THE Scottish and Welsh governments have confirmed they'll fight together to help students take part in Europe's lauded exchange scheme in a joint statement.
UK participation in the Erasmus scheme, which allows learners to study abroad, is ending because of Brexit.
The highly-valued scheme has a budget of €26.2 billion for the next seven years.
Boris Johnson had told MPs there was no threat to the programme, but his government later pulled out as it ruled participation too explensive.
Now only those from Northern Ireland can take part.
Westminster says its £105 million-a-year Turing Scheme alternative, named after mathematician and computer scientist Alan Turing, will be better value for money and cover countries outwith Europe.
READ MORE: IN FULL: Erasmus statement from Scottish and Welsh governments
But ministers from Holyrood and Senedd say it's no replacement and they'll work together to keep their students in Erasmus.
In a joint statement, Scotland's Further and Higher Education Minister Richard Lochhead and Welsh Minister for Education Kirsty Williams call the Turing Scheme "inadequate" and hail the "outpouring of support" from across Europe after 145 MEPs urged the European Commission to look at ways to allow continued access.
That support was orchestrated by German MEP Terry Reintke, who studied in Edinburgh thanks to the Erasmus scheme.
Last week Lochhead held "productive talks" with European education commissioner Mariya Gabriel about the matter.
Today's joint statement by Lochhead and Williams says London's proposed replacement is "simply not good enough" and "any replacement funding for Erasmus+ should be given in the first instance to the Scottish and Welsh governments to allow us to exercise our right to deliver educational services within our respective nations".
It goes on: "We will carry on making these arguments, and continue to advocate for those sectors who once enjoyed the benefits of Erasmus+, and who have been abandoned by the UK Government.
READ MORE: Brussels looks at enabling Scotland to remain in EU's Erasmus scheme
"We have been heartened by the outpouring of support from across Europe for our continued participation in Erasmus+. This is something that Wales, Scotland, and Europe all want; the UK Government stands isolated in its opposition.
"We want the whole of the UK to stay, but we will now explore how Scotland and Wales can continue to enjoy the benefits offered by Erasmus+."
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