Erasmus+, the European Union’s flagship programme for education, training, youth, and sport, offers unmatched opportunities for organizations and individuals to foster innovation, collaboration, and development across Europe and beyond. The programme is structured around three primary pillars, known as Key Actions, each tailored to address specific goals and priorities. This blog provides an overview of these Key Actions and offers guidance on navigating the application process, as outlined in the Erasmus+ Programme Guide.
An Overview of Erasmus+ Key Actions and Application Process
Erasmus+ Key Actions: A Comprehensive Overview
Key Action 1 (KA1): Learning Mobility of Individuals
Key Action 1 focuses on creating opportunities for individuals to enhance their skills, employability, and cultural understanding through mobility experiences. Activities under KA1 include student and staff exchanges, youth exchanges, volunteering, and professional training. These initiatives empower individuals while fostering intercultural awareness and lifelong learning.
Key Action 2 (KA2): Cooperation Among Organizations and Institutions
Key Action 2 emphasizes collaborative projects between organizations to exchange best practices, develop innovative approaches, and tackle shared challenges. These partnerships often span multiple sectors, enabling education, training, and youth entities to work together on common objectives such as digital transformation, environmental sustainability, and social inclusion.
Key Action 3 (KA3): Support for Policy Development and Cooperation
Key Action 3 supports activities that contribute to the development and implementation of innovative policies and reforms at the European level. This includes initiatives promoting evidence-based policymaking, fostering dialogue between stakeholders, and advancing the EU’s overarching objectives in education, training, and youth.
Navigating the Application Process
Erasmus+ funding opportunities are highly competitive, and preparing a successful application requires strategic planning. Below is a step-by-step guide to help you craft a strong proposal:
Step 1: Understand the Eligibility Criteria
➖ Applicants must be legally established organizations in an EU Member State or a third country associated with the programme.
➖ For certain actions, such as Cooperation Partnerships, applicants must have been legally established for at least two years before the application deadline.
Step 2: Identify Relevant Priorities
➖ Ensure your proposal aligns with at least one horizontal or sector-specific priority, such as inclusion and diversity, environmental sustainability, digital transformation, or civic engagement.
Step 3: Prepare a Robust Proposal
➖ Clearly define your objectives, activities, and expected outcomes.
➖ Develop a realistic budget that matches your project’s scale and scope.
➖ Incorporate cross-cutting themes like inclusion, sustainability, and digital innovation.
Step 4: Submit Through the Funding & Tenders Portal
➖ Applications must be submitted electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal by the specified deadline.
➖ Ensure all required documentation is complete, including partner agreements and project timelines.
Step 5: Follow Up
➖ Monitor your application status and respond promptly to any requests for additional information from the National or Executive Agency.
Conclusion
Understanding the structure of Erasmus+ and mastering its application process is essential for organizations seeking funding and aiming to maximize impact. This post lays the foundation for a series of insights into Erasmus+ opportunities, with detailed discussions on Key Actions 1, 2, and 3 to follow in upcoming blogs. The opportunities provided by these Key Actions are transformative, empowering individuals and organizations to innovate, collaborate, and drive meaningful change.
At EUcalls, we support organizations at every stage of the Erasmus+ journey. Join the largest EU partner network to simplify your application process, access resources, and explore tailored funding opportunities. Whether building partnerships or developing proposals, EUcalls is your trusted partner.
Innovation thrives on collaboration, and our platform connects you to the right mix of skills, knowledge, and resources. With 400+ innovative ideas in our directory, organizations can easily find projects aligned with their expertise. Whether you're an academic, SME, startup, or enterprise, EUcalls is your gateway to impactful collaborations. Join forces with the right partners to strengthen proposals, secure funding, and create lasting impact.
Discover how our services can empower your organization to achieve its goals and leverage EU funding to its fullest potential. Join EUcalls today and unlock a world of collaboration and innovation.
Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates on Erasmus+ calls, deadlines, and expert tips to ensure success in your EU funding journey!
