Aston University's commitment to international mobility started over 30 years ago. We have a long standing association with the Erasmus Charter and have increased mobility year on year. We currently send over 320 placement students abroad every year to work, study, teach and volunteer overseas. Close to 70% of those are Erasmus mobilities. A key part of our Aston 2020 strategy includes 100% placements and for 35% of those to take place abroad. As part of this commitment, a specialist team is dedicated exclusively to support students who go abroad. Aston hosts a high number of student mobility (from 237 to 325 over a 5 year cycle, against a nationwide trend of major decline in language degrees). The year on year increases include students from disadvantaged backgrounds who without Erasmus would not have been able to go abroad. We know that international mobility strengthens students' graduate employability through global citizenship, intercultural awareness and other employability skills sought after by graduate employers. A separate team in-charge of Staff Development extensively promotes and supports an increasing number of staff mobility. These include teaching and wider training activities primarily with our partner universities. International mobility is strongly encouraged within Aston, and Erasmus training or teaching is included within staff Professional Development Reviews to ensure staff participation is recognised and further encouraged.