The Educator Magazine U.K. Sept-Dec 2026 issue - Magazine - Page 78
How institutions can prepare
and benefit from Erasmus+
By Kate Erskine, Head of DGI Study Trips
The return of Erasmus+ in 2027 is about far
more than renewed funding opportunities.
It represents a shift in how institutions will
need to approach international mobility,
moving beyond travel and towards
strategically designed programmes that
deliver measurable educational outcomes,
support employability and justify
investments.
Having worked with universities and
colleges delivering international
programmes for many years, I've seen a
clear shift away from travel as a standalone
activity and towards experiences built
around definededucational outcomes.
Funding may facilitate mobility, but it is
programme design that ultimately
determines impact.
At a time when universities face increasing
scrutiny around graduate outcomes,
international mobility should not be
viewed solely as an enrichment activity.
Well-designed programmes can help
students develop the adaptability, cultural
awareness and global perspectives
increasingly valued by employers.
According to a 2025 report from UUKI,
graduates from less advantaged backgrounds who had taken part in study abroad
programmes were more likely to move into
professional-level roles within five years
(70.2%) than their peers who remained in the
UK during their studies (68.3%).
These findings reinforce the value of
international learning experiences and the
significant opportunity presented by
Erasmus+.
However, schools and universities need to
be prepared for the shift towards structured,
programme-based delivery, in lieu of
individual mobility experiences.
One of the biggest mistakes institutions can
make is assuming Erasmus+ will operate as
Turing 2.0. While both support international
mobility, Erasmus+ places greater emphasis
on long-term partnerships, reciprocity,
programme design and institutional
collaboration. Organisations that begin
planning only once funding calls open may
find themselves at a disadvantage compared
with those already investing in relationships
and programme development.
Rather than supporting individual students
travelling independently, institutions will
increasingly need to build academically
robust programmes that combine learning
objectives, industry engagement, cultural
experiences and partner collaboration into
cohesive experiences. These expectations
create exciting opportunities but also
introduce new operational challenges.
Developing international programmes
requires identifying suitable EU partners,
designing comprehensive programmes,
satisfying compliance requirements and
overseeing reporting obligations. This shift
means institutions will increasingly require
expertise not only in mobility administration,
but in programme design and delivery.
For many, the challenge will be translating
ambitious internationalisation goals into
experiences that are scalable, repeatable, and
capable of delivering measurable outcomes.
The return of Erasmus+ also opens up the
conversation surrounding accessibility.
Institutions have been working hard to widen
participation and ensure that international
opportunities are not just reserved for a
small proportion of students, which funding
undoubtedly helps.
A study by UUKI reported that the share of
mobility for students from low-participation
neighbourhoods increased (from 7.1% to
7.5%) and disabled students’ share of
mobility increased (from 13.5% to 19.0%).
However, there is a risk that participation
is expanded without improving student
outcomes. Success shouldn’t be measured by
the number of students travelling, rather the
value that they gain from the experience.
Students should expect to return with
tangible skills, greater cultural awareness,
and experiences that improve their future
prospects: all of which require careful
programme design from the outset, not
simply increased participation targets.
Erasmus+ is well positioned to support
this approach. The growing emphasis on
structured, organised programmes naturally
encourages institutions to think more
strategically about outcomes, partnerships
and long-term educational value.
For institutions, time is of the essence, and
preparation needs to begin now.
Funding calls are expected to open in late
2026, with programme delivery beginning
from late 2027 onwards.
Institutions preparing for Erasmus+ should
be focusing on three areas now: identifying
and strengthening EU partnerships,
reviewing where mobility aligns with
academic and employability objectives,
and assessing the operational support
required to deliver programmes at scale.
By the time applications are submitted,
those foundations will be significantly harder
to establish.
The institutions most likely to succeed under
Erasmus+ will not necessarily be those with
the largest budgets; they will be the
organisations that invest early in
relationship-building, programme
development and operational readiness.
As the sector prepares for 2027, the
conversation should move beyond funding
and towards impact.
The real opportunity lies in creating
international experiences that are
well-designed, inclusive, meaningful;
programmes that connect students with
the wider world and deliver benefits long
after they return home.
The institutions that benefit most from
Erasmus+ will not necessarily be those that
secure funding first, but those that start
planning first. Funding may open the
door, but strong partnerships, thoughtful
programme design and a clear focus on
outcomes will determine the long-term value
of mobility.
