Erasmus+ is the EU’s programme for education, training, youth, and sport and is key to how our clients have been able to access funding to attend out professional development courses for teachers, educators, and trainers. We have been waiting on the new programme for 2021 – 2027 for months now, but currently it is still a mystery! We can speculate, of course, but we can’t know for sure what the new programme will contain or how long we will have to prepare applications in advance of the first deadline. And just to add to the list of unknowns, we don’t even know what the new application form will be like! Shorter or longer? Simpler or more complicated? Who knows!
I spoke to many of our clients and even people working in the EU agencies. We are all equally confused and frustrated!
However, never ones to give up too easily, we did a bit more digging at M-Powered and we managed to chip away at the mystery a little and compile what the EU has said can be expected from the new programme.
So, what do we know?
The launch of the new Erasmus+ programme is scheduled for January 2021, so if there are no delays it should be available THIS WEEK!
The three key actions will remain the same as before, however, there are some significant changes. The key actions will be:
KA1 Mobility of learners and staff: In our brand-new course catalogues (available in English and Polish), you can find out more about courses that you can attend for FREE with Erasmus+ support.
KA2 Partnerships for cooperation and exchange of practices
KA3 Support for policy development and cooperation
We also know that Erasmus accreditation, a form of “membership” in KA1, will play a significant role in the new programme. Accredited organisations will be able to apply for funding each year, use a streamlined application form, “fast track” the assessment process, and apply for higher amounts and more participants than nonaccredited organisations.
Priorities of the Erasmus+ programme will be:
- Inclusion and diversity
- Digital transformations
- Participation in democratic life
- Environmental sustainability and climate goals
KA1 projects
There will be three different ways to participate Key Action 1:
- Short-term projects
- With Erasmus accreditation
- Without an application (joining a mobility consortium or hosting Erasmus participants)
KA2 projects
Short-term projects will be a new option and will serve as an entry point for those participating in projects for the first time, or as an option for organisations interested in occasional small-scale participation. There may be two calls a year for these types of projects.
Here you can see a proposed path for applying for KA2 projects:
How to prepare for the new Erasmus+
Although none of us have seen the new application forms,it’s safe to assume that some parts of the forms will be similar to what we’ve seen in the Accreditation Project Application. So, while you’re waiting for the new programme, you could start analysing the needs of your organisation, beneficiaries, and staff. Try to answer the questions posed below as a starting point. Remember, when the programme comes out, focus on the priorities outlined. Is there overlap with your needs and priorities? If there’s not, there is little chance the EU will fund it.
Brainstorming with your team and stakeholders
This is a good time to link in with people who either work in your organisation or are your beneficiaries. Ideally, the workshop should include representatives from all target groups: staff (all teams and departments), learners, beneficiaries, etc. Each group should be represented. The number of participants depends on your organisation’s size. For best results, there should be a minimum of six participants and a maximum of twenty.
Explain that this session will be about creativity, ambitions, and the free and open sharing of ideas. Forget about providing detail and processes and focus on an overall vision for your organisation’s future, and how this can be facilitated through the Erasmus+ programme. Think about each target group (staff, learners, beneficiaries, etc).
- What do they need?
- What does your overall sector need?
- What are the emerging trends and predictions for the future of your work?
Facilitate a group work session to formulate objectives. They should be specific and realistic but ambitious. Example objectives:
In 3 years, 90% of our teachers can design their curriculums around the basics of the PBL methodology.
In 3 years, 40% of our students will have the chance to participate in international internships through the Erasmus+ programme.
In 3 years, 50% of our staff can use creative problem-solving methodologies in their work.
We wish you all the best with your Erasmus+ preparation! We’ll be in touch shortly, hopefully with more news about our favourite European programme!
