University of Staffordshire is committed to embedding international mobility, collaboration and global citizenship across its education, research and civic missions.
Participation in the Erasmus+ Programme is a central component of the University's internationalisation strategy and directly supports the institutional Next Generation Strategy to 2030, which focuses on delivering excellence in Education, Experience, Environment and Engagement.
Our strategic objective is to ensure that every student has the opportunity to develop international perspectives, intercultural competence and global employability through mobility, collaboration, and internationalised curricula.
Erasmus+ provides the framework through which the University will expand international opportunities for students and staff while strengthening sustainable academic partnerships across Europe and globally. The programme will enable the University to scale existing international initiatives, deepen collaboration with European partners and ensure that international mobility is accessible to students from all backgrounds.
Participation in Erasmus+ will primarily focus on three strategic priorities:
Expanding inclusive mobility opportunities for students and staff
The University will significantly increase participation in international mobility through: Student mobility for studies, Student mobility for traineeships, Staff mobility for teaching and training, Blended Intensive Programmes (BIPs).
Our approach prioritises widening access to mobility opportunities for students from underrepresented and disadvantaged backgrounds. The University serves a region with high levels of socioeconomic deprivation, and international opportunities are a critical mechanism for widening horizons and enhancing social mobility.
Through Erasmus+ funding we will remove financial barriers that often prevent participation in international mobility, ensuring that mobility opportunities are accessible to all students regardless of background.
Strengthening strategic international partnerships
The University of Staffordshire has established strong global partnerships including, Guangxi Minzu University (China), British University Vietnam, and Asia Pacific Institute of Information Technology (Sri Lanka). Through Erasmus+ we will revitalise and expand our European institutional partnerships, particularly with universities in Finland, Belgium, Germany and the Czech Republic. Existing collaborations such as with Tampere University will be further developed through enhanced staff mobility, research collaboration and joint teaching initiatives.
New partnerships will prioritise areas of academic strength and industry engagement including, Games design and animation, Digital technologies and Esports, Engineering and advanced manufacturing, Creative industries, Health and social care and Environmental sustainability. These partnerships will enable the development of joint learning initiatives, Blended Intensive Programmes, collaborative research, and international industry placements.
Embedding internationalisation within the curriculum
Internationalisation will be embedded across the University's curriculum through Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL), Internationalised teaching content, Integration of UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Mobility-linked employability experiences. International mobility is fully integrated into the University's employability framework, ensuring that students develop global competencies including intercultural communication, adaptability, resilience and global awareness.
These competencies directly support graduate employability and the University's ambition to prepare students for careers within an increasingly interconnected global economy.
Strategy, objectives and impact
Participation in Erasmus+ will deliver significant institutional, educational and societal impact. At an institutional level, Erasmus+ participation will strengthen the University's global reputation, deepen international partnerships and enhance the quality and relevance of teaching and research.
For students, mobility experiences will significantly improve employability outcomes. Evidence from the University demonstrates that 97% of students who participate in international placements or mobility programmes secure graduate-level employment or further study within 15 months of graduation.
Erasmus+ participation will also support the University's commitment to developing globally aware graduates who contribute to sustainable development and international cooperation. Through participation in Erasmus+, the University will actively contribute to the objectives of the European Education Area, including - increased mobility participation, enhanced institutional collaboration, inclusive access to international opportunities, and development of global citizenship competencies
Erasmus+ will also support the University's strategic objectives to:
- achieve Top 50 UK ranking by 2027
- achieve Top 250 in the Times Higher Impact Rankings
- increase international research collaborations
- expand international industry partnerships
- strengthen international postgraduate researcher recruitment
Indicators
To ensure effective implementation and measurable impact, the University has established clear targets for Erasmus+ participation. By the 2026/27 academic year the University aims to deliver:
- Mobility targets
Minimum 200 student mobilities annually, Minimum 20 staff mobilities annually, at least 60% of mobility participants from disadvantaged backgrounds.
- Educational impact
Continued improvement in graduate outcomes, Sustain graduate employability rates above 75% positive outcomes, further increase international work placement opportunities.
- Institutional impact
Establish 25 international industry partnerships by 2027, Increase international research collaborations, Expand participation in Erasmus+ cooperation projects.
- Strategic development
Expand Blended Intensive Programme participation, Increase the number of active European partner institutions, strengthen international curriculum integration. Progress against these indicators will be monitored through institutional dashboards, mobility data analysis and student outcome metrics.