Suomen opiskelijakuntien liitto - SAMOK ry

SAMOK

SAMOK is the national advocacy and service organisation for University of Applied Sciences Students (UAS) in Finland.

Lobbying Activity

Response to Multiannual Financial Framework: Erasmus Programme 2021-2027

21 Jun 2018

SAMOK welcomes the increasing of the Erasmus budget as well as evolving from the already successful programme. SAMOK is happy to see flexibility in students’ mobility periods abroad, especially integrating internships more closely into the programme. Different forms of exchanges with different lengths allows a wider population of students from different backgrounds to participate in the programme. We’re also happy to see the allocation of the Master’s Loan Scheme funds into other parts of the programme to benefit those in need. We support the Commission’s aims to make the new Erasmus-programme as inclusive and accessible as possible. We want to highlight that whilst virtual tools can benefit many and be a good addition to international periods in students’ lives, they can’t be the only way to take different needs into consideration. The new Erasmus will be a key tool to build a new European Education Area. We see the value of Erasmus as a programme to bring European individuals together and build a more coheisive European identity. We wish to see that the now piloting European Universities Network will receive funding outside of Erasmus, since it will only be able to benefit a small number of people and is more linked to innovation and research. SAMOK is excited to see what forms of educational aspects will be integrated into the new DiscoverEU programme. Erasmus funds should be allocated to actions ensured to raise competences, European values and international experiences. This European added value should be considered in the DiscoverEU action as well.
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