ERASMUS enables higher education teaching staff and people employed in private businesses to go abroad to teach in a higher education institution for up to six weeks. Likewise, any academic and non-academic higher education staff may receive training abroad in an enterprise or another institution.
Since its launch in 1997 a total of 270 000 staff exchanges have been supported and in 2007, the scope of ERASMUS staff ‘mobility’ initiatives was expanded to non-teaching staff and visiting lecturers from the business sector in order to bring a wider range of experience to campuses.In the academic year 2009/2010, some 29 000 lecturers from institutions and enterprises taught abroad and nearly 9 000 staff received training abroad in one of the 31 participating countries.
Higher education staff can find information on how to get involved from the international office in their home institution.
Find out more about ERASMUS mobility activities for staff and details of how to apply at the links below:
- For teachers of higher education institutions: having teaching staff coming from abroad enables students to benefit from new lectures, different teaching methods and perhaps to experience learning in a foreign language (this is called "internationalisation at home"). Teachers can gain different perspectives, establish new contacts and build their academic network. Periods are quite short, averaging about one week.
- For business staff: visiting lecturers from the business sector provide fresh insights for students. During their stay, they may set up exchanges with the partner institution for student placements and staff training, as well as take part in co-operation projects and networks.
- Staff training: teaching and other staff from higher education institutions, such as librarians, can go abroad to receive training in a business or at another institution. The stay is an opportunity to stimulate further exchanges and co-operation.
- Intensive programmes: teachers can gain experience in teaching abroad in one of more than 380 intensive programmes that take place yearly throughout Europe. These short study programmes, between two and six weeks, are organised by at least three higher institutions from three different countries.
- Co-operation: staff members can represent their institution in ‘multilateral’ co-operation activities, particularly in the development of curricula, and in academic networks.
