The Erasmus Day at Cardiff University on Monday 18 June 2007 celebrated 20 years of the Erasmus programme. It was organised by the British Council in co-operation with the Erasmus Student Network, the UK Erasmus Student Committee and Cardiff University.
STOP PRESS! The winner of our balloon launch was Pen Y Dre Comprehensive School, Merthyr Tydfil. The balloon was recovered near Osnabruck in Germany and had travelled nearly 500 miles before the closing date of 16 July. On being informed of the school's unusual success Mr Williams, Headteacher, said that he will be delighted to send a pupil representative and companion to the Erasmus Student Prize 2007 ceremony in December. We look forward to welcoming them.
The 18 June event was enthusiastically opened by Dr David Grant, Vice Chancellor of Cardiff University; John Whitehead, Acting Director of the British Council in Wales, and Andy Klom, Head of the European Commission office in Wales. We welcomed the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) team - and their van - as part of their amazing 20th anniversary European tour. Presentations followed on the topics of Employability, Enterprise and Recognition. A highlight of the afternoon were the reflections of three Erasmus alumni, from the ESN, Cardiff University, and Universitat Wurzburg. Several delegates described their stories and their passion for the spirit of Erasmus as 'inspiring'.
Read the feature in Cardiff University News : www.cf.ac.uk/news/articles/celebrating-20-years-of-erasmus.html
The day was designed for those who advise young people on choosing a course of higher education, young people themselves, their parents, those studying and working at higher education institutions, other education staff and employers. Whilst Higher Education Institutions and Careers services were well represented on the day sadly only a few schools and colleges participated. Those who did commented that they were impressed to hear about 'the richness of opportunities available to students', and reflected that they now intended to 'promote and engage with Erasmus from Sixth Form level'. As the UK National Agency for Erasmus, the British Council looks forward to working more closely with schools in future to encourage the next generation of Erasmus participants.
At lunchtime, an information fair provided delegates with materials and advice about a range of European opportunities. Exhibitors included all the South Wales universities, CiLT Cymru, ECTARC, the Erasmus Student Network, SWEDIC and the British Council
The day ended with the release of 500 balloons, symbolising student journeys, each in the name of either a delegate or one of over a hundred schools in the South Wales area. By the deadline of 16 July 2007 we had received tags returned from across seven counties of England and Wales, and two from northern Germany which had travelled over 400 miles! All finders have been sent a note of thanks, and our two German respondents received a small prize. The furthest-travelled balloon was released in the name of Pen Y Dre Comprehensive School in Merthyr Tydfil (see top of page).
More information about the lauch is available here : download balloon race terms and prize information.
The event Programme is available here: - download programme.
Speaker presentations are available to download here.
Erasmus the story so far (1987-2007)
Erasmus and Employability
Erasmus and Enterprise (Leonardo)
National Agency - Taking Erasmus Forward
Erasmus Recognition
If you have any questions not answered by the content on this site please e-mail sarah.prentice@britishcouncil.org or call 020 7389 4757.
Erasmus supports co-operation between the universities of 31 countries, funding the mobility of staff and students, contributing to curriculum development, quality assurance and links with business. It is helping to transform higher education at the European level and enhance the employability of graduates.
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