Thousands of Glasgow students took part in Erasmus scheme before Brexit

The Erasmus programme, which allowed learners to study and work across the continent, was not included in the recent UK-EU trade deal. 

A replacement scheme, called Turing, is due to begin in September but today it has been criticised by both the Scottish and Welsh governments. 

READ MORE: Glasgow University students speak out amid coronavirus outbreak

In a joint statement, further and higher education minister Richard Lochhead and Welsh minister for education Kirsty Williams said the decision not to associate with Erasmus will reduce opportunities for all learners and cut support for the most deprived communities.

They said they will explore how both countries can continue to benefit from the programme. 

They said: "Our participation in Erasmus+ has helped transform the lives of thousands of our students, schoolchildren, teachers, adult learners and young people, from all across the UK.

"In Scotland proportionally more participants have gone abroad through Erasmus+ than from anywhere else in the UK, while proportionally more visitors from the rest of Europe have visited Scotland in return

"Erasmus+ is about so much more than just university exchanges. In fact, when taken together, more Erasmus+ funding is set aside for further education, schools, adult education and youth groups than for universities.

Richard Lochhead criticised the new scheme

"Participating in an Erasmus+ exchange has proven to increase people’s self-confidence, cultural awareness, second-language learning ability, and employability.

"What’s more, these benefits are most pronounced for participants coming from the UK’s most deprived areas, and those furthest removed from traditional education. 

"The UK Government’s proposed alternative, by comparison, is a lesser imitation of the real thing."

Figures show 3555 Glasgow students went abroad through Erasmus Plus between 2014-15 and 2017-18. 

The University of Strathclyde sent the most, 1413, with the University of Glasgow a close second at 1389. 

Glasgow Caledonian University (545) and the Glasgow School of Art (208) also took advantage of the scheme. 

Additionally, city institutions sent nearly 400 staff to the continent during the same time period. 

READ MORE: Glasgow University coronavirus outbreak: Campus feels like a ‘ghost town’

Across all UK universities, 64,000 people participated, with around half travelling to France and Spain.

Despite the criticism, the UK Government said the Turing scheme will fund 35,000 student placements abroad. 

A spokeswoman added: "The scheme will provide thousands of UK students with the opportunity to study and work overseas, actively targeting students from disadvantaged backgrounds and areas which have not previously had many students benefitting from Erasmus Plus.

“We will continue to work with the sector to deliver the programme, ensuring students from all backgrounds benefit from the opportunity to learn abroad."