Context/background Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam supports the EU Modernisation and Internationalisation Agenda for Higher Education, and the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education is integral to the realisation of our institutional plans, strategies and aspirations. We believe that higher education is important for empowering the future generations and makes a significant economic, intellectual and cultural contribution to the world. We are committed to international excellence through the creation of world-changing research and high quality, inspirational teaching within an inclusive academic culture. We encourage the international mobility of students, PhD candidates and other staff, since experience abroad prepares students for a transnational career and the quality of our research benefits immensely from intensive international cooperation. Objectives Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam) has specified in its institutional policy plan that 25% of all bachelor’s degree students should have an international experience. This is defined as studies or training abroad for at least one semester. The Erasmus+ programme offers an excellent opportunity for students to gain this international experience. The number of incoming students should be in balance with the number of outgoing students. Another opbjective is to work with a portfolio of good quality partner universities. Through the Erasmus+ programme, there are possibilities of funding activities between universities that help to implement activities and strengthen relations.Therefore the Erasmus+ programme is an essential instrument for us to reach our internationalisation ambitions. Number and Profile of participants Of the total number of 410 students going on exchange for studies in 2014-2015, nearly half (202) used the Erasmus+ programme. There were also 64 students going abroad for traineeships. This was an increase of 32% % compared to the previous year. As our university’s focus is on an international experience for bachelor’s students, most of the promotion for study exchange was targeted at this group. Nearly all bachelor’s programme have a full semester of electives in the 1st semester of the 3rd year, creating a mobility window for students wishing to study abroad. Although the promotion was mainly focused on bachelor’s students, master’s students were still welcome to apply. When it comes to Erasmus+ for students for training, the programme was mainly used by master’s students, as they often have to do an internship or fieldwork research in the framework of their master’s degree programme. Activities For outgoing students there have been Information Meetings to give students information on study and internship abroad (main focus on study) and available scholarships in Fall. After the selection for studies abroad in January/February there were predeparture meeting with more detailed and practical information. The Erasmus application forms were sent to the students selected for study exchange in Erasmus countries in June, with clear information on the application procedure and deadlines. The payments for the first semester were made in October. For erasmus traineeship for students the application procedure and forms were available on our intranet (VUnet). For staff we held a big meeting in Fall with information concerning all Erasmus+ possibilities. Of course the possibility for teaching and training were clearly mentioned. The application procedure and forms were also available on VUnet. Results and impact From the reports we receive from students, and their stories, we know that a semester abroad has huge impact on their outlook and competendes. 95% learned to better value different cultures, 96% is now more able to adapt to new situations, 90% feels more confident. A semester abroad literally and metaphorically expands the horizon of the student, and is offers students the opportunity for large personal growth in a relatively short time. They will benefit from this for the rest of their lives (as also mentioned in the Erasmus impact study 2014). Incoming students are also asked to complete a questionnaire before departure so we will know of their experiences. The general result is that they enjoyed their classes and learning new teaching and research methods, and they love getting to know people from different cultures. They are less happy with accommodation (very expensive for what you get in Amsterdam) and visa procedures (very bureaucratic) which are unfortunately hard to change for us. However, the erasmus report shows that 94% of the student is satisfied with their overall experience at our university.