Abstract:

The Erasmus programme started in 1987 as an initiative from the European Union. This programme is the largest exchange programme and the best-known in the world. Originally started as an independent programme but in 1995 incorporated the Socrates programme and later on, in 2007 the Lifelong Learning programme. The name Erasmus was inspired on the life and work of Desiderius (1465-1536), also known as Erasmus the Rotterdam, and is also the acronym for EuRopean Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students. Since 2014 Erasmus+ took over and includes a wide range of sectors from education, training, sport and youth. Nowadays, the Programme supports actions, cooperation and tools consistent with the purposes of the Europe 2020 Strategy and its top initiatives, such as Youth on the Move and the Agenda for new skills and employments. It contributes to achieve the objectives of the Education and Training Strategic Framework for European Cooperation in Education and Training and of the European Youth Strategy through the Open Methods of Coordination, as well.

The European Commission is responsible for Erasmus + policies and oversees the overall implementation of the programme. Transnational Cooperation Activities (TCA) are activities managed at National Agency level and are intended to support the implementation of the high quality Erasmus + Programme and to mobilize as many organizations and individuals as possible for the Programme; Strategic support for the development of education, training and youth work in line with the specific objectives of the Erasmus + programme; Strategic support for cooperation between organizations active in the fields of Education, Training and / or Youth.

Quality issues are important in any context, so the Erasmus + Education and Training National Agency considered it important to carry out an exploratory study for 2018, based on the analysis of two issues from the participants' final reports. These issues address any difficulties encountered by participants before, during and after mobility; and, comments and suggestions for improvement by participants regarding future activities, topics and administrative measures.

Keywords:

Transnational Cooperation Activities, Participants, Erasmus + programme, Participant Final Report.