Erasmus+ Next Generation: Shaping the Future of Education

Education has always been a cornerstone of progress in the European Union, and for nearly three decades, the EU has made significant strides in advancing education through various programmes. The success of these initiatives has led to the continuation of the Erasmus+ programme from 2021 to 2027, with a renewed focus on addressing modern challenges and priorities.

What is Erasmus+?

Erasmus+ is the EU’s flagship programme for mobility and cooperation in education. It supports opportunities in higher education, vocational training, school education, adult education, and youth work. The programme is guided by four core priorities:

Inclusion and Diversity: Ensuring equal opportunities for all learners.
Participation in Democratic Life: Empowering individuals to actively engage in their communities.
Environment and Climate Action: Promoting sustainability through education.
Digital Transition: Equipping learners with essential digital skills for the future.

Opportunities in Adult Education

The evolving global landscape, including increased life expectancy and the rapid changes brought by events like the Covid-19 pandemic, highlights the growing importance of adult education. Erasmus+ supports lifelong learning by fostering digital skills, adaptability, and cross-border cooperation in adult education establishments.

The programme focuses on two main actions in adult education:

Key Action 1: Learning Mobility of Individuals

This action supports mobility for adult education staff and learners, helping them gain international experience and develop new skills. Organisations can participate through:

Erasmus Accreditation: A long-term option for organisations seeking consistent funding and strategic international growth. Accredited organisations can apply annually for mobility grants, offering planning certainty and flexibility.
Short-Term Projects: Designed for smaller organisations or first-time applicants, these projects run for 6-18 months and allow up to 30 mobilities. They are an excellent way to gain experience with Erasmus+ and develop expertise.

Key Action 2: Cooperation Among Organisations and Institutions

This action promotes partnerships across borders to address educational priorities. Projects under Key Action 2 can take two forms:

Cooperation Partnerships: These involve at least three organisations from three programme countries, lasting 12-36 months. Projects focus on innovative practices, peer learning, and experience exchange, with funding ranging from €100,000 to €400,000.

Eligible costs include:
- Project management and implementation
- Transnational meetings
- Dissemination events
- Inclusion support for participants facing barriers
Small-Scale Partnerships: These simpler and shorter projects involve at least two organisations from different countries and run for 6-24 months. With grants of €30,000 or €60,000, they aim to widen access to Erasmus+ for smaller organisations and hard-to-reach groups.

Why Join Erasmus+?

Erasmus+ offers unparalleled opportunities for organisations and individuals to grow, innovate, and collaborate across borders. Whether through long-term accreditation or short-term projects, participants can benefit from funding, international experience, and the chance to shape the future of education in Europe.

Calls for applications are published annually, with opportunities for both experienced organisations and newcomers to join this transformative programme. By embracing Erasmus+, we can collectively address today’s challenges and build a more inclusive, sustainable, and digital future for education.

For more details and access to the full document, visit the following link: https://oead.at/fileadmin/Dokumente/oead.at/OeAD_Publikationen/EPALE/EPALE_Publikation2021_Diversity_EN.pdf