U. Porto is the leading Portuguese University in Erasmus+ exchanges

The University of Porto is the leading national university in Erasmus+ exchanges, sending more home students abroad than any other national higher education institution, according to data released by the European Commission for the 2017/2018 academic year.

In the latest report released by the European Commission, regarding the academic year 2017/2018, over 1100 students of the University of Porto participated in the Erasmus programme, out of the national 9677 students that have entered this programme.

These figures are conveyed in the latest annual report of the programme, referring to 2018 and consolidates the national leadership by the University of Porto in the Erasmus programme (short for European Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students). This initiative is run by the European Union.

Not only does Erasmus provides opportunities for students to study abroad but also to gain work experience in a different European country while completing a degree. The benefits are huge: the chance to learn a different language and to experience life within a different culture.

The University of Porto leads the rank for the Portuguese universities, ahead of Lisbon and Coimbra, which offers its students the opportunity to participate in the best university programme in the world, spending a semester/year doing Erasmus, which will, for a fact, improve student's chances of getting hired once they graduate.

In all, the University of Porto has sent 1106 students to over 30 countries, in the reported period, in order to undertake study or work experience. The most sought destinations are Spain, Italy, Poland and Germany.

"This is the outcome of significant investment in student awareness in mobility programmes, and on the importance of gaining international work experience, as well as the University's best practices regarding student and staff mobility under the Erasmus+ programme", affirmed the vice-Rector of the UP for International Relations, Maria de Lurdes Correia Fernandes, in a statement to Lusa.

U. Porto wins the Erasmus+ 2019 Best Practice Awards

It should be highlighted that the University of Porto was awarded the Erasmus+ 2019 Best Practice Awards, granted by the Erasmus+ National Agency for Education and Training and by the National Agency Youth in Action.

According to the National Agency, the University of Porto also stands out for "the effective fulfilment of the processes, contents and deadlines, its proactive, creative and dynamic strategy".

The Best Practices Awards by AN+EF acknowledge, each year, projects and institutions that display good practices in the scope of Erasmus+ in Portugal. The awarded projects are in the Youth, Education and Training areas and they are assessed according to their impact on transferability and innovation.