The introduction to the paper is based on clarifying the importance of non-formal education, and what is the benefit of engaging in additional activities in addition to academic education. The characteristics of Erasmus + projects and exchanges and the Erasmus + program as part of a lifelong learning program are described. As skills are an integral and inseparable part of such exchanges, the types of skills that can be acquired are described, as well as the impact of experience on the individual. The views of the authors are supported by statements from the legislation and documents of the European Commission and the position of the Republic of Croatia within the Erasmus + program. The paper focuses on a student of the University of Rijeka who participated in exchanges within the Erasmus + program. A questionnaire composed of qualitative and quantitative questions was compiled, and a survey was conducted on a sample of former and current students attending some of the faculties or constituents at the University of Rijeka. After the previous theoretical background and insight into the legislation, an analysis of the conducted research on 94 students of the University of Rijeka follows. First, the personal data on the respondents were statistically analyzed, then considering whether the activists/members are in an association, the motivation and experience of going to Erasmus + exchanges and the number of exchanges in which the student participated. A special chapter analyzes the competencies and skills acquired in exchanges and their connection with formal education, then the impact of exchanges when applying for a job and knowledge of a foreign language before and after the exchange. An important emphasis is placed on the cultural exchange of exchange participants.