Gordon Brown wants UK to stay in Erasmus
Former prime minister Gordon Brown is leading calls to maintain the UK’S status as a member of Erasmus, the international programme that provides young people and adult learners with access to international educational courses and training placements.
Economic recovery from the Covid crisis demands a “laser focus” on maintaining and supporting pathways to business, scientific and academic co-operation, he believes.
Mr Brown highlighted the importance of the Erasmus exchange programme, saying it plays a critical role in higher education and research across the country, as well as ensuring UK students have access to a global education.
More than half the British students who study abroad do so under the Erasmus programme, and it is not currently factored in to EU negotiations as a priority, said Mr Brown.
The north of England’s four metro mayor sand Wales’ s first minster are also supporting the case for maintaining the UK’S Erasmus status. Mr Brown said polling showed Uk-wide concern about how best to tackle the coming economic crisis.
“Our poll shows a majority of pro-brexit and anti-brexit voters, and a majority of Conservative voters, want the jobcreating Erasmus programme to help young people gain new skills,” he said. “Enabling world-class education will be key to maintaining and developing the jobs and skills we need which make our global links via Erasmus more vital than ever. We are asking MPS to join us in impressing on the Prime Minister the case to keep Erasmus.”