Stepping in 2025: reflections from the Erasmus Generation

As the Erasmus Generation steps into 2025, it is essential to reflect on the evolving trends in student mobility, which has long been a gateway to personal growth, cultural exchange and academic achievement. However, recent developments highlight that it is about far more than academic exchange — it is a means of fostering inclusivity, sustainability, and innovation within the European single market. 

While student mobility holds transformative potential, it also presents challenges that require urgent attention, particularly in 2025, as discussions around the future of the Erasmus+ Programme intensify. In this important year, the Erasmus Student Network will continue empowering the students and alumni to actively contribute to shaping the next phase of the Erasmus+ Programme, ensuring it evolves to meet the needs of a dynamic and diverse student population.

The changing landscape of student mobility 

For decades, international mobility has been synonymous with opportunity. However, as the XV ESNsurvey highlights, financial, logistical and structural barriers continue to limit access for many students. More than a third of respondents (35.63%) reported that their Erasmus+ grants were insufficient to cover living costs, while 62.7% faced delays in receiving their funding, often only receiving financial support after they had already started their mobility period. These challenges disproportionately affect students from less privileged backgrounds, who may lack the financial safety nets needed to bridge such gaps. 

The accessibility of mobility programmes also extends to structural issues. Students with disabilities often find that the support systems promised in programme guidelines are inconsistently implemented. Furthermore, transparency in credit transfer and grade conversion remains a challenge. Many participants reported inadequate information about these processes, both from their home institutions and hosts, leaving them uncertain about how their studies abroad would translate to academic progress at home. 

These barriers highlight the urgent need for improvements. Students advocate for increased funding, simplified grant processes and better-streamlined processes of academic recognition to ensure that mobility is an opportunity available to everyone, not just a privileged few.

Sustainability: A growing priority 

Sustainability has become a key concern for the Erasmus Generation, shaping the expectations for higher education mobility. While programmes like Erasmus+ have introduced the green top-up and most recently replaced it with travel support, the XV ESNsurvey highlights that 71% of students still rely on planes for long-distance travel, despite a preference for buses (40%) and trains (37%) for shorter trips. This underscores the need for practical, affordable alternatives to reduce the environmental impact of mobility. 

A significant step forward in 2024 was the launch of the Interrail Global Pass for Erasmus+ participants, a collaboration between Eurail and ESN. This initiative offers students and staff a greener way to reach their host countries by train while encouraging exploration of Europe along the way. Guided by the Erasmus+ travel support measures, the pass is an important tool for fostering environmentally responsible travel. 

As 2025 marks the first milestone to evaluate this initiative, it provides an opportunity to assess its effectiveness in reducing the carbon footprint of mobility. Beyond transportation, sustainability must extend to educational curricula and campus practices, ensuring that international mobility aligns with the environmental values of today’s students.

The role of digital transformation

Digitalisation is another area where international mobility has both advanced and fallen short. The XV ESNsurvey indicates that digital tools, such as the Online Learning Agreement, are becoming more common, with 44.14% of respondents reporting their use. However, only 22.45% of students experienced fully online mobility procedures, and just 22.25% saw their credit recognition handled digitally. 

This fragmented approach creates inefficiencies and unnecessary stress for participants. A more comprehensive digital framework could streamline applications, simplify pre-departure preparations and enhance transparency in credit recognition. Digitalisation also holds the potential to expand access to mobility programmes through hybrid and virtual exchange models, making internationalisation more inclusive for students who may not be able to travel abroad for extended periods.

Driving skills and competitiveness through mobility 

The priorities identified by students align closely with broader reflections on the role of higher education in Europe. In his report, 'Much More than a Market', Enrico Letta emphasises the importance of fostering cultural connections and shared European values to strengthen unity and cohesion across the continent. International mobility programmes like Erasmus+ are at the heart of this vision, offering a space where students can build not just academic knowledge but also a sense of belonging to a larger European project. 

Similarly, Mario Draghi’s report, 'The future of European competitiveness', highlights education and innovation as critical drivers of Europe’s ability to thrive in a globalised world. The XV ESNsurvey findings on sustainability, digitalisation and inclusivity reflect these priorities, showing that international mobility is not just about academic exchange but also about preparing students to address the pressing challenges of our time.

Amplifying the Student's Voice in the Next Erasmus+ Programme

The Erasmus Generation Meeting (EGM), scheduled for April 2025 in Ancona, Italy, will be the space for addressing these priorities. With the theme 'Empowering Youth as the Changemakers of Society', EGM will bring together Civil Society, Higher Education Institutions, National Agencies and European Institutions to discuss actionable solutions for the future of international education. 

Key topics at EGM will include improving accessibility and inclusivity, integrating sustainability into mobility programmes, enhancing digital tools to streamline processes, and prioritising mental health and well-being. The event will provide a platform for collaboration and innovation, ensuring that students' voices are at the forefront of shaping the Erasmus+ Programme and other mobility initiatives.

Reflections for 2025 

As we move into 2025, the internationalisation of higher education faces both challenges and opportunities. Programmes like Erasmus+ have the power to transform lives, but they must evolve to meet the needs of a diverse and dynamic student population. Just by centring students' voices and addressing their concerns, international education can continue to inspire and empower individuals while fostering collaboration and understanding across borders. Together, we can ensure that mobility remains a force for positive change in 2024 and beyond.