Brexit: Scottish universities minister 'disappointed' by failure to include Erasmus

One of Scotland’s key ministers has described the UK Government's decision to withdraw from the Erasmus+ student exchange scheme as a “huge blow”.

Further and higher education minister Richard Lochhead said more than 2,000 Scottish students, staff and learners use the scheme every year, with Scotland attracting proportionally more Erasmus participants from across Europe - and sending more in the other direction - than any other country in the UK.

Overall, he said, the scheme is estimated to deliver at least £7 in value for every £1 it costs in public cash, and its value to the economy has been estimated to be worth nearly £34 million annually since 2014.

Mr Lochhead said: “The loss of Erasmus is huge blow. This is simply unacceptable and we are looking at alternative options.”

The UK and EU have reached a post-Brexit trade agreement but it doesn't include being part of Erasmus.

The decision to withdraw from Erasmus has proven controversial. In January, Prime Minister Boris Johnson assured MPs there was “no threat to the Erasmus scheme” from Brexit negotiations.

However, Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief negotiator, confirmed last week the UK Government had “decided not to participate in the Erasmus exchange programme” after the two sides were unable to agree on the cost of Britain’s continued membership.

The UK Government has since announced details a replacement £100m scheme named after Bletchley Park code breaker Alan Turing. The Turing scheme will provide funding for around 35,000 students to go on placements and exchanges globally from September.

However, Mr Lochhead said the scheme was a “watered down” version of Erasmus.

“After years of discussions and meetings, the UK Government has made these decisions irrespective of the views of the devolved administrations,” he said.

"We found out from media reports more details of the UK’s alternative scheme, which is a watered down and less well-funded version of Erasmus and it’s not even an exchange programme because there is no support for visits to Scotland.

“I have since spoken to my UK counterpart and expressed our profound disappointment that the UK chose to abandon Erasmus, which plays such a key role in opening up opportunities and horizons for so many young Scots.

"Crucially, it is a scheme that brings different countries and nationalities together with massive cultural and educational benefits.

“I am seeking further clarification on what the new scheme looks like and how they intend to provide funding on a par with the amounts historically secured under Erasmus.

“We also need confirmation that they will ensure all those who currently benefit from the programme will be supported and crucially how the devolved nature of education would be protected under their new scheme and we will resist using the Internal Market Bill to foist an inferior UK scheme on Scotland.”

While the new scheme will fund UK students going abroad, it will not pay for students coming to the UK, as Erasmus does now.

The departure from Erasmus is also expected to have financial impacts on British universities.

The Universities UK International (UUKI), the umbrella group representing higher education providers, said pulling out of Erasmus would cost the UK £243m a year.

UK organisations will be invited to bid into the Turing scheme in early 2021.

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