International links are becoming more important. Many people work for multi-national companies. Problems like the climate emergency, human trafficking and pandemics can only be addressed by nations collaborating.
We have a global future
So the last thing we need is insularity and suspicion of others. We’ve all seen worrying developments recently where different nationalities and races are regarded as a threat and treated differently. And this week, Reform UK Ltd announced a policy which could mean people whose lives are legally well established here are deported. How are so many people comfortable with that, and what can be done about it?
The chance for large numbers of young people to spend time abroad, not as tourists, but engaged with living there, could help. It’s not just about education: it could effectively challenge prejudices.
The Erasmus scheme
When in the EU, the UK took part in the Erasmus scheme. It allowed thousands of EU students to study abroad for part of their courses. In 2014, the scheme became Erasmus+ and expanded to include apprentices, staff, volunteers, jobseekers and youth exchanges.
It currently offers “mobility and co-operation opportunities” in higher education, vocational training, schools, sport and adult education. Placements can be as short as two months (or even five days). In 2018 approximately 10,000 UK students took part in an Erasmus+ placement. But Spain, Germany, Italy and France each sent more than 30,000 abroad.
A total of 29,797 students came here from other countries to study – the largest numbers from Spain, Germany, Italy, France and Turkey.
The Turing scheme
Following Brexit in 2020, the Boris Johnson government decided that Erasmus+ was too costly, and initiated a homegrown version called Turing.
It offers school, further and higher education students study and work placements internationally. As well as students from traditional higher education backgrounds, it aims to support young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and those with SEND. Placements are least 14 days long, and up to a year.
In 2024, over 40,000 UK students took part in a Turing placement: 22,847 from higher education; the rest in schools and further/vocational education and training. Many placements were much shorter than a year. Popular destinations for UK students are France, Spain, Germany and Italy, the USA, Canada and Australia.
Some differences
An Oxford University study showed that the shorter, month-long Turing placements encouraged more students from a ‘widening participation’ background compared with the year-long opportunities offered by Erasmus+.
Four times as many are benefitting from Turing, than did from Erasmus in its last year.
However, there are distinct disadvantages. The Turing scheme is not reciprocal and offers no funding for foreign students to come to the UK. Unlike Erasmus+, Turing does not cover tuition costs, with host educational institutions expected to waive fees, and because of the way the funding is managed, it can entail higher costs for participants.
Benefit of placements abroad
Without comparing the two schemes further, it is fairly easy to accept that any way a young person can travel abroad to work or study will widen their horizons and increase awareness of others’ cultural differences.
Likewise, when young people from other countries come to the UK for a time, they bring different ideas and customs, which can be enlightening for young British people. Unfortunately, the current post-Brexit environment means that numbers of EU students in the UK have already decreased by more than half from their pre-Brexit peak.
The new deal
In the May 2025, EU/UK ‘reset summit’, it was agreed the UK would consider joining a reciprocal ‘youth experience scheme’. So we may be moving to yet another iteration of an international youth programme.
It is said that the UK government has concerns that a mutual exchange scheme will be seen as immigration. It may want a cap on numbers coming here, a new visa and fee structure, and time-limited stays.
But a Survation poll showed that UK residents largely see international students positively, and only 1% want the government to prioritise reducing their numbers.
Time to be bold
Developing cultural intelligence, expanding your worldview and gaining greater awareness of global issues are all good outcomes from international work or study.
It’s time for the government to accept that it’s a ‘good thing’ for large numbers of young people to have this experience. To negotiate a scheme with the advantages of both Erasmus and Turing: if shorter placements mean many more students from a wider background can go, encourage it.
We can have a younger generation who embrace international links, reject prejudice, and respect the contribution those from other countries make.
We clearly need it.
If you’ve taken part in an Erasmus or Turing placement abroad, we’d be very pleased to hear about it. Please write to: editor@eastangliabylines.co.uk.
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