Erasmus+

Erasmus+ is the EU Programme in the fields of education, training, youth and sport for the period 2014-2020. Education, training, youth and sport can make a major contribution to help tackle socio-economic changes, the key challenges that Europe will be facing until the end of the decade and to support the implementation of the Europe 2020 strategy for growth, jobs, social equity and inclusion.

Erasmus+ brings together all EU programmes in the fields of Education, Training and Youth; it also provides support for Sport for the first time. As an integrated programme, Erasmus+ offers more opportunities for cooperation in these sectors and is easier to access than its predecessors, with simplified funding rules.

The target number is around 4 million people to get involved in mobility actions.


Objectives
The Erasmus+ Programme shall contribute to the achievement of:

  • the objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy, including the headline education target;
  • the objectives of the strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training (ET 2020), including the corresponding benchmarks;
  • the sustainable development of Partner Countries in the field of higher education;
  • the overall objectives of the renewed framework for European cooperation in the youth field (2010-2018);
  • the objective of developing the European dimension in sport, in particular grassroots sport, in line with the EU work plan for sport;
  • the promotion of European values in accordance with Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union
Status
running
Target Group
Universities
Activities
Demonstration and investment activities, Exchange activities, Promotion and Networking activities
Subjects
Education, Training, Youth, Sport
Source Regions
European Union
Source Countries
-
Eligible Regions
Eastern Partnership, European Union, Western Balkans
Eligible Countries
-
Grant Types
Cooperation, collaboration
Funding Bodies
-
Languages
Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Irish Gaelic, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovene, Spanish, Swedish
Support Types
-
Deadline Date
-
Programme
-
Programme Owner
European Commission
Managing Authority
Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency
About
-
Services
-
Website
http://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/index_en.htm
Legal Source
Proposal 788 final 2011/0371 (COD) of the European Commission of 23 November 2011 for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the council establishing „Erasmus for All” The Union Programme for Education, Training, Youth and Sport
Supporting Programme
-
Resources
http://
Refering Grants
1
Annual
yes
Focus

The aims of Erasmus are:

  • To support young people gain more and better skills by studying & training abroad.
  • Support transnational partnerships
  • To enhance teaching quality in the EU and beyond.
  • To support Member States and partner countries in modernising their education and vocational training systems.
  • To promote youth participation in society.
  • To support teaching and research on European integration.
  • To support European grass-roots sport.
Duration

2014-2020

Proposal Submission

Implementation

The programme supports three main types of actions: learning opportunities for individuals, both within the EU and beyond; institutional cooperation between educational institutions, youth organisations, businesses, local and regional authorities and NGOs; and support for policy reform in Member States and cooperation with non-EU countries. Also, two completely new elements are part of Erasmus+: a loan guarantee scheme to help Master’s degree students to finance their studies abroad and to acquire the skills needed for knowledge intensive jobs.

Erasmus+ would replace seven existing programmes with one: it brings together the existing Lifelong Learning Programme (Erasmus, Leonardo da Vinci, Comenius and Grundtvig), Youth in Action, and five international cooperation programmes (Erasmus Mundus, Tempus, Alfa, Edulink and the programme for cooperation with industrialised countries).

 

Supported activities

The specific actions that can be funded fall into three categories: learning mobility of individuals, cooperation projects for innovation and the exchange of good practices and support for policy reform. Moreover, Jean Monnet activities aim to promote research and teaching on European integration worldwide, and support the activities of specific academic institutions or associations which are active in the field of European integration studies.

The programme on Sport focuses on three objectives: to tackle cross-border threats to the integrity of sport (such as doping or violence), to promote and support good governance in sport and to promote voluntary activities in sport.

Learning mobility of individuals supports the mobility both of students in all cycles of higher education and of students, apprentices and pupils in vocational education and training, and the mobility of staff, in the form of teaching, assistantship or participation in professional development activities abroad.

Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices supports:

  • Strategic partnerships between organisation involved in education and training
  • Partnership between the world of work and education and training institutions. This takes two forms:
    • Knowledge alliances - large-scale partnerships between higher education institutions and businesses to promote creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship by offering new learning opportunities and qualifications.
    • Sector skills alliances - partnerships between education and training providers and businesses to promote employability by forming new sector-specific curricula and innovative forms of vocational teaching and training.
  • IT support platforms, covering in particular (but not exclusively) eTwinning, allowing peer learning, virtual mobility and exchanges of good practices.

Support for policy reform refers to activities relating to the implementation of the Union policy agenda on education and training; the implementation in Programme countries of Union transparency and recognition tools; the policy dialogue with relevant European stakeholders; NARIC, the Eurydice and Euroguidance networks, and the National Europass Centres.

For key action “Learning mobility of individuals”, 25% of the funds allocated to National Agencies are distributed on the basis of quantifiable principles such as budget implementation, number of individuals on the move and the implementation of the National Agencies work programmes. The remaining budget will be allocated to National Agencies essentially on the basis of the size of the population. Qualitative criteria to increase EU added value will apply in particular to key actions 2 (“Cooperation for innovation and good practices”) and 3 (“Support for policy reform”) , such as the level of institutional and resource commitment of the stakeholders entering a partnership, or the link between open method of coordination activities and the challenges as identified in Europe 2020 governance.

The Erasmus Master (masters student loan guarantee scheme), will be delivered through a trustee, with a mandate to implement it on the basis of fiduciary agreements setting out the detailed rules and requirements governing the implementation of the financial instrument as well as the respective obligations of the parties.

 

Erasmus+ Key actions

Key Action 1: Learning Mobility of individuals
Period: 2014-2020
Indicative budget allocation is approximately 66% of the total budget for education, training and youth

Learning mobility has the potential to raise the level of key competences and skills of high importance to the labour market and society; reinforce participation of young people in democratic life; and to enhance the modernisation and internationalisation of education institutions, both to the benefit for EU and third countries. Mobility will therefore be strengthened and remain the core element across the Programme, with a strong emphasis on mobility for students in higher education.

Supported activities

Erasmus+ support for mobility will focus on four key activities:

- Mobility of learners  and  staff: opportunities for students, trainees, young people and volunteers, as well as  for professors, teachers, trainers,  youth  workers,  staff  of  education institutions  and  civil  society organisations to undertake a learning and/or professional experience in another country;
- Erasmus  Mundus Joint  Master  Degrees: high-level integrated international study programmes delivered by consortia of higher education in
stitutions that award full degree scholarships to the best master students worldwide;
- Erasmus+  Master Degree Loans: higher education  students from Programme Countries can get a loan backed up by the Programme to go abroad for a full Master Degree. Students should address themselves to
national banks or student loan agencies.

Eligibility

Any public and private body active in the areas of education, training, youth and grassroots sport may apply within this Programme.



Key Action 2: Cooperation for innovation and  the exchange of good practices good practices
Period: 2014-2020
Indicative budget allocation is approximately 26% of the total budget for education, training and youth

Transnational cooperation projects are essential to encourage transparency, openness and excellence, and to facilitate exchange of good practices between institutions. In order to contribute to the governance and implementation of Europe 2020 and open method of coordination activities, the Programme will provide strengthened support to cooperation projects aimed at developing, transferring and implementing innovative education, training and youth practices. Finally, the new programme will boost international cooperation and capacity building in third countries.

