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‘An outward-looking nation’: Wales unveils Brexit-busting international exchange programme to replace Erasmus+

02 Feb 2022 2 minute read
Jeremy Miles. Picture by the Welsh Government

Wales’ Education Minister has unveiled a new international exchange programme for Wales, to replace the Erasmus+ programme which the UK Government decided to leave after Brexit.

Jeremy Miles revealed the details of the scheme today, saying that it was “tailor-made for Wales”.

Over four years the aim is for 15,000 students and staff from Wales to travel overseas, and for 10,000 in turn to work or study in Wales.

The five-year programme will run until 2026 with Welsh Government funding of up to £65 million. They said it would “offer life-changing opportunities to travel and learn for all learners and staff in every part of Wales.”

The scheme, chaired by former Education Minister Kirsty Williams, will cover higher education, adult education, further and vocational education, and schools, as well as youth work.

Taith will also aim bring students and educators from around the world to Wales, “to help enrich our education settings and bring even greater diversity and culture to our classrooms and campuses,” the Welsh Government said.

“This raises Wales’ international profile, and enhances Wales’ reputation as an open and outward-looking nation,” they added.

The programme will help deliver the Welsh Government’s priorities in transforming international engagement and developing the best in international education and youth sectors through sustainable actions that benefit current and future generations in Wales.

Bangor University Vice-Chancellor Iwan Davies said: “Today’s launch of ‘Taith’ is a historic moment for Wales. Creating life-changing international opportunities for our young people, students and staff is an investment in Wales and our people and both reflects and sustains an ambitious, international outlook.

“I am delighted to see this come to fruition today.”


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Steve Duggan
Steve Duggan
2 years ago

Good news, Wales is an outwards looking country and needs that cultural exchange. Why did the UK government cancel Erasmus? The people did not vote for cutting ‘all’ ties with Europe.It just shows the completely warped ideology now driving Westminster.

Cath Hill
Cath Hill
2 years ago
Reply to  Steve Duggan

You may not agree with this but I think it was a deliberate act of class warfare.

hdavies15
hdavies15
2 years ago
Reply to  Steve Duggan

Steve, remember that Boris’ nutty mantra was all about Britain being world’s best, world class, world leading at everything ! Thus it becomes self evident that Great Britain had no need for all these exchange programmes with other nations because the Great British would end up yet again propping up all those thick lesser nations. Should work out well for the next generation of xenophobes.

John
John
2 years ago

Da iawn chi.
My daughter benefited significantly from the old Erasmus scheme.

Cath Hill
Cath Hill
2 years ago

I think in the spirit of unbiased journalism that the Nation should publish what the Tories in Cymru would do to replace Erasmus and if they have no solid ideas, perhaps look at their mother party in Westminster to see what they have done to replace Erasmus….if you can find it.

Helmut Charbon
Helmut Charbon
2 years ago
Reply to  Cath Hill

It’s called the Turing scheme. It has been going for ages.

Jac Sollis
Jac Sollis
2 years ago
Reply to  Cath Hill

It’s been replaced with the Turing Scheme, which I believe only offers exchanges to Anglophone countries e.g. The US, New Zealand, Australia, etc. However I study at the London School of Economics and the uni offers an exchange year with the SciencesPo in Paris, which I hopefully will be able to apply for in 2 years’ time.

David Harking
David Harking
2 years ago

Mae hyn yn bwysig am ei fod yn enghraifft o Gymru’n gweithredu ar ei phen ei hun, da iawn!

Erasmus
Erasmus
2 years ago

Who wouldn’t want to study on Willy Wonka University in NZ or the Kangeroo College in AU.
I bet they’ll storm the counter.

Andrew Thomas
Andrew Thomas
2 years ago
Reply to  Erasmus

What on earth are you on about ?

I.Humphrys
I.Humphrys
2 years ago
Reply to  Andrew Thomas

It’s our resident xenophobe with yet another nom de plume.

Wynford Jones
Wynford Jones
2 years ago
Reply to  I.Humphrys

And his/her personal way of spelling “kangaroo ” . [Whilst at the same time casting aspersions on higher education in au and nz]

Barry Pandy
Barry Pandy
2 years ago
Reply to  Erasmus

Isn’t it nice of you to assume that New Zealand and Australia have a poor Higher Education sector. And why the assumption that Taith will only send Welsh students to New Zealand and Australia? And so what if they DO go to New Zealand and Australia?

Gog
Gog
2 years ago
Reply to  Barry Pandy

Unfortunately typical of this site. s**g off other nations and admin do not step in and moderate.

Richard
Richard
2 years ago
Reply to  Erasmus

Erasmus – I think you need to note the countries covered and link criteria mate before your rant 😂

Dail y Goeden
Dail y Goeden
2 years ago

Excellent – gwych! Today’s happy news. Well done on the big picture – but also on the name for the programme – “Taith” – a journey – conveys the meaning; is concise and memorable; and (not least important) can not (surely??) present any pronunciation or spelling problems to friends not fluent in Welsh. 🙂 As a medical student, I had six marvellous, enlightening, and professionally deeply educational weeks in rural India – I saw conditions there that I would never expect to see in the UK – and yet you would all want me to have seen! – rabies; neonatal… Read more »

I.Humphrys
I.Humphrys
2 years ago

Independent thinking in action.

Richard
Richard
2 years ago

Bendigedig ! My second son benefited with the old scheme based in italy…. We are an outward looking inclusive and tolerant nation who will be welcomed back – so long as we leave our “UK” badges at home.

Mr Williams
Mr Williams
2 years ago

Great idea from Jeremy Miles. This will give great opportunities to our young people, which are always to be welcomed. Ardderchog.

O j Evans
O j Evans
2 years ago

When Wales had grammar schools things were much better.

Richard
Richard
2 years ago
Reply to  O j Evans

In my Grammar all north east Wales school kids did Europe on a dreadful old ship 🚢 on which we all got food 😮poisoning , got sea sick 🤮then had a debilitating bug as we toured the nations of coastal Europe….

The Argentina 🇦🇷 forces sank it when seeking to retain La Malvinas

Jac Sollis
Jac Sollis
2 years ago

Anhygoel! Hyfryd gweld Cymru’n cydweithio gyda gwledydd eraill y tu allan i’r Deyrnas Gyfunol, ar ei phen ei hun! Hanfod pwysigrwydd hwn yw’r posibilrwydd o greu rhyngweithiau rhyng-fyfyriol – hynny yw’r perthnasoedd a wneithir rhwng unigolion sy’n rhan o’r Cynllun. Fel y dywedir yn Saesneg – ‘it’s not what you know but who you know’ ambell waith, am wn i, yn seiliedig ar fy mhrofiad personol. Arbennig gweld bod Kirsty Williams wedi’i chadw yn y darlun hefyd – yn dangos aeddfedrwydd llywodraethiant Cymreig

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