Abstract:

Erasmus+ is a very well known program which aims to modernize and improve Higher Education across Europe and the rest of the world. It gives students and staff opportunities to develop their skills and boost their employment prospects. It is also considered to be a great opportunity for good practices to be shared between universities and businesses.

One of the least known possibilities for the Erasmus program is that it provides the opportunity to academic and non academic staff of the universities to participate in training courses.

This paper focuses on the exchange program for non academic staff, and brings to light special aspects and difficulties that have arisen over time. Despite the benefits for the trainee, the sending university and the host university, very often the administrative staff is unwilling to participate in an Erasmus exchange program, for a number of reasons eg language, family issues (kids or elderly people), hesitation to network.
Over the last years, well organized staff weeks across Europe have attracted the administrative staff’s attention and currently they seem to be the main training form (in comparison to a self organized training period). Most of these staff weeks offer intensive training courses and also include networking opportunities and a social programme.

This paper suggests that a staff week program specifically organized for moms could attract their attention, if
(a) day care services were provided, during the morning training period and
(b) a social program was organized that would include family members and children.

In this way maybe that would be easier for moms to participate and bring their children along. In this way they could possibly overcome some of the difficulties that might have held them back in the past.

Keywords:

Erasmus+, staff week, training courses, moms.