Longlife Learning Programme is the name given to the set of initiatives and activities approved by the European Parliament in 2006, whose main aim is to foster education, post-graduate studies and the professional life of EU citizens. The education of an individual is not limited to one period in his or her life, but goes on for a lifetime, in different ways and for different purposes. It is not solely a question of study, but also of developing transversal skills, needed for future entry to the world of work. For this reason, the LLP programme is divided into a series of sub-programmes - Erasmus, Leonardo, Comenius, Grundtvig etc. - each one of which aims to meet the specific needs of an educational sector and phase.
Erasmus, especially, is a university education programme in the broad sense of the term. Not only does it offer students and academics the possibility of doing a period of study and/or teaching at a foreign university, but also of gaining professional experience at centres of learning or with firms in Europe, to promote knowledge of socio-cultural contexts, and/or gain direct experience of working environments in other countries. Thanks to inter-university agreements, multilateral networks, intensive programmes, and links with firms and centres of learning, the Erasmus programme aims to encourage the cultural education of the new generations within the framework of a wholly European perspective, in order to create the basis for better work opportunities. This gives the programme an important role in the construction of a united Europe, not only from the point of view of its legal systems, but above all in terms of the experience and mentality of its individuals and peoples.
Our university has an Erasmus office which coordinates the activities concerning this programme, handling both students and academics going abroad and organising the arrival of students and academics from other countries deciding to do a period of study or teaching at our University. The Erasmus commission, made up of academic staff representing the faculty, deals with the teaching aspects of the programme.
Because of agreements with several universities in countries of the European Union, (France, Germany, England, Spain, Belgium, Austria, Greece, Poland, Norway, etc.) students can choose to follow a number of courses (min. 3 months, max 12 months) and to take examinations there. When students return, these activities will be recognised as an integral part of their study programme.
In the same way, thanks to agreements with European learning centres and firms, students can go on a Placement i.e. an apprenticeship abroad (min 3 months, max 6 months) which will also count towards students' study programmes.
In the early part of each year, a Call for Applications is issued, allowing all students at the University (doing three-year degree courses, four-year courses, masters, and research doctorates) to apply on line.
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