2014-2020 Erasmus programme period brought a great added value to VGTU: the university has been actively cooperating with partner institutions in 66 countries around the globe – over 2700 VGTU students gained international study or traineeship experience, more than 3000 incoming mobility students studied at VGTU, almost 1500 staff members had a teaching or training visit abroad as well as 30 partnership projects were implemented.
New Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE) 2021-2027 constitutes an essential prerequisite for participation in the programme. On 25 May 2020 VGTU submitted the ECHE application, defining the University Erasmus Policy Statement, the main objectives and key performance indicators aimed at the implementation of the following EU priorities related to the Erasmus+ actions:
- Greater inclusion and accessibility - ensuring full and equitable access to participants from all backgrounds and with fewer opportunities;
- Spread of the blended (i.e. short term combined with virtual) mobility;
- Full automatic recognition of all credits gained for learning outcomes achieved during a mobility period abroad;
- Enhancing digitalisation of mobility administration – implementation of the Erasmus Without Paper and European Student Card initiatives;
- Implementing and promoting environmentally friendly practices;
- Promoting civic engagement and active citizenship amongst outgoing and incoming students before, after and during mobility.
New Erasmus+ programme period will provide further support to successful VGTU projects for staff and students mobility, partnerships for cooperation and exchange of practices. Moreover, it is expected to contribute to university modernisation and building of the European Education Area.
VGTU shall publish the Erasmus Policy Statement and ECHE on the university website section dedicated to international activities following its approval by the European Commission by the end of 2020.
