Guardian readers celebrate the European exchange programme and the fact that Britain will be rejoining it in 2027 Julian Baggini is right to laud the opportunities for European student exchange activities, with the announcement that the UK will rejoin the Erasmus scheme in 2027 ( Britain rejoining Erasmus+ won’t halt the nativist tide – but it’s a step in the right direction, 17 December ). Until Brexit, there were diverse chances for students to sample courses, cultures and environments in unfamiliar settings, enriching their experiences in ways that had lasting benefits. As one example, I looked after the UK arm of a consortium of European universities that enabled up to 10 students each year from each of six participating universities from six European countries to attend a 10-day environmental field course in one of these countries. We were able to continue this arrangement without a break for 12 years from 1997, funded almost entirely through Erasmus, so the cost to students was minimal. The field course venue was hosted by rotation, so each university only had to organise the course once every five or six years. Every year, participating students experienced working closely with peers from each country, and were exposed to different ideas and ways of approaching environmental issues, and environments that included the Mediterranean, central Europe and the far north. Lasting international friendships developed that in many cases endured long after the end of the course, and everyone enjoyed the experience, including staff, who developed working collaborations across Europe. These opportunities were only possible through the Erasmus scheme – its reinstatement will allow future students the benefits of similar experiences and life enhancement. Graham Walters Walthamstow, London Continue reading...