Change is already in the air for the better within hours of taking back control of government. The Rwanda scheme is in the bin, David Lammy was already in Berlin, a real statesman, helping to repair brand damage to Britain’s image on the world stage with our closest neighbours. Germany is a huge trading partner with the UK. No more games and hostility. In terms of domestic and foreign affairs, the grownups are back in office.
The department of education
North East MP, Bridget Phillipson, entered office as minister for education on 5 July with an impressive speech on her plans for education in true collaborative management style, which impressed civil servants.
Phillipson tells civil servants she wants DfE to be a place where their contributions are valued…”where your commitment, your contribution, the difference that you make every day is central to everything that we do”.
Phillipson warned of the huge challenge ahead:
“The Labour government that is taking office today will be focused, relentlessly, on improving the life chances of all of our children […] on driving high and rising standards throughout education, on ensuring that all of our people, in all of our communities, our businesses and our country, have the skills that they need to drive the growth that we can and must see, to build a better future not just for each of us, but for all of us.”
Labour has some great plans for education, including re-establishment of breakfast clubs at schools.
”Government can’t do this alone ”
Phillipson recognised the vital role those outside the Department of Education play in this challenge alluding to teachers, university staff and social workers.
Equally, if Britain is ‘in this together’, MPs should invite open dialogue from citizens on ways in which our government can help us all fulfil the new mission statement, not only of decent education for all but that closer relationship with Europe. As a fellow North Easterner, I feel compelled to join in this quest with some relevant advice.
If Britain would like to foster strategies to improve our relationship with Europe, there’s another educational policy which will kill two birds with one stone, Erasmus, and Erasmus plus.
Labour policy
Labour has not committed to re-joining or replacing the Erasmus system, but this could prove a vital component of that goal.
Labour policy forums have references to this under the theme of ‘Britain in the world’. Submissions have called for Erasmus under that banner:
‘We want a country that is self-confident on the world stage, with an international role that delivers for the British people while making our world safer.’
Another submission, ‘While Labour are in Government apply to re-join The EU Erasmus+ Scheme; requests commitment to re-join the scheme outright instead of the badly functioning Turning scheme which is underfunded and harder to access for disadvantaged households.
What happened to Erasmus in the Brexit deal?
Erasmus offered student exchanges as well as school links, work experience and apprenticeships across Europe from 1987-Brexit. Parliament did not pass the amendment which would have required the Brexit negotiators to keep Erasmus membership in January 2020. (See Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett) The EU put the option on the negotiation table. Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief negotiator, reported the UK government “decided not to participate in the Erasmus exchange programme” after the two sides were unable to agree on the cost of Britain’s continued membership Boris Johnson claimed the UK “loses out” financially because of the larger number of EU nationals coming to study in the UK.’
Johnson was short sighted in his obsession to keep foreigners out, unless of course they were rich Russian chums. He discounted a vital detail: Erasmus gave our academic institutions a source of income. The government chose to create the Turing scheme in which students coming to the UK are not given any funding, unlike Erasmus; government thus deprived British universities of a source of income, which had come to them via payments via Erasmus. A report in 2020 said ending Erasmus membership would cost the UK more than £200m a year.
Quitting EU Erasmus scheme would ‘blow a hole’ in UK economy 243 million losses reported.
We must think out of the box. What is the real cost here? Without Erasmus, we are not forging mutual ties with a close geographical neighbour. Long term, this omission can prove detrimental to politics, trade, industry, and culture. Under the latest version of the scheme, Erasmus+, around 200,000 people took part including c. 15,000 British university students each year.
That’s a lot of potential influencers in the British professional market!
Perhaps some British students did not take up the offer for full academic years out as they could not afford it despite grants provided? An extra year out could add to student debt. The urge and need to start a full-time job asap are there in the background.
The Turing scheme: the British version of a scheme fails to gain ground
The government’s attempt to replace Erasmus has struggled to meet expectations. The first official analysis of the Turing scheme, launched in 2021, found that four out of five universities (79%) had difficulties with the application process, which was overly complex. There have also been concerns that it is inadequately funded (Best 4 Britain mailshot).
The Turing scheme falls in line with the ‘global Britain’ policy, but it is more costly to operate.
Air fares to Uruguay don’t compare with an EasyJet or RyanAir bargain to Spain or a Eurostar ticket. Latin America and other far-flung nations may be exciting, but some countries are dangerous. Young students may feel some pangs of homesickness out there and a flight home for a holiday is not an option mid-stint. Flight times are also long, exceeding 11 hours.
The importance of exchanges for language studies and a support network
The Erasmus year was considered vital for some degrees. It was not a case of just going on your own to Europe as an au pair or for some other placement. Young students go somewhere with support and guidance. A university environment allows them to attend classes, make friends and practise languages. This is vital for attaining near native fluency, required by degrees. Students tend to become totally bilingual during their year out.
Despite support from a university, the experience of having to plan a move abroad and integrate their bolsters skills in planning and budgeting, which are good on the cv for many jobs, but especially relevant to roles for the Foreign Office, travel and tourism and trade.
A foundation for careers
Erasmus and similar experiences set up students with a foundation for many jobs where interaction with European and other international partners is vital. A foreign positioning is more realistic with previous experience living in Europe. It becomes the “norm” for these people to live in another country. Employers, especially those in the EU region, like that. Let’s face it, despite Brexit, many British people still want to try to work in Europe. They will need even stronger experience and qualifications to do that, especially since this has become harder for third country nationals.
