Cesaer group of universities wants ‘maximum flexibility’ for those funded by EU mobility scheme
The Cesaer group of European science and technology universities has joined calls for the European Commission to do more to support those on the Erasmus+ student mobility scheme who have been affected by Covid-19.
In a 10 August open letter to the EU’s commissioner for education Themis Christophidou, the organisation commended the Commission’s “unambiguous invocation of the force majeure clauses”—which allow students to be reimbursed for travel expenses. But Cesaer president and Ghent University rector Rik Van de Walle said further steps were needed to mitigate the negative effects of coronavirus for those on the scheme.
“While a good start has been made, continued efforts and support will be needed to address some remaining issues and uncertainties,” said Van de Walle, whose group is made up of more than 50 universities of science and technology from 25 European countries.
Cesaer says there are still concerns around differing interpretations of the rules in different countries, and that the Commission should issue guidance to fix this. It also wants the Commission to “apply maximum flexibility” to make sure no one suffers any financial loss due to their plans being disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Cesaer’s letter follows similar calls in the spring of 2020. In March, the Coimbra Group of universities called for “more clarity on and simplification of the ‘force majeure’ clause”.
During the spring the Commission repeatedly said that it had given Erasmus+ participants “full flexibility”, including the possibility to invoke this clause to reimburse students for uncovered travel expenses.