garagErasmus foundation

EU Legislative Interests

- Erasmus+ programme - Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027 - European Universities initiative - Legislative files related to the European labour market - Legislative files related to students and workers' mobility - #FutureOfEurope files (reform of the EU institutional design) - European projects on sport - COFOE and its follow up - European Year of Skills - Student Housing MEPs are regularly attending our events

Communication Activities

EU elections; Active democracy among youngsters General mission: building the Erasmus alumni professional network by setting up a European network of universities, companies and municipalities interested in engaging in European mobility and citizenship. Main current projects: international TalentsMatches around Europe, Laissez-Passer of the Erasmus generation and The Plus of Erasmus. Main recurrent events: statutory meetings project-linked events, capacity building and meetings with HEIs and Policy makers Policy implementation: Erasmus+, mobility, European labour market, alumni engagement, life-long learning, pro-Europeanism, EU citizens' rights. Public relations: networking at events, participation in partners' and HEis events, including EAIE ESAA network

Interests Represented

Promotes their own interests or the collective interests of their members

Member Of

Erasmus+ Student and Alumni Alliance: https://www.esaa-eu.org/about/ Fondation Hippocrène LLP Erasmusx10 by LLP House of Sport

Organisation Members

The garagErasmus Foundation The garagErasmus Foundation (gEF hereafter to differentiate it from the entire network) is the European hub of the network. It was founded in 2012 in Italy with the aim of giving flesh to the Appeal to the Erasmus Generation (https://garagerasmus.org/appeal-to-the-erasmus-generation/) by supporting the bottom-up creation of a pan-European network of Erasmus students and alumni, universities, companies and associations committed to the principles enshrined in the EU Treaties. Since 2012, the gE network has grown at a very rapid pace (specially in 2023-2024), with the establishment of 34 local chapters, called garagErasmus4Cities (gE4Cities or gE4). The gE4s are volunteer groups and represent the Erasmus Generation professional network on the local level. They act independently within the framework of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Foundation. At the same time, the Foundation helps them to get the local association started and connects them to the wider national and European level. The strength of the network is that gE4s create links with local institutions and partners, widening the gE network and increasing opportunities, while being active in the Education and Training sectors at local level. garagErasmus and its online platform link the local and the global level and ensure an exceptional high visibility to gE4’s activities, allowing them to get support and participation from all over Europe. gE4Brussels Belgium (BE) gE4Istanbul Turkey (TR) gE4Varna Bulgaria (BG) gE4Kaunas Lithuania (LT) gE4Prague Czechia (CZ) gE4Malta Malta (MT) gE4Paris France (FR) gE4Amsterdam Netherlands (NL) gE4Nantes France (FR) gE4Silesia Poland (PL) gE4Tours France (FR) gE4Lisbon Portugal (PT) gE4Mainz Germany (DE) gE4Bucharest Romania (RO) gE4Leipzig Germany (DE) gE4Nitra Slovakia (SK) gE4Athens Greece (GR) gE4Malaga Spain (ES) gE4Budapest Hungary (HU) gE4Ourense Spain (ES) gE4Ancona Italy (IT) gE4Valencia Spain (ES) gE4Bologna Italy (IT) gE4Cordoba Spain (ES) gE4Milano&Lombardia Italy (IT) gE4Yerevan Armenia (AM) gE4Torino Italy (IT) gE4Baku Azerbaijan (AZ) gE4Tuscany Italy (IT) gE4Medellin Colombia (CO) gE4Verona Italy (IT) gE4Tbilisi Georgia (GE) gE4Sicily Italy (IT) gE4Moscow Russia (RU) During our IT’S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY project, gE initiated the process for the joining of the gE4 Apulia. gE4Cities are constituted as non-for-profit associations under national law. These groups are the local anchors of the Foundation and the Erasmus Generation professional network. They organize independent events as well as large meet-ups, engaging former Erasmus around Europe and enabling face-to-face contact with local business, recruitment companies, mentors and other interested subjects. Yet, they co-create with garagErasmus Foundation its strategy, initiatives and events, jointly with the other members of the foundation during the Annual Meeting, joining the Working Groups with HEIs and companies and supporting the Secretariat and Board in the pan-European initiatives and campaigns, facilitating contacts with local stakeholders. gE4Cities support gE in pursuing the goals and objectives set out in its Statutes and in particular the intensification of networks among former Erasmus students, with a specific view to increasing work/talent mobility and enhance the chances to obtain a professional position or realise a business idea in any place of the world. Following the principle of subsidiarity, each gE4Cities adopts and implements its own programme of activities at the local level and contributes, according to their respective capabilities, to the implementation of the European initiatives of the network, while also disseminating EU policies at local level. gE4Cities benefit from gE foundation guidance, know-how, technical knowledge, contacts with partners, expertise and the necessary political support (visits, coordination, contacts, presentation and guarantees). They participate in the governance of the network and in the definition of its work programme through their representation in the Annual Meeting of garagErasmus and different working groups, in particular in the framework of the Erasmus+ Student and Alumni Association. 