Goodbye to ERASMUS

[ardcarp]

I hope I'm not the only one to be outraged about this....

https://www.connexionfrance.com/French-news/Brexit/UK-Parliament-votes-against-making-full-Erasmus-participation-a-Brexit-Future-Relationship-priority

I'm even more outraged that it hasn't (AFAIK) been on the BBC News, which is full of Royal Rubbish at the moment. I have a strong personal reason for my outrage. My eldest grand-daughter spent one year of her university course abroad last year, largely funded by Erasmus. She phoned me almost in tears about the news, saying what a fantastic experience it had been, not only in making her fluent in another language but by mixing with Erasmus students from many other European countries. We should be shouting SHAME from the rooftops.

[StephenMcK]

SHAME!!!

Many, many moons ago (1951), my mother was awarded a Irish government sponsorship to complete a year's study at the Sorbonne in Paris. Not only did it make a tremendous francophile of her, but she would go on to become one of Ireland's earliest professional interpreters and decades later she would be an interpreter at the European parliament.

Obviously, this was way ahead of the likes of Erasmus, but as Ardcap says, 'what a fantastic experience'.

What singular justification can there be for pulling out of Erasmus. It makes no compromises on our trading relationship. It is inexpensive and all it does is create new opportunities for our young.

Hopefully, we can add it to the list of schemes and programmes we're so keen to exit for entirely political reasons, but which, when common sense prevails, we will quietly rejoin.

Why quite them in the first place?

[MrGongGong]

What singular justification can there be for pulling out of Erasmus.

It's only of benefit for the middle class and rich people ?

I've heard that from several on "the left", as well as the current governments opposition to anything that involves thinking

There is NO justification BUT some of us knew this was coming all along

It's what people voted for i'm afraid ....

[Globaltruth]

I hope I'm not the only one to be outraged about this....

https://www.connexionfrance.com/French-news/Brexit/UK-Parliament-votes-against-making-full-Erasmus-participation-a-Brexit-Future-Relationship-priority

I'm even more outraged that it hasn't (AFAIK) been on the BBC News, which is full of Royal Rubbish at the moment. I have a strong personal reason for my outrage. My eldest grand-daughter spent one year of her university course abroad last year, largely funded by Erasmus. She phoned me almost in tears about the news, saying what a fantastic experience it had been, not only in making her fluent in another language but by mixing with Erasmus students from many other European countries. We should be shouting SHAME from the rooftops.

You're not on your own, it is a disgrace. I'd write to my MP but one of the first things that she did when elected was join the ERG so there seems little point...shameful.

[pastoralguy]

On the plus side, we do get blue passports and a commemorative 50p coin...!

[Felix the Gnat]

It's what people voted for i'm afraid ....

Not true. One of my children had a year abroad under the Erasmus scheme and she's not even a British or EU citizen. The country she applied from isn't even in Europe, never mind the EU.

You need to check your facts/understanding of this topic.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I cling hopefully, and possibly naively, to the phrases " it does not mean participation has been completely ruled out" and "Duddridge, said that the UK would continue to participate fully in Erasmus+ during the transition period and that the UK remains “open to maintaining and expanding cooperation in education”. But I shall certainly be (hopefully and naively) my new, pro-Brexit MP.

[Felix the Gnat]

I cling hopefully, and possibly naively, to the phrases " it does not mean participation has been completely ruled out" and "Duddridge, said that the UK would continue to participate fully in Erasmus+ during the transition period and that the UK remains “open to maintaining and expanding cooperation in education”. But I shall certainly be (hopefully and naively) my new, pro-Brexit MP.

There is no reason why your hope is misplaced. Leaving the EU won't rule ERASMUS out - a country does not even need to be a EU member to participate.

[Andy Freude]

Not true. One of my children had a year abroad under the Erasmus scheme and she's not even a British or EU citizen. The country she applied from isn't even in Europe, never mind the EU.

Erasmus isn't limited to EU students alone though students aren't eligible unless their home country has entered into a special agreement. The UK seems to have ruled out giving this any place in the forthcoming negotiations. So presumably our full participation will end completely at the end of this year - unless .............

[Felix the Gnat]

Erasmus isn't limited to EU students alone though students aren't eligible unless their home country has entered into a special agreement. The UK seems to have ruled out giving this any place in the forthcoming negotiations. So presumably our full participation will end completely at the end of this year - unless .............

Key words being 'seemingly' and 'presumably'. Best we don't draw conclusions.

In any case, my post was in response to the erroneous claim that 'it's what people voted for'.

[ardcarp]

Leaving the EU won't rule ERASMUS out - a country does not even need to be a EU member to participate.

The University to which my g-daughter belongs (in her final year) is up in arms about it...and I mean the university itself, not just the students. They have done their research, and Erasmus is only available during the so-called transition period. After that (we have been reliably informed) the Conservative government has no intention of continuing as a member of the Erasmus scheme. They have put out some waffle that in the future they will be “open to maintaining and expanding cooperation in education”. I'm afraid I've seen too many weasel words to be taken in by that one. Despite what you say Felix, the government intends to leave Erasmus after the transition period.

BTW everyone who feels strongly about this should write to their MPs, ERG group or not. As for what ERG stands for, it's like a phrase lifted out of 1984.

PS I'd also like to dispute hotly Gongers suggestion ' It's only of benefit for the middle class and rich people' Absolute nonsense. I keep using my g-kid in this argument, but after a rocky start in life and attending a poorly-achieving Comp, she sailed into a Russell group university by dint of sheer hard work. Her experience abroad could certainly not have been achieved or afforded without the help of the Erasmus scheme.

[MrGongGong]

Not true. One of my children had a year abroad under the Erasmus scheme and she's not even a British or EU citizen. The country she applied from isn't even in Europe, never mind the EU.

You need to check your facts/understanding of this topic.

People voted for isolation and stupidity
it's what we are going to get

I didn't mention the EU

[Felix the Gnat]

The University to which my g-daughter belongs (in her final year) is up in arms about it...and I mean the university itself, not just the students. They have done their research, and Erasmus is only available during the so-called transition period. After that (we have been reliably informed) the Conservative government has no intention of continuing as a member of the Erasmus scheme. They have put out some waffle that in the future they will be “open to maintaining and expanding cooperation in education”. I'm afraid I've seen too many weasel words to be taken in by that one. Despite what you say Felix, the government intends to leave Erasmus after the transition period.

BTW everyone who feels strongly about this should write to their MPs, ERG group or not. As for what ERG stands for, it's like a phrase lifted out of 1984.

Yes, write to your MP and say that If Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Syria, Tunisia,Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Montenegro can have basic membership of Erasmus, why can't we have Erasmus+?

Life doesn't have to end just because we aren't in the EU.

[MrGongGong]

Yes, write to your MP and say that If Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Syria, Tunisia,Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Montenegro can have basic membership of Erasmus, why can't we have Erasmus+?

Life doesn't have to end just because we aren't in the EU.

What people voted for seems to be an end to ANYTHING that involves collaboration and exchange.
Do you really think the likes JRM and chums are going to allow things that involve giving money to these things ?

Life won't end but many of the things that we benefit from WILL and already have.

as for "write to your MP" waste of time ... mine doesn't even do surgeries

[Felix the Gnat]

People voted for isolation and stupidity
it's what we are going to get

I didn't mention the EU

We know what you meant - but please be positive "wir schaffen das"