Prince of Asturias Awards 1981–2014. Speeches

P rince of A sturias A wards 1981-2014. S peeches 5 First, erasmus enables our students to become aware of their own roots. Secondly, erasmus enables them to discover sometimes for the first time a citizenship founded on others’ roots, common to all Europeans, respecting historical, cultural and linguistic diversity. And most importantly, erasmus makes this experience possible through direct contact, interchange, the shared joy of student life, rather than through bookish knowledge. Since the programme’s launch in 1987, more than onemillion erasmus students have participated in the experience. It is an out-and-out success, particularly for the students themselves, who acknowledge the adventure as one of the most enriching experiences of their lives. The advantages of an erasmus experience go beyond indispensable academic and linguistic achievement. It is, above all, a magnificent school of tolerance, adaptation to a foreign environment, respect for diversity of cultures, and conviviality. These are European life experiences in all their richness and splendour. Since the programme was created in 1987, the field of higher education in Europe has changed profoundly. Without erasmus, there would have been no Bologna Process. Without those hundreds of thousands of erasmus students, I do not think the Declaration of Bologna could have been adopted or agreed on. Forty European countries have now committed themselves to constructing a European Higher Education Area. What is more, it is working! Viviane Reding, on behalf of the EU Erasmus Programme — Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation 2004 In 2004, Viviane Reding was European Commissioner for Education and Culture. — Excerpt from the speech given on the occasion of receiving the Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation on 22/10/2004.