1.4. Members - Higher Education Institutions The gE network has 29 (+5 in 2024) member Higher Education Institutions, listed below. University of Bergamo Italy (IT) Riga Stradins University Latvia (LV) University for Foreigners of Perugia Italy (IT) University of Latvia Latvia (LV) University of Ferrara Italy (IT) Vilnius University Lithuania (LT) Roma 2 Tor Vergata Italy (IT) Bronislaw Markiewicz State Higher School of Technology and Economics Poland (PL) University of Siena Italy (IT) "December 1 1918" University of Alba Iulia Romania (RO) IULM University Milan (Libera Università di Lingue e Comunicazione) Italy (IT) University of Craiova Romania (RO) Politecnico di Milano Italy (IT) People's Friendship University of Russia - RUDN Russia (RU) Università Statale di Milano Italy (IT) Universidad Del País Vasco Spain (ES) University of Milan-Bicocca Italy (IT) University of Deusto Spain (ES) University of Pisa Italy (IT) University of Malaga Spain (ES) Istituto Europeo di Design Italy (IT) Universitat de València Spain (ES) Università di Pavia Italy (IT) Poltava State Agrarian University Ukraine (UA) Università Suor Orsola Benincasa Italy (IT) CVUT Prague Czechia (CZ) Università Ca' Foscari Italy (IT) LABA Brescia Italy (IT) Università degli Studi di Trento Italy (IT) Since EAIE Conference 2024, 3 new HEIs are in the process of joining gE Foundation. Member HEIs adheres to gE with a Membership Agreements and contribute to the mission of gE by: ● contributing to the growth of an active community of Erasmus students and alumni; ● promoting activities among their students and staff, specially EU-funded opportunities; ● participating in initiatives aimed at matching offer and demand in the European job market, Stimulating innovative teaching and learning approaches to tackle societal challenges and promote innovation and entrepreneurship ; ● supporting the cross-border recognition of formal and informal qualifications and skills, specially thanks to gE efforts in the recognition of micro-credentials for lifelong learning and employability ( 2022 Council recommendation); ● exploiting gE networking opportunities in order to improve quality, equity and inclusion for everyone, boosting opportunities for people with fewer opportunities; ● establishing cross-border cooperation frameworks with other member HEIs, reinforcing the European Higher Education Area and contributing in making the EEA a reality by 2025 ● having a spillover effect for gE-EU wide campaigns, while disseminating with students, staff and other networks ● contributing to involve students, staff and other stakeholders in the definition of new EU key priorities and policies. They benefit from: - increased opportunities to forge new partnerships with other HEIs, stakeholders and businesses; - the possibility for their students and staff to participate in gE activities and facilitate their mobility, with initiatives such as garagErasmus City (housing project, for Universities document: https://garagerasmus.org/garagerasmus-documents) or the newly established ERASMUSNESS project; - reinforced cooperation with their Erasmus alumni across the continent; - gE support in the design and implementation of European projects, including capacity building and networking opportunities; - possibility to raise their voice in shaping EU policy recommendations related to education. Since October 2022, an annual Higher Education European Networking Summit (HEENS) has been taking place, following the need and request popped up by our members during the Annual Meeting of May 2022 held in Florence. The aim of the Summit is to discuss the new developments of the Erasmus+ program, its new digital mobility tools, issues and possibilities in using them, and to collect feedback fromHEIs and organisations, including policy-makers in order to have a non-topic based networking opportunity, completely dedicated to showcase and best-practice share. Most importantly, the Summit is dedicated to creating new relations, synergies and partnerships among universities and higher education institutions (EQF 5-8). The last edition of the summit was held in MALAGA on 14-15 November and saw, despite DANA, the participation of over 25 HEIs; it has been the occasion to exchange best practices and to exchange views and doubts with Borrelli (DG EAC) and among participants, shaping gE programme of activities for 2025. Since 2018, gE has participated in the EAIE Conference, which gives gE staff the chance to meet with more HEIs and introduce them to the gE network and activities. During EAIE 2024 in Toulouse, gE staff met with representatives of more than 45 HEIs and invited them to attend the HEEN Summit in Malaga. 1.5. Members - Corporate members UBI Banca and the Confederation of private companies Assolombarda are also members of the network. They bring their expertise about the job market and the needs of private companies to the network and play a key role in the development and implementation of training initiatives and stakeholder engagement activities. Other companies participating in the activities of the network are Ernst & Young, Coca Cola, Mercedes Benz, Continental, HP, Experis, WipJobs, Siemens, Dokimazo. Especially in the case of the International Talents Match, international companies are more than active in Foundation activities, offering their working vacancies to new graduates selected by garagErasmus and interviewing international talents who applied to the open positions. In 2023, gE started to cooperate with IT companies, i.e. Dokimazo, experienced in the release of micro credentials to build a bridge between HEIs and companies in micro-credentials recognition of skills. 2024 has been the reflection year for garagErasmus in terms of membership: after discussion with the board and the companies already on board in gE, a new model of MOU has been released (nov 2024)

Additional Information

Operating Grant 101075283 Digital Life Learning 2022-1-IT02-KA220-ADU-000088024 Brand Me 2022-2-PT02-KA220-YOU-000101893 PEDITORY 2022-2-PT02-KA220-YOU-000097612 OG FPA 101121835 SEND Mobility Consortium: Universities for Innovation 2022-1-IT02-KA131-HED-000055839 OG FPA garagErasmus: empowering the Erasmus Generation for a better Europe 101121835 Erasmus Mobility as Micro-credential 101185363 InterVET (to kick off)