Importance to politics, culture, and business
Long term friendships are forged on exchanges. Green MEP, Terry Reintke, gained not only fluent English during her Erasmus exchange in the UK, but a lifelong love of and tie to our country. Our friendship with her will help Britain long term. Terry and fellow former British MEPs founded the UK-EU friendship group in the European Parliament. They promised to ‘leave the light on’ for us. This group is just one example. How many more friendships with Britain remain for people in trade, industry and culture following a stint on Erasmus? Let’s face it, we live in a complex world full of challenges and competition. Erasmus and Erasmus Plus are vital tools in promoting the image of Britain as a strong and reliable political and business partner. We might even say that these programs are, by extension,patriotic.
Infrahistory counts we, the little ordinary people, are not all as visible as David Lammy and his meetings with the German Foreign Minister in Berlin. Evidence of normal, strong relationships with Europe and “openness” to our neighbours might, despite Brexit, mend some of the damage caused by our exit from the EU under a chaotic, self-serving hostile government. Presence on Erasmus proves we as a nation are ‘not all like Farage’. It turns the British in Europe and the European visitors to our universities into ‘exchange ambassadors’. Food for thought. Erasmus is not re-joining the EU: it’s an educational networking agreement, a win win. Re-investment in Erasmus might help labour make some of the rest of Brexit work…
A creative power boost
Former MEP Julie Ward saw constituents, who did not have higher education studies, flourish in the creative sector following their participation in Erasmus Plus, which led to establishments of small businesses.
Inspiration for creative startups to escape the dole queue is real food for the soul in culture as well as the stomach.
Personal experience
My own experience echoes the piece by Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett, writing in the run up to transition end in 2020, entitled ‘Thanks to the Erasmus programme, my small world grew big’.
My placement on Erasmus to Zaragoza University, a North East industrial city not unlike Newcastle, allowed me to become completely fluent to a near native level. I am still friends with students I met there decades ago, both Spanish and international students, who were participating in studies and work experience placements. We are now spread out all over the continent and to this day, swap news, business, and language tips. One Spanish friend, who exchanged to Newcastle University, returned to our region to teach in schools a few years later and married a NE lad from Teesside. My department ran social events, such as buffets, to welcome Erasmus students, which a student committee, of which I was a member, helped to plan and budget. These skills all went on to the cv.
We might argue town twinning programs are an alternative, but due to the closer and longer contact on Erasmus, this program is like town twinning on steroids in terms of the deeper impact it has.
Back yem in the North East, how many of the locals in Sunderland and Newcastle dream of a career in travel and tourism? A lot! Not everyone has the chance to go to university, but study on BTECs. Erasmus Plus allows us to be inclusive with an exchange program and work experience outside of traditional academia. This is all highly beneficial.
Is there hope?
Bridget Phillipson is clearly a hard-working politician with a heart who cares about the NE, the UK, and her mandate. She has a real desire to make a difference. I’m proud to see a fellow NE lady reach the top of a political career. Things can only get better, but they could be so much better if we keep options on the table. Sadiq Khan has already pledged to devise an individual Erasmus style program for London with exchanges to European and other global cities. Those of us who experienced the Erasmus scheme and retained that close relationship with Europe thereafter have some hope labour might fix part of the damage, but we are still sad for the losses we know ourselves and the opportunities younger generations might miss if labour does not reinstate it.
I treasure all of it and will carry it with me for the rest of my days. It’s all part of the life experience of living in another country, and that is a gift. No doubt some Brexiters will frame Erasmus as a cushy holiday for a privileged few: let them. Those of us who took part know the doors that it opened and will mourn for the future generations who’ll be missing out if this does turn out to be the end of the programme. My world was small, and it grew big, thanks to my experiences in Europe. […] It’s a beautiful thing to mix with other cultures, especially when you’re young. It didn’t have to end here. (Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett)
References
Labour policy forums
Home Policy Commissions Britain in the world While Labour is in Government apply to re-join The EU Erasmus+ Scheme.
While Labour is in Government apply to re-join The EU Erasmus+ Scheme
Posted on 13-04-24 by National Rejoin March
Number of votes: 1 | Number of comments: 0
As we all know The Tories have ruined The UK’s relationship with The EU over Brexit, it’s time while Labour are in government we had a closer relationship with our European friends, a good start would be to apply to re-join Erasmus+ to give the British public an option to study in Europe and have an educational trip, the same for EU Citizens coming to The UK on a European trip, the current pre Brexit Tutoring scheme that The Tories brought in isn’t functional and not enough funding, plus Erasmus+ was easier to access for disadvantage households, The Tories should never have taken us out and Labour should take us back in.
Referring to: Britain in the world
We want a country that is self-confident on the world stage, with an international role that delivers for the British people while making our world safer. Click here to have your say on how Labour can make Britain a force for good around the world.
Britain in the world We want a country that is self-confident on the world stage, with an international role that delivers for the British people while making our world safer. This includes foreign affairs, international development, defence, and trade. The Commission will meet regularly to consider evidence and submissions, identify challenges, and develop Labour policy in these areas. The members of the Policy Commission are drawn from the National Policy Forum, the Shadow Cabinet, and the National Executive Committee. Its membership reflects all parts of our movement, including Labour party members, affiliated organisations, and elected politicians.
| Do you have an Erasmus or Erasmus+ story? Did the program change your life for the better? NE Bylines would love to hear from you! |
