access to the European professional platforms and networks, and more.

STATISTICS UKRAINE IN ERASMUS+ 2014-2020 – download.

STATISTICS UKRAINE IN ERASMUS+ 2021-2025 – download.

Erasmus+ has become a strategic tool to foster Ukraine’s integration into the European Education Area and to support the resilience and internationalisation of its institutions – especially in times of crisis and war. From the beginning of brutal invasion of Russia to Ukraine, the European Commission provided more funding and calls for proposals and access to platforms as solidarity with Ukraine.

The access to almost 40 calls for proposals allows developing capacities for the institutional and systemic impact on reforms in education, training, youth and sport of Ukraine. Formal, non-formal and informal education and training have been modernised based on the best practices of the EU member states and beyond. EU grants amount at EUR 30 000 up to EUR 4 mln. per project depending on the type of activities. The projects budget lines covers human resources development, teaching and learning excellence, staff costs, mobilities for exchange, study missions, youth events and activities, training of trainers, innovative curricular, course and resources, methodologies, technologies and infrastructure development, scholarships and individual grants, all depends on the call.

Ukrainian university students, school and VET learners, young people, youth workers, and youth leaders have had the opportunity to study, train, volunteer, and exchange knowledge across Europe, build professional and personal networks, improve their language and intercultural skills, and contribute to shaping a more cohesive, democratic, and inclusive Europe. Ukrainian organisations staff developed their expertise and professional competences via learning and exchanging experience with their counterparts from other countries as well as applied their expertise via teaching, training and mentoring exercises.

Ukrainian education institutions at all levels – from (pre)schools, particularly within eTwinning Community, vocational colleges to universities – have benefited significantly from Erasmus+. Through international cooperation with EU partners, these institutions have improved the quality of teaching and learning, promoted modern educational practices, and enhanced institutional governance. Participation in Erasmus+ has enabled Ukrainian researchers and staff to engage with European peers, adopt inclusive and digital education models, and align with EU standards in quality assurance and student services. These efforts have contributed to systemic reform, internationalisation, and the broader European integration of Ukraine’s education sector.

Erasmus+ has also empowered Ukrainian organisations working in the fields of youth and sport to become more resilient, impactful, and interconnected across Europe. Civil society organisations, youth NGOs, volunteer groups, and local authorities have gained valuable experience through youth exchanges, training courses, strategic partnerships, and volunteering activities within the European Solidarity Corps. The Programme has helped them build organisational capacity, promote active citizenship, support inclusion and diversity, and advocate for youth-friendly policies. In the field of sport, Erasmus+ has fostered grassroots development, gender equality, healthy lifestyles, and cross-border cooperation in non-professional sport initiatives. These organisations now play a vital role in strengthening the voice and agency of young people in Ukraine and beyond.

As a matter of fact, resilient #ErasmusGeneration of Ukraine have become strong Eurointegrators, Ambassadors and Defenders of Common European Values!

Learn more about Ukraine’s outcomes in Erasmus+, based on the impact study, and other analytics of National Erasmus+ Office – Ukraine:

Prepared with the assistance of the EU Delegation to Ukraine.

Erasmus Programme: 38 Years of Transforming Education, Training, Youth, and Sport in Europe

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