We have a vision for the EU’s higher education sector.

And this vision can only come to life if students and teaching staff alike can move seamlessly from one university to another, from one Member State to another, to get the best possible learning and teaching experience. Because nothing is more stimulating than being exposed to diverse ideas, academic environment, and approaches.

Many already take advantage of mobility offers, of course, but they have to deal with paperwork, for example related to courses approved, or the recognition of credits. This can seem overwhelming and deter them from applying in the first place.

We wanted to modernise and simplify the process.

So, on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the Erasmus+ programme, we took a step back and asked ourselves:

What if there was a simple way to allow for the recognition of a student’s identity and status, which would give direct access to student services throughout the EU? And how can it be linked to the secure digital exchange of student information between higher education institutions taking part in the Erasmus+ programme? How can we make the Erasmus+ experience even more enjoyable for all those who want to go abroad to study, do traineeships or apprenticeships, or participate in staff exchanges in all fields of education, training, youth and sport?

This is how the European Student Card initiative was born.

Through it, we are digitalising everything related to the organisation of student mobility under Erasmus+, from information provision and application processes to the recognition of credits, from the exchanges of student data to the digital signature of documents.

Ambitious vision

If this sounds like a big change, then because it is.

To turn our ambitious vision into a reality, we are closely interlinking four actions, which each address one specific need:

There is of course the European Student Card itself, which gave this initiative its name. We created a tool, which can guarantee the secure exchange of student information and allow students to move seamlessly between higher education institutions. But the card can do much more, like give students access to online courses and services provided at other higher education institutions than their alma maters. This add-on to existing, national student cards is off to a promising start: so far, 2.6 million students have turned their cards into European Student Cards. And by 2025, all students in Europe should be able to enjoy its benefits, which can also provide access to libraries, transport and accommodation or discounts on cultural activities throughout the EU.

To allow students to authenticate their status across borders and across institutions, a secure and reliable digital student identifier was needed: the Commission stepped in with the European Student eID, which is providing local authentication and global access to services.

Complementing card and eID is the Erasmus+ app, through which students can easily access useful information needed before, during and after their mobility. The app is also an online meeting space where students can connect and talk about their experiences. We released the revamped tool in 2021, and more than 160 000 students have downloaded it so far.

Speaking and listening to students throughout the EU, I was pleased to hear what a positive impact these steps have had on their Erasmus+ experience.

Carolina Curioso from Université du Luxembourg, who participated in Erasmus+ Studies in Athens, Greece during winter Semester 21-22 shared with me her view:

“My Erasmus experience was overall very rewarding. I’d like start by talking about buddy system platform. I believe it is well done in order to meet new people with different backgrounds that are interested in the same hobbies as foreign students. As such, it allows for a bond to develop between students as well as to put into contact people who can provide information more easily than the host university. Moreover, my home university has a well-structured digital platform to take all the steps from application to Erasmus until coming back home. In addition, a different digital application was meant to transfer the learning agreement between home and host university, however that application was not working, which resulted in administrative struggles for me since I couldn’t reach the signing parties from the host university. Indeed, with the Erasmus+ app this issue could be avoided.”

And we were also looking for ways to increase the efficiency of administrative processes. So, we included the Erasmus Without Paper network in the initiative. Right now, more than 3 000 higher education institutions throughout the EU exchange data online through this network, they sign cooperation agreements with other universities and conclude learning agreements with students going on mobility. And by 2023, we want all universities in the EU to be connected.

Modern and efficient management of mobility is closer than ever. And it will not only lead to a major simplification for all the involved. It will also enhance the quality of education in the EU and create the conditions to significantly boost student mobility in line with the objectives of the European Education Area.