Lifelong Learning Programme: Erasmus Background to the Programme
ERASMUS is part of Europe's Lifelong Learning Programme (LLP).
The main objectives of the LLP are to promote lifelong learning,
to encourage access to education for everybody, to help people
acquire recognized qualifications and skills, and to create a
European Higher Education Area. The LLP consists of action
programmes for all levels of education - from nursery school to
adult learning. ERASMUS is the higher education action of the
Lifelong Learning Programme. ERASMUS contains a wide range of
measures designed to support the European activities of higher
education institutions and to promote the mobility and exchange
of their teaching staff and students. 2,199 higher education
institutions in 31 countries currently participate in ERASMUS.
Since its establishment in 1987, over 2 million students have
benefited from an ERASMUS study period abroad. The EU Commission
aims to send 3 million participants on ERASMUS by 2012. DIT has
been an active pa