The Socrates Programme

The principal objective of the Socrates programme is to develop a European framework in education focusing particularly on improvements in language teaching, increasing staff and student mobility, improving recognition for studies undertaken in other countries and a greater exchange of information about and experience of education within the European Union.

To achieve these objectives the programme has created study grants which will help students to carry out part of a university study programmes in another European university with full recognition from the original home university.

The following countries participate in the programme:

· 25 member states of the European Union (Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, Ireland, Denmark, Belgium, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Austria, Greece, Finland, Luxembourg, Malta, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia);

· Associated countries (Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey );

· European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and Economic European Area Countries (EEA) (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway);

The University of Basilicata takes part in the Erasmus programme making a considerable effort by extending the co-operation to several UE, Associated and the European Economic Area Countries.