The recommendation, entitled ‘Europe on the Move’ sets out targets aimed at enabling more people from the EU to undertake study, training or informal learning outside their country of origin, with a focus on those who have fewer opportunities to travel abroad.
“Mobility has long been at the heart of the EU project. Learning abroad can provide valuable skills and a stronger sense of the EU’s common values”, said Caroline Désir, minister of education, French Community of Belgium, at a Council meeting on May 13.
“Today’s recommendation will help expand opportunities for everyone to take advantage of the immense benefits that come with learning, studying or training outside their country of birth”, she added.
A 2022 survey of Europeans aged 15-30 found only 15% of respondents had studied or trained abroad in another EU country.
The Council has recommended new targets that 23% of higher education graduates and 12% of students in vocational education and training should have a learning mobility experience by 2030.
It also aims to boost learning mobility for teachers and staff facing barriers to overseas training opportunities.
“A lack of foreign language competence remains an obstacle to studying and working abroad, and discovering Europe’s cultural diversity”
European Commission
The recommendation noted the benefits of increased learning mobility, including tackling skills gaps in the green and digital transitions and building a strong sense of citizenship and an understanding of common values across Europe and beyond.
European universities were warned at a conference in April 2024 that Europe is lagging behind global competitors in its output of patents, start-ups and unicorns fuelling the digital transformation.
The Council has said that at least 20% of those benefiting from learning abroad at EU level by 2027 must be from groups with fewer mobility opportunities to make access to international education and training more inclusive.
Suggested measures to help member states achieve these goals include strengthening language-learning at all stages of education, raising awareness of mobility opportunities and improving recognition of the benefits of studying or training abroad.
“A lack of foreign language competence remains an obstacle to embarking on learning mobility experiences, studying and working abroad, and fully discovering Europe’s cultural diversity”, the report reads.
“At the same time, enhancing foreign language teaching and learning, as well as offering courses taught in a foreign language, may encourage learners from other countries to engage in learning mobility.”
As the EU negotiates on its tenth program for R&I, the Guild of European Research Universities has said that it must look beyond current geopolitical challenges and continue to collaborate openly with non-EU partners like Switzerland and the UK.
The Guild previously urged the EU to cooperate with the UK and Switzerland on Erasmus+, with the long-term goal of supporting their reassociation into the program.