Erasmus will help with study abroad costs but bureaucratic hurdles remain, professor sayspublished at 15:12 GMT 17 December
15:12 GMT 17 December
Cachella Smith
Live reporter
Image source, David Clarke
David Clarke, head of the School of Modern Languages at Cardiff University says he is “very pleased” by today’s announcement.
But he adds that students continue to face “bureaucratic hurdles” when heading on placements in European countries after Brexit, including acquiring visas.
Speaking to me earlier, Clarke explains that the costs associated with going abroad as part of study courses have been “growing” in recent years – which has prompted concerns that it could make the opportunity “more exclusive”.
In Cardiff, the university has had access to the Welsh government’s Taith scheme in addition to the Turing programme – which Clarke says he is “very grateful” for.
“Excellent as those initiatives were, they were not covering the same amount of support that Erasmus used to offer for students going abroad,” he explains.
Separately, while today’s announcement represents a positive step, Clarke says more is needed to support students as he highlights the stresses and extra costs associated with getting visas after Brexit.
“What we really need to see to back this move up is some kind of youth mobility scheme to take away those bureaucratic hurdles.”
He welcomes the government’s plan allowing Erasmus grant-making bodies in the UK to allocate some funding for those keen to study outside EU member states.
“The global dimension of the Turing and Taith schemes that previously replaced Erasmus were particularly strong on this global dimension and it is good to see that this will be maintained under the new agreement.”