ERASMUS Program Going Bankrupt. Education Takes Hit In EU Austerity

ERASMUS Program Going Bankrupt. Education Takes Hit In EU Austerity The ERASMUS Program is a European Union (EU) student exchange program established in 1987. The following excerpt is from the British Council website about the ERASMUS programme: It encourages student and staff mobility for work and study, and promotes transnational co-operation projects among universities across Europe. The scheme currently involves nine out of every ten European higher education establishments and supports co-operation between the universities of 33 countries. Erasmus has developed beyond an educational program it has acquired the status of a social and cultural phenomenon. It gives many European university students their first chance to live and thrive abroad. Over two and a half million students have benefited from Erasmus since its introduction in 1987. But now, this very programme is surviving on emergency cash and faces the real prospect of going bankrupt. eubusiness.com reported back in October that French Conservative member of the European Parliament, Alain Lamassoure, who heads the budget committee, said that the European social fund is bankrupt and cant refund member states. Next week it will be  Erasmus, the student  program, at the end of the month, the Research and Innovation Fund. Speaking at a news conference, Lamassoure blamed the shortfall on governments that fought for a four-billion-euro cut in the EU budget, in line with austerity policies across the 27-nation bloc. Budget Commissioner Janusz Lewandowski is due to ask member states for several billion extra in the coming weeks to plug a deficit Lamassoure estimated at 10 billion euros. Failing new contributions, the EU executive would be unable to reimburse monies owed to different member states, said Lamassoure. He estimated that the losses could amount to 400 million euros for France, 600 million euros for Greece, 900 million euros for Spain and up to 200 million euros for Britain. These countries have a right to these monies which are reimbursements. It isnt lost but they will have to wait to recover it, he said. It has now come to my notice that the matter hasnt gotten any better in the last two months. There is now a petition asking EU countries to save the ERASMUS program on change.org There are 24k+ signatures supporting the petition and I hope you add your signature supporting the petition too. The petition says in part the crisis is also affecting the Erasmus Program. The spokesman of the European Commission Budget Department just said very clearly: The Erasmus program is out of funds. Until this moment of the year, 70% of the scholarships have been paid. But they don’t have the 30% of the funds coming from the different national governments. To prevent total collapse and bankruptcy of this program, the Commission has additionally provided an emergency fund of 420 million Euro, but this measure can only fix the problem during a short period. Read the petition to save the ERASMUS program. Please share this post and try to help keep the ERASMUS programme alive. Source: ebusiness.com  / British Council  / Rachel Hosie (on twitter) 9

5 Daily Gratitudes Lifestyle - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

5 Daily Gratitudes Lifestyle - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career A little gratitude goes a long way. A card, some flowers, and even the simplest “thank you” can say more to others than you can claim in any article, sales pitch, or blog. These signs of gratitude aren’t just gestures though. They are part of a lifestyle that needs to be implemented within your brand and within yourself. Rating yourself Gratitude isn’t just about being grateful or thankful to others though. The first concept is the ability to be grateful that you are who you are. Many people find themselves envious of others who are more successful. Instead, strive to define what success looks like, feels like and sounds like to you.   Most of us, spend more time on our grocery lists than we ever do in focusing on what success “is” to us. Remaining positive about your own abilities is essential in this particular area. This is because the first thing you have to learn to appreciate is your own self. Appreciate your own abilities so that you can share that confidence with those you meet. For granted Avoid taking things for granted. Nothing ever comes easy and it’s well-known that everything we acquire is because of our own perseverance. This includes all of our successes â€" such as the growth of a brand by meeting customers and developing networking associates. Your clients and associates work with you because they know you appreciate them â€"and showing that gratitude to others by not taking them for granted and regularly thanking them reinforces your business relationship and ensures brand loyalty. See the opportunity, not the negativity One area that many individuals tend to falter is being able to see the situation in a better light. It’s easy to simply say, “I was turned down” when you fail to make a connection. But, how you act, especially in the situation itself, will affect how and what others share about you in the future. Rather than simply seeing the negative side of being told “no,” you focus on seeing that as an opportunity to leave them with a good impression of your business style. You are professional, thorough, and overall determined to make your brand succeed. The little things However, gratitude isn’t something you have to slather on thick to show your appreciation. It’s often the small things that others find solstice in. Smile at others and thank them when you feel the gratitude. When someone compliments you, reflect gratitude.  [tweet this] When someone holds the door open for you or offers you the comic section out of the newspaper, show appreciation. And as you find yourself more and more grateful for smaller and smaller things, you’ll find that you are that much more appreciated by others. Keep it in mind Perhaps the most effective way to implement gratitude into your life is to make sure you’re aware of it. It’s easy to offer thanks for compliment or appreciation for an unexpected meeting opportunity. But, when you keep track of them â€" even the smaller things â€" it gives you something to be able to reflect upon and really see how much there is to be grateful for. And when it comes to your own brand success, you can focus on appreciating the effort you put into it and the network you’ve built that has helped you along the way. Author: Maria Elena Duron, is managing editor of the Personal Branding Blog, CEO (chief engagement officer) of  buzz2bucksâ€"  a word of mouth marketing firm, and a professional speaker and trainer on developing social networks that work. She provides workshops, webinars, seminars and direct services that help create conversation, connection, credibility, community and commerce around your brand.   Maria Duron is founder  and moderator of  #brandchat   a weekly Twitter chat focused on every aspect of  branding  that is recognized by Mashable as one the 15 Essential Twitter Chats for Social Media Marketers.