Resgatando a Responsabilidade Social das Universidades por meio da Reinvenção do Programa Erasmus

Abstract

The Erasmus Program is one of the most relevant and well-established internationalization programs in the EU. Since its foundation, it has given more than five million students the possibility to experience a period of study, work, or research abroad. Significantly enough, the Erasmus not only aims at promoting cooperation among European higher education institutions but also at constructing European citizenship and providing a significant social contribution. However, despite the rhetorical enthusiasm surrounding it, the Erasmus still shows relevant problems in relation to the development of universities’ third mission. Thus, after presenting some of its main pitfalls, the article proposes a series of practical measures – targeting students, professors, and university organizations – aimed at reimagining the Erasmus program. Accordingly, it presents a re-conceptualization of its scope and aims for assuring its meaningful contribution to society.