Save Erasmus programme for Students
Lib Dems launch campaign to save Erasmus programme for Medway students
The Liberal Democrats have launched a campaign to safeguard access to the Erasmus exchange scheme for hundreds of students in Medway. A petition has been launched that urges both the government and EU leaders to preserve Erasmus opportunities for UK students in the coming Brexit negotiations.
The latest figures show over 1,595 students from Medway have studied abroad using the Erasmus scheme since 2007. Around 2,121 more students were expected to benefit from Erasmus from now until 2020.
Young people going on the scheme benefit from free tuition and a monthly grant of around £240 to help with living costs. Separate schemes also give young people in vocational training the opportunity to do apprenticeships abroad.
Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for Gillingham and Rainham, Paul Chaplin commented:
"Thousands of students starting university in Medway in September will be hoping for the chance to take part in this scheme.
"Young people overwhelmingly voted remain in the EU, it would be wrong to deprive them of this once in a lifetime opportunity to study or train abroad.
"That is why the Liberal Democrats are calling on the government and EU leaders to confirm that they will be to access the Erasmus scheme whatever happens next."