The Erasmus program, launched in 1987, is one of the EU’s most important tools for university mobility and the creation of a European education area. Italy is among the most active countries (over 36,000 students and 130 million euros in 2024), but it must complement this with national policies to attract and retain talent in order to prevent the loss of human capital. In a context of global competition, Erasmus represents a strategic resource for the training of the elite and Italy’s scientific and cultural positioning.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
- The Erasmus program represents one of the most significant and modern tools of European policy in the field of higher education and academic mobility.
- Launched in 1987 to promote student exchange among European universities, the program has contributed to the creation of the European Higher Education Area and the internationalization of universities.
- Italy is among the countries most actively involved in the program, with over 36,000 university mobility placements funded in 2024 and a budget exceeding 130 million euros (1).
- Participation in the program has strengthened the integration of Italian universities into European academic networks and contributed to the development of human capital with international skills.
- The Italian government recently introduced the so-called “Italian Erasmus,” a national inter-university mobility program aimed at strengthening cooperation among universities.
- In the context of growing global competition among university systems, academic mobility represents a strategic resource for the development of human capital and for Italy’s scientific and cultural projection.
- Strengthening Italian participation in academic mobility programs and developing complementary national policies is therefore a strategic priority.
- In the context of international competition for human capital, academic mobility cannot be considered neutral. In the absence of adequate attraction and retention policies, it can result in a net transfer of human capital to other university systems. From this perspective, the Erasmus program takes on strategic importance for Italy’s positioning within the European and global knowledge landscape.
- The Erasmus program serves as a tool for the European Union’s cultural and political influence, capable of impacting the dynamics of training and recruitment of national academic and professional elites.