Erasmus Plus Programme Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Bambos Charalambous
Main Page: Bambos Charalambous (Labour - Enfield, Southgate)Department Debates - View all Bambos Charalambous's debates with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
(5 years, 10 months ago)
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Lloyd Russell-Moyle
That soft power is so vital, as is the provision of diverse, international campuses that then encourage other students from other parts of the world to come to study at them. They breed a virtuous circle.
Amy said that her time in Amsterdam gave her the motivation to study. Beforehand, she was perhaps not so motivated, but now understands the importance of learning, in a deeper way than before. Another student, Ifat Shaltiel, studied for a BA in English language teaching, plus Italian and Spanish—my goodness, what an incredible list of things to study—at Sussex. She said:
“Every person I have met…in the Erasmus programme cannot praise the experience enough,”
and she considers it enormously valuable, particularly for language teaching.
Bambos Charalambous (Enfield, Southgate) (Lab)
Is my hon. Friend aware of the Universities UK report that says that students who study overseas are significantly more likely to enter managerial positions within 10 years of graduating, half as likely to be long-term unemployed as their non-mobile colleagues, and more likely to start their own companies than other graduates? Does he therefore agree that making sure that the Erasmus+ programme continues for the long term is invaluable, because of its long-term benefits to this country?
Lloyd Russell-Moyle
I totally agree with my hon. Friend. There are examples coming out of our ears of the good work that the programme does.
Last month, Universities UK launched its Go International project to outline the reasons why international exchange is vital for our economy, education sector and young people. It also produced a very good little report. In fact, the Minister for Universities came and launched the project with us and said some good words about the importance of international exchange. We need those good words to turn into good actions, so that we can secure the Erasmus programme’s position. I believe that we all share that desire.