Mary Russell ~ Volunteer Erasmus Project Co-ordinator

The work of the project co-ordinator for our ongoing Erasmus project began for me when I agreed to produce the application for a three year project in 2015. It was something I had never done before and continued administration has evolved into participating on travel with groups because of my limited O Level French (circa 1967) and my mobility role in College.

As I reduced teaching hours and eventually "retired", the admin inputs, managing transport arrangements, liaising with CSRP our French partners in Lyon, enabled Claire Lewin to concentrate on providing inputs within College. A specific Erasmus Co-ordinator volunteer role was created, to acknowledge in part the hours likely to be spent, which relieved regular staff from excessive time.

During the programme, months responding on Erasmus systems is a system of its own. At the end of the project we have a complex report to file and we also have an audit visit which Sheila Cook from the Finance Department ably manages, being in charge of anything monetary for the project.

As the majority of participants across the EU were unable to meet many of the project aims due to Covid, we are now able to consider an extra year of the scheme with the same school.

The role of the Erasmus Project Co-ordinator is so much more than an office-based administrator. We work very hard to prepare the students who wish to travel and include many of their curriculum aims in the work that we do with the French school and, of course, we have to prepare for their visits to us.

With our exit from the EU, the new option will be similar but apparently less stressful - a one year engagement to take young people abroad more or less anywhere, but with no inbuilt reciprocity.

Anyone taking on the role will find people very helpful and will learn a huge amount about themselves and what can be achieved if you want it enough and can give the students opportunities to appreciate other cultures and attitudes.

Mary Russell
21 May 2021