Erasmus - What's That?

The Erasmus programme is the Higher Education section of the European Community action programme called Lifelong Learning Programme in the field of education. The programme is the EU's flagship education and training programme, emphasising student and staff mobility and co-operation of higher education institutions and other key players across Europe. It supports the creation of a European Higher Education Area through increased mobility - over 2 million students have participated since the programme start in 1987.

The programme was named after Erasmus of Rotterdam (1466-1536), the famous Dutch humanist and theologian who lived and worked in many places in Europe to expand his knowledge and gain new insights.