Supported activities

Erasmus support for cooperation will focus on four key activities:
- Transnational Strategic  Partnerships aimed to develop  initiatives addressing  one  or  more  fields  of education  training  and  youth and
promote innovation,  exchange  of  experience  and  know-how  between
different types of organisations involved in education, training and youth or in other relevant fields. Certain mobility activities are supported in so far as they contribute to the objectives of the project;
- Knowledge Alliances between higher education institutions and enterprises which aim to foster innovation, entrepreneurship,  creativity,  employability,  knowledge  exchange  and/or  multidisciplinary  teaching  and learning;
- Sector   Skills   Alliances supporting  the  design  and   delivery  of  joint  vocational  training  curricula, programmes and teaching and training methodologies, drawing on evidence of trends in a specific economic
sector and skills needed in order to perform in one or more professional fields;
- Capacity Building projects supporting cooperation with Partner Countries in the fields of higher education and  youth.  Capacity Building  projects  aim to support organisations/institutions  and  systems  in  their modernisation and  internationalisation process.
In  certain eligible  Partner  Countries mobility  activities  are supported in so far as they contribute to the objectives of the project;
- IT support platforms, such as eTwinning, the European  Platform  for  Adult  Learning  (EPALE) and the European  Youth  Portal, offering virtual collaboration spaces, databases of opportunities, communities of practice  and  other  online  services  for  teachers,  trainers  and  practitioners  in  the  field  of  school  and  adult education as well as for young people, volunteers and youth workers acros Europe and beyond.

Eligibility

Any public and private body active in the areas of education, training, youth and grassroots sport may apply within this Programme.

Key Action 3: Support for policy reform
Period: 2014-2020
Indicative budget allocation is approximately 5% of the total budget for education, training and youth

Evidence-based policy making, strong country analysis and multilateral surveillance are all critical for the achievement of Europe’s strategic priorities. Mutual learning at EU and international level has proven its worth in terms of the effectiveness of education investments and in helping Member States implement new policies and reforms. The various EU transparency tools created under the Lifelong Learning Programme have had an immense impact.

Supported activities

Erasmus+ support for policy reform will focus on five key activities:

- Knowledge  in  the  fields  of  education,  training  and  youth for
evidence-based  policy  making and monitoring in the framework of Europe 2020, in particular:
a. country-specific and thematic analysis, including through cooperation with academic networks;
b. peer  learning  and  peer  reviews  through  the Open  Methods  of  Coordination  in  education, training and youth;
- Initiatives for  policy  innovation to stimulate innovative policy development among stakeholders and to enable public  authorities  to  test  the effectiveness  of  innovative policies  through  field  trials  based  on
sound evaluation methodologies.

- Support to European policy tools to facilitate transparency and recognition of skills and qualifications, as well as the transfer of credits, to foster quality assurance, support validation of non-formal and informal learning, skills management and guidance. This Action also includes the support to networks that facilitate cross-European exchanges, the learning and working mobility of citizens as well as the development of flexible learning pathways between different fields of education, training and youth;
- Cooperation with international organisations with highly recognised expertise and analytical capacity (such as the OECD and the Council of Europe), to strengthen the impact and added value of policies in the fields of education, training and youth;
- Stakeholder dialogue, policy and Programme promotion with public authorities, providers and stakeholders in the fields of education, training and youth are necessary for raising awareness about Europe 2020, Education and Training 2020, the European Youth Strategy and other European sector-specific policy agendas, as well as the external dimension of EU education, training and youth policies.
They are essential to develop the capacity of stakeholders to concretely support the implementation of policies by stimulating the effective  exploitation of the Programme results and generating tangible impact.
 
Eligibility


Any public and private body active in the areas of education, training, youth and grassroots sport may apply within this Programme.

Jean Monnet Initiative
Period: 2014-2020
Budget: EUR 221 617 800

The Jean Monnet activities aim is to promote teaching and research on European integration world-wide among specialist academics, learners and citizens, notably through the creation of Jean Monnet Chairs and other academic activities, as well as by providing aid for other knowledge-building activities at higher education institutions; to support the activities of academic institutions or associations active in the field of European integration studies and support a Jean Monnet label for excellence. In the light of its specific efforts to promote excellence in education and research on EU integration, the Jean Monnet Initiative will continue as a separate activity within the Programme and will share its delivery mechanisms.

For institutions interested in securing recognition of the quality of their European integration studies programmes, the Commission will create a Jean Monnet label of excellence. The Jean Monnet Professors’ network also serves as a think tank to support EU governance and policymaking.

