The benefits of enjoying a working abroad experience are well-known. Without doubt, your independency and open-mindedness increases when you try something different, out of your own home country. Also, your language skills improve! Then there’s the added bonus of understanding a different culture. Additionally, some studies show that people who try an abroad experience are more likely to go onto pursue an international career and live abroad.
In Europe, there are two programs that organise working abroad mobilities. Those already in the education sector and looking after young students are no doubt familiar with the term Erasmus+ and what stands behind this EU-program. However, there is something new that has recently launched and it’s a similar program established by the UK called the Turing Scheme. Due to Brexit, England was eliminated from the Erasmus+ program so they introduced the Turing Scheme, offering funding for UK students wishing to travel abroad in the same way as Erasmus+. The following article will give you an overview of both programs. The aim is to share our expertise with you so that you understand the topic well.
To start off, let’s look at the types of things that already well-known Erasmus+ offers for young students.
Erasmus+ is a support program developed by the European Union for education, training, youth and sport in Europe. The Erasmus+ program provides funding for study visits, work experience for students and trainees, teaching and training activities, youth exchange projects, youth work and sports activities in the program countries. There are 27 member countries of the EU as well as additional program countries; the Republic of North Macedonia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Turkey, Serbia.
More than 4 million Europeans take the opportunity to go abroad for a study or training experience. Erasmus+ has increased its budget in order to provide even more people the chance to participate in the program. The aim is to also target more people from disadvantaged backgrounds as well as smaller education and higher education institutions lacking major financial or administrative resources.
Due to England’s exit out of the European Union the country also left the Erasmus+ program. So, the Turing Scheme was developed in 2020 by the UK government in order to provide funding for UK students for worldwide mobilities. Students have also the added opportunity of gaining work experience beyond Europe. Also, disadvantaged students are encouraged by the UK to participate in the program to also enjoy the chance to go abroad with financial support provided by the government.
The first mobilities of the Turing Scheme are scheduled for September 2021, so applicants can already start putting together their proposals to help give them a successful start in the autumn.
At TravelEdventures we are your experts for both programs. We are happy to assist you with anything concerning an upcoming or planned Turing or Erasmus+ mobility – please contact us!
For further information regarding the Erasmus+ application process you can check our Guide for Erasmus+ Funding Applicants or read our Handbook for Erasmus+ Project Management & Execution.
As soon as we receive further information regarding the application process of the Turing Scheme, you will find it posted on our blog. So we recommend subscribing to our blog to stay up-to-date.