An Erasmus Programme for SMEs?

Commission’s DG Employment is working on a proposal for the next EU Multi-annual Budget Frame to launch an Erasmus-like programme for employees of SMEs throughout the Union, starting in 2021.

The idea, labelled Mobile SME, consists of enabling employees of small and medium-sized companies, as well as self-employed persons, to work for a short period in a company of their sector in another EU country.

Mobile SME -- Commission's new initiative

For the DG Employment and the participating so far representatives of SMEs and Entrepreneurs associations, cross-border employee exchange is a “win-win situation”, as the employees, their employers and their host SMEs gain substantial know-how and improve in real terms their knowledge of the profession. The jobs of the employees who take leave in order to work abroad under the scheme will be guaranteed by their current firms, while the host SMEs will receive financial assistance from Brussels.

Tests in 2015-2016 have led the Commission to be optimistic as to the potential demand for the programme. Another test is being planned for 2018 to validate the previous findings.

One of the intentions of the Commission may be the democratisation of cross-border learning on-the-job, a privilege so far reserved to managers and specialists working for large multinationals.

Learning on the job, as an exchange worker.
Here: Epic Google Campus, Ireland. Courtesy: Google, Inc.

NOTE: The original Erasmus programme, for students of higher education, was launched in 1987, has proven to be one of the most successful initiatives of the Commission. Until the end of 2015 over 9 million Europeans had benefitted from it, with women representing 58% of the total. It is estimated that in 2017 participation will reach 10 million. 

The founder of the programme, Sofia Corradi (Italy) said earlier this year to broadcaster Euronews that, based on Commission statistics,  graduates with Erasmus experience find jobs in half the time it usually takes for other university laureates in their respective countries.

Mrs Corradi fought for 18 years to have the concept of cross-border exchange for students adopted by the Italian government and the EU institutions. She is known today as Mamma Erasmus. 

Many prominent European politicians, journalists and EU institutions' executives have gone through an Erasmus exchange semester. One of the currently best known among them is Federica Mogherini, Vice-President of the Commission and High Representative of the EU for External Affairs and Security Policy.

Source: Euronews