Warmly welcomed wherever it goes, the Erasmus van will visit some 40 European cities, all the way informing young people about the EU's exchange programme that has already given more than 1.5 million people the opportunity to study in other European countries.
Launched in 1987, this year sees Erasmus hit 20. Celebrations are being led by the ESN (Erasmus Student Network), an organisation set up to help students get the most out of the exchange experience. Following the Brussels opening conference in January, the ESN is organising a string of Erasmus days across the continent, with the van visiting the biggest. A special website has been set up to collect twenty years of Erasmus experiences and follow the van’s journey.
Different groups of ESN volunteers will be joining the Erasmus van, hopping on and off at different stops. The tour started on March 25 in Prague, where the ESN held its annual general meeting. 50 years to the day after the “European journey” took its first step with the signing of the Treaty of Rome, the Erasmus van started its own journey, no less ambitious. At every stop, these “ambassadors of Europe” are providing information on Erasmus, answering questions and collecting feedback on problems and ideas for improving student mobility.
After Prague, the van followed the Danube, calling at Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest, before continuing through the Balkans and making its way down to Istanbul. The team is now retracing its steps, heading north to Scandinavia. Having stopped in Copenhagen on May 9 to celebrate Europe day, it will continue on across Europe, arriving in Brussels, the final destination, on 28 June.
Follow the Erasmus Van tour at www.europocket.tv!
Erasmus day in Bratislava (video)
Erasmus birthday bash in Vienna (video)
