688 Asturian young students with an Erasmus grant will start 2011-2012 academic course in a foreign university. Almost 2 million students have taken part in this project since it was created in 1987.
The possibility of gaining international training and broadening professional and personal experiences consolidates Erasmus programme as one of the most important educational resources within European and International sphere. One exceptional chance in which more than one million and a half students have participated along the twenty years of the programme and which is about to start a new chapter.
The University of Oviedo has offered more than 1300 places to perform studies in 28 universities from European countries. A wide educational offer, which appeals a greater number of students each year. In fact, during 2011-2012 academic course, 688 Asturian students will be trained in a foreign university with an Erasmus Grant, which means an increasing of the 27, 5% of the international students mobility from the University of Oviedo. These young people will study official degrees- from first, second and third cycle- with a well-known academic quality, at the same time they get involved in other cultures and they consolidate a second language. A vital and educational experience which will ease the access to a qualitative job, boosting its incorporation to national and international companies and bodies.
Studies done by the Erasmus Agency of Spain and Europe show that more than 90% of Erasmus students values international mobility as positive or very positive. It has to be underlined that mobility improved academic performance and increases motivation: a 40% of Erasmus students still keep on its university training developing post-graduate studies, double of those who do not participate in the programme. Furthermore, employers believe that Erasmus graduates are better qualified to carry out their functions.
Nowadays, worldwide students take part in this initiative throughout Erasmus Mundus. The programme continues rising its action framework and fulfilling its initial purposes: increasing cultural and linguistic exchange and fostering integration through one of any society's basic pillars: education. A labour which was awarded in 2004 with the Príncipe de Asturias Prize of International Cooperation.