The Jean Monnet Activities will support:

- Academic Modules, Chairs, Centres of Excellence in order to deepen teaching in European integration studies embodied in an official curriculum of a higher education institution, as well as to conduct, monitor and supervise research on EU content, also for other educational levels such as teacher training and compulsory education. These Actions are also intended to provide in-depth teaching on European integration matters for future professionals in fields which are in increasing demand on the labour market, and at the same time aim at encouraging, advising and mentoring the young generation of teachers and researchers in European integration subject areas;
- Policy debate with academic world, supported through:
a) Networks to enhance cooperation between different universities throughout Europe and around the world, foster cooperation and create a high knowledge exchange platform with public actors and the Commission services on highly relevant EU subjects;
b) Projects for innovation and cross-fertilisation and spread of EU content aimed to promote discussion, reflection on EU issues and to enhance
knowledge about the EU and its processes;
- Support to institutions and associations, to organise and carry out statutory activities of associations dealing with EU studies and EU issues, and to publicize EU facts among a wider public enhancing active European citizenship. Jean Monnet Activities also provide operating grants to designated institutions which pursue an aim of European interest;
- Studies and conferences with the purpose of providing policy-makers with new insights and concrete suggestions via critical independent academic views, and to reflect on current issues of the EU, in particular through the annual major international conference on highly political subjects with the participation of policy-makers, civil society and top-level academics.


Sport Action
Period: 2014-2020
Budget: EUR 265 941 360

In order to exploit the potential for simplification and streamlining of the Multiannual Financial Framework architecture, EU level cooperation in the field of Sport will be treated as a separate activity within the Programme. The Programme will focus on: strengthening good governance and the knowledge base for sport in the EU; promoting health-enhancing physical activity; exploiting the potential of sport to foster social inclusion, promoting dual careers through education and training of athletes; and tackling transnational threats such as doping match fixing, violence, racism and intolerance.

Supported activities
Actions in the field of sport will support:

- Collaborative Partnerships, aimed at promoting the integrity of Sport (anti-
doping, fight against match fixing, protection of minors), supporting innovative approaches to implement EU principles on good governance in sport, EU strategies in the area of social inclusion and equal opportunities, encouraging participation in sport and physical activity (supporting the  implementation of EU Physical Activity Guidelines, volunteering, employment in sport as well as education and training in sport), and supporting the implementation of the EU guidelines on dual careers of athletes;
- Not-for-profit European sport events, granting individual organisations in charge of the preparation, organisation and follow-up to a given event. The activities involved will include the organisation of training activities for athletes and volunteers in the run-up to the event, opening and closing ceremonies, competitions, side-activities to the sporting event (conferences, seminars), as well as the implementation of legacy activities, such as evaluations or follow-up activities;
- Strengthening of the evidence base for policy making through studies; data gathering, surveys; networks; conferences and seminars which spread good practices from Programme Countries and sport organisations and reinforce networks at EU level so that national members of those networks benefit from synergies and exchanges with their partners;
- Dialogue with relevant European stakeholders, being mainly the annual EU Sport Forum and support to Sport Presidency events organised by the EU Member States holding the Presidency of the EU.
Other ad-hoc meetings and seminars relevant to ensure optimal dialogue with the sport stakeholders may also be organised as appropriate.

Eligibility

The Programme beneficiaries will be public bodies or civil society organisations active in the area of grassroots sport. The supported projects and networks will mainly serve to implement and monitor guidelines and recommendations adopted by Member States and/or sports organisations in areas such as good governance, dual careers, and participation levels in sports and physical activity.

 

Terms And Conditions

Legal basis: Regulation
Link: Website

Budget

The seven year programme will have a budget of €14.7 billion

Available Calls

There is no particular deadline for this call. Please refer to the managing authority in you country for details.

http://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/tools/national-agencies/index_en.htm

 

Total Funding Amount

EUR 14.7 billion

Selection Criteria


Eligibility
 

Erasmus is open to all EU Member States, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, EU candidate countries benefiting from a pre-accession strategy and other countries in the Western Balkans.

In addition, non-EU, mostly neighbourhood countries, are able to benefit from actions aimed at promoting study and training opportunities abroad, as well as youth activities.

Open To

EU citizens.

Notes