The Turing scheme is the UK’s new global programme to study and work abroad; replacing the EU funded Erasmus + programme.

The ERASMUS scheme was set up in 1987 to foster links between schools, colleges, and universities across the 37 countries involved, mostly by funding and facilitating exchange visits. There are currently over 5,000 higher institutions participating in the Erasmus Program and over 6 million students have been a part of it. In 2019 18,305 UK students benefitted from Erasmus grants to study or work in another EU country. The Turing scheme plans to increase this number.

While colleges, businesses and universities are disappointed the government chose to leave the Erasmus + programme they welcome the opportunity to apply for Turing funding. They also have concerns, including:

• As a reciprocal scheme, Erasmus + enabled universities to waive tuition fees. Will overseas universities be willing to enter into the same agreements with the UK under Turing?

• Turing is “global” – as indeed will Eramus + be shortly. If fewer students choose to go to other European countries, what impact will this have on modern language learning in the UK?

• Students from other EU countries working and studying in the UK not only share their culture, skills and energy but spend some £420 million a year. Leaving Erasmus is predicted to substantially reduce the number of students coming to the UK.

• Visitors to the UK now require passports and health insurance. Will these extra costs and bureaucracy deter students from choosing to come to the UK?

• Recipients of Turing funding need to be aware that visa free stays in EU member states are normally limited to 90 days in a six month period. Rules for student visa waivers for students vary between countries.

• Erasmus+ offers placements for teaching and college staff and youth workers as well as students, enabling valuable sharing of best practice Europe wide. The Turing scheme will not.

• The Turing programme has funding of £110m for 2021/22. It is not currently funded after that.

What can Stroud do?

Stroud4Europe are hoping to set up a bursary programme to support Stroud young people to undertake study or work in other European countries. This could be as a supplement to Turing funding.

We would like to hear from employers and other potential benefactors interested in contributing and/or taking part in this.

Have you benefited from an Erasmus experience? Please let us know. Stroud4europe@gmail.com

Background

For more detail please see:

Further Education Week

Yorkshire Bylines

TES,

Independent,

Politico,

House of Lords ERASMUS
A campaign by the Young European Movement to rejoin ERASMUS+

European Movement - eTwinning

As census day approaches on March 21st you can join thousands of pro Europeans in identifying as “European”.

When completing the “national identity” question you can tick “other” and write in “European” - in addition to ticking the relevant box for ‘British’, ‘English’, ‘Welsh’ ‘Scottish’, ‘Northern Irish’

https://www.mslinn.com/blog/2020/12/28/custom-logging-in-jekyll-plugins.html

“Is P.R. the way to get closer to our European neighbours?” At the next Supporters’ meeting – Monday March 29th 7.30 on zoom - a local independent activist, Geoff Gibbons - will lead a discussion on the influence pro-European groups can have on our future relationships with the EU. Please join us.

The meeting will also introduce the new Stroud4Europe website, discuss the local impact of Brexit and report on the work we have been doing to encourage EU nationals to apply for Settled Status.

Visiting Europe – post Brexit

The list below highlights how things have changed and what you need to check up on.

For further details, the latest advice and quick access to links, visit:

https://www.gov.uk/visit-eu-switzerland-norway-iceland-liechtenstein.

Passports must have 6 months left to run (except when visiting Ireland)

Health Insurance

• EHIC/GHIC To get reduced and sometimes free health care in EU countries you can use your existing European Health Insurance Card (EHIC )until it expires. We recommend checking the date on the card. EHIC is being replaced by a Global Health Insurance Card with similar benefits – you apply online.
• The government recommends you also take out travel insurance.

Border controls - You may need to:

• show a return or onward ticket
• show you have enough money for your stay
• use separate lanes from EU, EEA and Swiss citizens when queueing

Visas - not required for a tourist stay of less than 90 days.

What can’t you take into the EU?

• meat or products containing meat
• milk or dairy products
• fresh fruit (apart from bananas, coconuts, dates, pineapples and durians)
• vegetables
• plants
• plant products

Taking your vehicle?

You need a green card and a GB sticker.

Some countries also insist on an international driving permit

Pet travel

You can’t use the existing pet passport scheme. You’ll need an animal health certificate (AHC) for your pet. Allow at least 1 month to arrange this and relevant vaccinations.

Free mobile roaming? Check with your phone operator

Town Twinning

Background

Town twinning started in Europe after the second world war. The idea was simple: repair damaged relationships between France, Germany and the UK. Find towns that suffered during the wars and pair them. Then encourage people from these areas to meet, mix and get along. That’s why town twinning, at its core, is a good and important thing. From Guardian article on Town Twinning

The council of Europe of which the UK was, and continues to be, a founding member, promotes twinning through the Council of European Municipalities and Regions CEMR which brings together the national associations of local and regional governments from 41 European countries and represents, through them, all levels of territories – local, intermediate and regional.

A government study last year (ONS study 2020) pointed out that many of the strongest links between British and European towns and cities are because of active exchange programmes between schools.

Local twinned towns and villages

Within the Stroud district the following links are registered:

However, whilst some (such as Nailsworth, and Wotton) continue to have very active links and are planning to return to a programme of exchange visits when the Covid-19 pandemic circumstances allow, other groups are less active at present and some report difficulties in getting people involved and raising funding to support exchanges etc.

What do we want to happen?

Brexit was always going to reduce the UK involvement in Europe through giving up our key place in EU decision making, but the current deal and its implementation goes much further in severing links. Trade has been drastically reduced through extra red tape, academic links for universities, colleges, and schools have been impacted by withdrawal from ERASMUS, touring by musicians and other artists has been made much more difficult, etc. Such isolationism impoverishes our region and takes away opportunities for the sort of smaller scale engagements that help people (especially the young) develop the interaction skills to help them in the wider world. Twinning relationships and events can play a part in reducing the harm. Stroud for Europe would like to help support ongoing links, revitalise links that have reduced, and add more links where possible.

How can we help?

If you are already involved in twinning, want to get involved, or have ideas that will help then please get in touch (stroud4europe@gmail.com).