North East Liberal Democrat MSP Mike Rumbles, has welcomed a motion proposed by Liberal Democrat Angus Councillor Ben Lawrie. The motion called for continued UK participation in the Erasmus scheme. Parties across Angus Council voted to pass the motion today.
The scheme allows students to develop language skills and study across Europe. The UK’s decision to leave the European Union has left UK participation in the scheme in doubt.
Erasmus also provides educational funding across Europe. Since 2014 the Angus area has received £1,847,760 in funding from the scheme.
Mr Rumbles said: “I welcome the news that Angus Council has backed this motion proposed by Liberal Democrat Councillors. Investment in education is an investment in our future.
“The Erasmus scheme is a great example of what can be achieved through cooperation in Europe. I hope the UK Government will take notice of our local voice.”
Councillor Lawrie said: “Young people in Angus have benefitted hugely from this programme. Brexit should not be an obstacle to our continued participation in Erasmus.
“During the next Erasmus period of 2021-2027, the programme is going to be bigger than ever, double the size of the last one, with 30 billion Euros in the pot. Despite this, the UK Government is yet to give an unambiguous commitment to continuing our participation in the programme.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
Angus Council Agenda 6th February 2020 can be found here: http://www.angus.gov.uk/sites/angus-cms/files/2020-02/Angus%20Council.pdf
Councillor Lawrie's motion:
Erasmus + Programme
“This Council requests that the Chief Executive write to the UK Government to highlight the importance of the Erasmus+ Programme for Angus and asks the UK Government to continue participation in this programme after the UK has left the EU”.
A total of £1,847,760 has gone to projects in the Angus area since 2014, please the table below. Table provided by East of Scotland European Consortium:
Erasmus+ projects in the Angus area since 2014
The current programme, which started in 2014, ends in 2020.
2014 |
||
Grange Primary School |
Language Training |
€ 4,535.00 |
Strathmore Primary School |
Language Training |
€ 2,305.00 |
Dundee and Angus College |
Using Cooperative Learning to Promote Employer Engagement |
€ 300,000.00 |
Dundee and Angus College |
Leading Learning Academy Reciprocal Network |
€ 59,460.00 |
Total |
€ 366,300 |
2015 |
||
Arbroath Academy |
Three Week Immersion Course In Spain |
€ 3,677.00 |
Borrowfield Primary School |
Language Training |
€ 4,330.00 |
Lochside Primary School |
French Language Training |
€ 6,495.00 |
Maisondieu Primary School |
Language Training |
€ 6,495.00 |
Northmuir Primary School |
Language Training |
€ 4,330.00 |
Dundee and Angus College |
Partner countries - Malaysia |
€ 16,850.00 |
Total |
€ 42,177 |
2016 |
||
Bervie Primary |
Language Training |
€ 2,165.00 |
Isla Primary School |
French Project |
€ 2,165.00 |
Southmuir Primary School |
Spanish and French Language Training |
€ 4,170.00 |
Dundee and Angus College |
D and A Reach into Europe |
€ 229,607.00 |
Dundee and Angus College |
Partner countries – United States |
€ 58,090.00 |
Total |
€ 296,197 |
2017 |
||
Borrowfield Primary School |
Language Training |
€ 6,495.00 |
Isla Primary School |
French Language Training |
€ 4,610.00 |
Warddykes Primary School |
Spanish Immersion Course 2017/2018 |
€ 2,005.00 |
Whitehills Primary School |
French And Spanish Immersion Courses 2017/2018 |
€ 4,170.00 |
Dundee and Angus College |
Developing Expertise in Learning and Training Assessment in the Workplace |
€ 240,556.00 |
Dundee and Angus College |
D&A Reach into Europe - Two |
€ 246,660.00 |
Total |
€ 504,496.00 |
2018 |
||
Lochside Primary School |
1+2 Language Development |
€ 4,650.00 |
Montrose Academy |
One Week Follow-Up Course in Santiago de Compostela |
€ 2,325.00 |
Strathmore Primary School |
Learning in Languages |
€ 4,650.00 |
Dundee and Angus College |
D&A Reach into Europe - Three |
€ 324,195.00 |
Angus Council |
Youth Wellbeing 4 All |
€ 35,465.00 |
Total |
€ 371,285.00 |
2019 |
||
DCC, Angus, P&K Councils |
PanTayside Language Training Programme (coordinated by DCC - 80 teachers involved) |
€ 191,600 |
Dundee and Angus College |
D&A Reach into Europe - 4 |
€ 409,623 |
Total |
€ 1,162,779 |
Total since 2014 = €2,181,678 (£1,847,760)