This presentation was delivered by Stephanie Cossom, Senior Policy Advisor, for the Deprartment for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) during the plenary session for the 'My Story' Erasmus+ 2015 conference. The event was held in Edinburgh on 22 September 2015.

1. Erasmus+ priorities and Government
objectives

2. 2
Overview
• BIS’s role in Erasmus+
• Erasmus+ priorities and government objectives
• Questions

3. What is a National Authority (NAU)?
• Erasmus+ founded in Regulation (EU) No 1288/2013.
• Requires each participating country to designate a NAU for E+.
• What does a NAU do?
– designates a National Agency (NA);
– monitors and supervises the NA management of the programme nationally;
– is responsible for management and audit of the funds;
– reports to the Commission on the NAs performance every October; and
– ensures the programme aligns with national policy priorities.
3
2007-2013 2014-2020

4. Why BIS?
4
Connecting
people to
opportunity and
prosperity across
the UK
Promotes inward
investment in
HEIs
Maintains and
builds links
between HEIs
globally
Strengthens
innovation and
cooperation
Promotes the UK
as a global lead
in education and
training
Provides individuals
with development
opportunities and
international
experience
Creates a
quality graduate
pool in the UK
Supports student /
teacher mobility

5. Elections and government policy
• UK election in May 2015.
• Shift from coalition to Conservative majority
Government.
• Government are still developing policies.
• Education policies and priorities may differ in
Devolved Administrations
• Election in Devolved Administrations in May 2016
• Will not speculate on the outcome of these
elections.
5

6. Erasmus+ priorities
• Erasmus+:
• improves the level of key competencies and skills
relevant to the labour market;
• promotes and improves excellence in teaching and
research;
• supports improvement, innovation and collaboration in
education and training;
• helps maintain the UK as a world leader in education,
training and sport;
• supports approaches on values and citizenship to tackle
extremism.
6

7. Erasmus+ priorities
In higher education, Erasmus+:
– improves the quality and relevance of HE through
mobility/cooperation/innovation;
– enhances the international opportunities in
education/research;
The government has committed to:
• ensure that our universities remain competitive and
world leading;
7

8. Erasmus+ priorities
• In vocational education and training, Erasmus+:
• promotes work-based learning;
• develops quality assurance mechanisms in
VET.
– The Government has committed to:
• three million new apprenticeships;
• improve skills training with high quality
apprenticeships;
8

9. Erasmus+ priorities
• In schools, Erasmus+:
– maximises opportunities for schools to support the study
of languages;
• addresses underachievement in maths, science and literacy
through innovation/collaboration in methods;
• supports schools to tackle early school leaving;
• enhances the quality of early childhood education and care;
• strengthens the profile of teaching by attracting the best
candidates, tools and methods.
9

10. Erasmus+ priorities
• In youth, Erasmus+:
• promotes participation in the labour market, social
inclusion and active citizenship;
• improves the level of key competencies and skills of
young people, especially those with fewer opportunities;
• fosters improvement in youth work;
• supports youth policy reform.
• The Government has committed to:
• aim to abolish long-term youth unemployment by
providing support to 16-17 year olds not in education,
employment or training.
10

11. Erasmus+ priorities
• In adult education, Erasmus+:
– makes adult learning more accessible and improve
the skills of citizens;
– supports common challenges, such as the
recognition of skills learnt outside the formal
education system;
– provides opportunities for adult learning
professionals to learn from each other and develop
partnerships.
11

12. Erasmus+ priorities
• In sport:
– A new strategy on sport is being developed. The
consultation is open until 2 October.
– Erasmus+:
• tackles cross border threats to the integrity of sport (e.g.
doping, match-fixing, violence, discrimination);
• promotes good governance in sport;
• promotes voluntary activities in sport.
12

13. Questions?
Stephanie Cossom
Stephanie.Cossom@bis.gsi.gov.uk
13