RIYADH: University students from the EU and GCC will soon be able to benefit from the former’s longstanding education exchange program. Details of the EU’s Erasmus program was unveiled at a gathering on Monday in Riyadh, which was held in coordination with Saudi Arabia’s Education Ministry. Representatives from the Kingdom’s major universities were present at the gathering. Since its inception 35 years ago, over 13 million students have benefited from its programs. It has a budget of $27.9 billion running from 2021-2027. Speaking at the event, EU Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Christophe Farnaud said: “The EU is accelerating international cooperation in the academic field, offering tremendous opportunities for young Saudi students to study and live in the EU.” “Erasmus+ is designed to enhance two-way exchanges and also enable more Europeans to come to study in the Gulf, further bolstering our people-to-people contacts and our bilateral relations,” he added. Several experts attended the event including from the Erasmus+ National Agency of Ireland, and representatives of leading German and Italian universities. In May 2022, the EU introduced its Joint Communication on a Strategic Partnership plan aimed at broadening its cooperation with the GCC in energy, climate change, trade and security.