What is the European Student Card Initiative?
Straightforward and secure online administrative procedures and putting information at the fingertips of students are essential to boosting student mobility across Europe, and to promoting student participation in educational and cultural activities – in line with the vision for a European Education Area.
The European Student Card Initiative will develop an online one-stop-shop through the Erasmus+ Mobile App for students to manage all the administrative steps of their mobility period, before, during and after their stay. It will allow students to find all the information they need to have a high-quality mobility experience abroad.
The goal is to have full deployment of this initiative in 2021 at all higher education institutions participating in the future Erasmus programme. By 2025, all students in Europe should be able to enjoy the benefits of the European Student Card Initiative. To learn more, please join our webinar – Erasmus Goes Digital!
What are the benefits of the European Student Card Initiative?
Fully compliant with EU personal data protection legislation, the card will guarantee a secure exchange of student information and allow for seamless transition among higher education institutions. Moreover, the card will give students the chance to access online courses and services provided by other higher education institutions.
This will not only facilitate virtual mobility and blended learning, but the European Student Card Initiative will also give students a greater choice in the programmes they can follow. Over time, it will allow students to enjoy cultural activities throughout Europe at discounted prices.
The benefits of the Initiative extend beyond students, by simplifying administrative procedures and reducing administrative burden for higher education institutions, boosting mobility for all.
With the support of funding from the Erasmus+ programme and the Connecting Europe Facility, the digital projects – Erasmus Without Paper, EMREX and the European Student Card – will be scaled up from 2019.
The European Student Card Initiative will be linked to the EU’s electronic identification rules (eIDAS regulation) to provide the trust needed to authenticate students and to allow them to ascertain their rights online.
The Initiative is, therefore, a step forward in the transition towards a digital European society and a true European Education Area, in which spending time abroad to study and learn is the norm, and educational excellence is a reality for all.
Benefits of the European Student Card Initiative
FOR STUDENTS:
- Easy access to course materials prior to mobility, online course registration and automatic recognition of ECTS credits
- Immediate access to services at the host university, such as libraries, transport and accommodation
- Discounts on cultural activities throughout the EU
FOR HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS:
- Easy, online management of the entire mobility process – from student selection to the recognition of ECTS credits
- Online identification of students, simplified and secure exchange of student data – including academic records – among Higher Education Institutions
- Reduced administrative burden associated with student mobility
