The current Covid-19 emergency has strongly influenced on the implementation of the European projects. The Erasmus + programme, which consist in international exchange and mobility of students and learners, has been particularly affected by the crisis. In the face of the coronavirus pandemic and mobility restrictions, the European Commission has launched new guidelines for Erasmus+. The guidelines, concerning the projects in the current year as well as the ones approved in 2020, aim at ensuring the implementation of the programme and at giving to the participants the possibility to complete the mobility in an alternative way.
Digital mobility Erasmus+
The Commission gives the participants the possibility to take part in the Erasmus+ Programme in a virtual mode. The activities, which should remain in line with the goal of the mobility, can be carried out through online trainings, digital courses, etc. In case of Erasmus+ for students, the mobility should also include a physical mobility, performed when the sanitary situation will allow it again.
In this way, the mobility will be recognized as completed and students will accumulate the ECTS points. Also the staff will be able to participate in digital Erasmus activities; the entire period of the mobility can be performed online, if Covid-19 emergency prevents from taking part in a physical mobility. Moreover, the participants will still have the possibility to hone their language skills through the platform Online Linguistic Support (OLS).
In order to conduct the virtual classes, the Commission encourages teachers to use the platform eTwinning, the community of European schools, which allows students to work together with their peers from other countries.
Regarding strategic partnerships, the beneficiaries can continue the activities in a virtual mode. They will also receive a financial support, which will be communicated in the future.
Sources:
https://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/erasmus-continua-anche-l-emergenza-pandemia-ADqUFiR?refresh_ce=1
Picture source http://www.erasmusplus.ac.me/?p=20639&lang=en