ERASMUS

From 2015 to 2020 the European Union within the framework of ERASMUS+ capacity building in higher education (E+) subsidized 900 programs for an amount of 801,594,324 euros. The programs had to associate 1 or more EU member countries with 1 or more countries from priority geographical areas. With a maximum duration of 3 years for a ceiling amount of 1,000,000 euros (40% max staff cost, 40% max mobility, 30% max equipment, 10% max subcontracting) and relatively simplified management, the E+ programs have been a real opportunity for (https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/programme-guide/part-b/key-action-2/capacity-building-higher-education) :

• « Improve the quality of higher education in third countries not associated to the programme and enhance its relevance for the labour market and society;
• Improve the level of competences, skills and employability potential of students in HEIs in the third countries not associated to the programme by developing new and innovative education programmes;
• Promote inclusive education, equality, equity, non-discrimination and the promotion of civic-competences in higher education in the third countries not associated to the programme;
• Enhance the teaching, assessment mechanisms for HEI staff and students, quality assurance, management, governance, inclusion, innovation, knowledge base, digital and entrepreneurial capacities, as well as the internationalisation of HEIs in the third countries not associated to the programme;
• Increase the capacities of HEIs, bodies in charge of higher education and competent authorities of third countries not associated to the programme to modernise their higher education systems, particularly in terms of governance and financing, by supporting the definition, implementation and monitoring of reform processes;
• Improve the training of teachers and continuous professional development in order to impact the longer term quality of the education system in the third countries not associated to the programme;
• Stimulate cooperation of institutions, capacity building and exchange of good practice;
• Foster cooperation across different regions of the world through joint initiatives. »

Among EU member countries the highest contributions were: Spain (369), Italy (336), Germany (266), France (195), Portugal (188), United Kingdom (185), Belgium (161) , Greece (146), Austria (136), Sweden (111), Holland (104), Finland (99) and Poland (94).

The ERASMUS program is renewed every 7 years, in 2022 the EU proposed the new ERASMUS 2021-2027 with an overall budget up 80% compared to that of the previous period (26 billion euros). The ERASMUS+ program is structured into 6 educational sectors, themselves grouped into 3 key actions: Action 1: Individual mobility; Action 2: Institutional cooperation (E+); Action 3: Political Reforms. 33 countries finance the program and can benefit from its integrity as members, almost all other countries in the world can participate in certain actions as partners. The E+ that specifically interest us fall under action 2 and meet roughly the same criteria as those of the previous period (https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/programme-guide/part-b/key-action-2/capacity-building-higher-education).