Erasmus+

The UK is no longer an eligible partner country – though it can still participate as a “third country” – but this is likely to mean UK partners are less attractive than they have been in the past.

There are several key factors relevant to the Erasmus+ programme:

  • It covers several areas: education (schools, higher, vocational, adult) & youth
  • It is organised around two “Key Actions”: Key Action 1 provides mobility grants and Key Action 2 supports strategic partnerships (projects).  Note that, for mobility grants, you can apply for a single grant for a single individual or for a batch of grants for a group of people.
  • Applications are submitted either to the contact point in the applicant’s member state (decentralised applications) or to the EC in Brussels (centralised applications)
  • There are some specific criteria which encourage applications from the culture sector, for youth (e.g. “support for artistic & cultural initiatives”), and for adult education (e.g. for “organisations not primarily concerned with education, e.g. cultural organisations”).

The following summarises the most relevant options:

DECENTRALISED

Key Action 1: Mobility

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;

European Voluntary Service: young people aged 17-30 to express their personal commitment through unpaid & full-time voluntary service for up to 12 months in another country.

Partners required?  Yes, at least 2 – one sending the person(s) and one receiving.

Length?  1 or 2 years, with mobility being 2 days to 2 months.

Match Funding?  Not a formal requirement however organisations will need to find additional funds or resources to run the project. These do not need to be formally documented.

Maximum EU Grant?  No limits given, but it is likely that the EC would not expect applications to exceed €150K at the most.

Key Action 2:  Strategic Partnerships

Transnational Strategic Partnerships (education, training, youth) should develop projects and initiatives which address one or more fields of education, training or 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;

FOR ALL:

Match Funding?  Required, but no specific amounts or percentages.  Can be the beneficiary’s own resources, financial contributions from third parties or income generated by the project.  N/A for grants <€60,000.

Maximum EU Grant?  €150,000 EUR per year (i.e. €12,500 per month)

ADULT EDUCATION:

Partners required?  3+ from 3+ different eligible countries

Length?  2 or 3 years

YOUTH:

Partners required? 2+ from 2+ different countries

Length? Between 6 months & 2 years.

CENTRALISED

Key Action 1: Mobility

Large Scale European Voluntary Service: Large-scale volunteering projects (involving at least 30 EVS volunteers) in the framework of European or worldwide events in the field of youth, culture and sport (e.g. World Youth Summits, European Capitals of Culture; European Youth Capitals, European sport championships, etc.).

Key Action 2: Strategic Partnerships

Capacity Building: Projects supporting cooperation with Partner Countries in the fields of higher education and youth.

Contact Points

Contact Points across Europe: http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/home/erasmus-plus/contacts/international-erasmus-plus-contact-points_en

This is a complex programme with many strands and sub-strands – please feel free to contact Euclid with specific questions.