Slovenia joined Erasmus, which promotes mobility within the EU, in 1999, five years before it became a full member of the Union. Much like in the rest of the bloc, the programme has been a huge success.

In the last ten years, over 31,000 students and almost 15,600 teaching staff from Slovenia joined the exchange programme, while Slovenian schools hosted almost 34,000 foreign students and more than 13,000 members of teaching staff from abroad.

In 2023 alone, more than Slovenian 3,200 teaching staff and almost 5,000 students joined the programme, up by 60% and 50% respectively over 2019, the last year before Covid put a damper on foreign travel.

Alenka Flander, director of the Centre for Mobility and European Education and Training Programmes (Cmepius), believes the programme reinforces EU values and enables different groups to connect. "We definitely see it as a success story," she stressed.

Since 2003, when Cmepius started running the programme in Slovenia, more than 104,000 individuals from more than 80% of primary schools and 90% of vocational and secondary schools went abroad as part of the programme, Cmepius data show.

The most popular destinations for Slovenian students in the last ten years have been Spain and Portugal, but also Germany, while for staff, Spain, Croatia and Italy have been the top destinations.

Positive experience for schools and students

When the Apače primary school in the northeast of the country first joined Erasmus+ in 2020, it took a lot of effort to persuade a few teachers to take part in the programme, head teacher Violeta Kardinar told the Slovenian Press Agency. But now the interest both among students and teachers is rising.

"We have not had a bad experience yet," she said. The participants improve their language skills, gain confidence and learn social skills.

"Prejudice against foreigners is definitely disappearing among primary school children. In an era where reactions to migration are sometimes extremely negative, this is a great contribution for the young people, who will shape our politics in the future," the head teacher says.

The programme is also important because it offers mobility to students from families that cannot afford to go abroad. "One family who had never been on a flight before said that it was the child who encouraged them to have this experience together. It would be hard to list all the things that a child gains in this way," Kardinar said.

Amalia, 24, has also had good experience with the programme, having opted for a student exchange to experience a new culture and student life abroad. "This is exactly what Erasmus has given me. I got to know new places, and built a strong network of acquaintances and friendships all over Europe," she told the STA.

"I think Erasmus takes you out of your comfort zone and makes you pay more attention to the world and people around you and take a little more responsibility for your life. The process can be a bit difficult and scary at times, but the things you get in return are worth the effort," she explained.

Flander also pointed out that Erasmus+, which she considers one of the flagship programmes of the EU, should promote inclusion and diversity, sustainable development, the digital transition and civic participation.

These are inextricably linked to European values and thus to securing a better future for society as a whole, she believes.

Passport-free border crossing and mobility are the EU's assets that she believes must be preserved. They cannot be taken for granted, especially at a time when nationalisms are on the rise, she warns.