The Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) action supports international cooperation projects based on multilateral partnerships between higher education institutions (HEI) and other organisations active in the field of higher education. These projects provide significant opportunities for cooperation, with a special focus on the transfer of good practices to third countries not associated to the Programme by EU Member states and third countries associated to the Programme.
These projects aim to support the relevance, quality, modernisation and responsiveness of higher education in third countries not associated to the Programme.
Within this action, projects are divided into 3 Strands:
- Strand 1: Fostering access to cooperation in higher education
- Strand 2: Partnerships for transformation in higher education
- Strand 3: Structural reform projects
Given that the Republic of Serbia has the status of a third country associated to the Programme, the role of the HEIs from Serbia in CBHE projects is to transfer the knowledge and experience to third countries not associated to the Programme.
Types of activities
Strand 1 projects – Fostering access to cooperation in higher education aim to include less experienced HEIs in CBHE and to serve as a tool for these institutions to reach people with fewer opportunities as well as to reduce the internationalisation gap among HEIs from eligible third countries not associated to the programme, from the same country or Region.
These projects should include activities aiming at enhancing the management/administrative capacity of the targeted HEIs, activities aiming at ensuring high quality and relevant education, as well as activities aiming at increasing the accessibility of the students/staff with fewer opportunities.
Strand 2 projects – Partnerships for transformation in higher education aim to introduce new approaches and initiatives in higher education, based on peer learning and transfer of experience and good practice affecting not only the institutions but also the society at large.
These projects should combine innovation in higher education as well as promoting reform in HEIs. Within these projects it is possible to deal with development, testing and adaptation of innovative curricula, learning methods, tools and materials, introduction of Bologna-type reforms, modernisation of governance, management and functioning of HEIs, strategies and tools for the internationalisation of HEIs, strengthening relevant study programmes, new training schemes and learning methods that align with the Global Gateway strategy and development of other capacities of institutions.
For Strands 1 and 2, proposals must respect pre-defined regional priorities, which are available here.
Strand 3 projects: Structural reform projects support efforts in third countries not associated to the Erasmus+ programme to develop coherent, inclusive and sustainable systems of higher education to meet their socio-economic needs. These projects should support sustainable systemic and structural improvement and innovation at the level of the higher education sector.
Projects under Strand 3 in the regions 5a (Asia), 6 (Central Asia), 8a (Pacific), 9 (Sub-Saharan Africa), 10 (Latin America) and 11 (Caribbean)) must be aligned with the Global Gateway priorities. The priorities relevant to respective countries are available here.
Under this Strand 3, this action will also support a structural reform project aimed at establishing a flagship Master’s programme in European Affairs in Moldova, based on cooperation between Moldovan and other European universities. The objective is for the academic content and degree to be primarily delivered by Moldovan institutions in English language, with substantive contributions from European academic and policy experts through joint curriculum development, guest lectures, and short-term secondments with appropriate diploma arrangements. The project will also strengthen ongoing structural reforms of the Moldovan higher education system, through capacity-building, curriculum innovation, and alignment with the Bologna Process and the European Education Area.
Consortium composition
These projects can include EU Member States, third countries associated to the Programme and third countries not associated to the Programme from an eligible region. The eligible regions covered by this action are Regions 1, 2 (except Belarus), 3, 5a, 6, 7a, 8a, 9, 10 and 11.
Coordinators can be higher education institutions (HEIs) or organisations of HEIs, established in an EU Member State, in a third country associated to the Programme or in eligible third countries not associated to the Programme.
HEIs located in an EU Member State or in a third country associated to the Programme must hold a valid Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE).
Associations, public or private organisations, including their affiliated entities (if any), active in the labour market or in the fields of education, training and youth located in an EU Member State, in a third country associated to the Programme or eligible third countries not associated to the Programme, may also participate, but not as coordinator.
Who can participate?
Proposals must be submitted by a consortium (coordinator and partners), which complies with the following conditions:
For Strands 1 & 2:
In national projects open only for Regions 2 (except Belarus), 3, 5a, 6, 7a, 8a and 9, the following minimum composition must be respected:
- at least 2 EU Member States or third countries associated to the Programme;
- only 1 eligible third country not associated to the Programme
In multi-country projects (open for all eligible regions), the following minimum composition must be respected:
- at least 2 EU Member States or third countries associated to the Programme;
- at least 2 third countries not associated to the Programme;
Institutional coverage:
- at least 1 HEI from each participating EU Member State or third country associated to the Programme;
- at least 2 HEIs from each participating third countries not associated to the Programme.
Institutional coverage applies to all countries participating in the consortium.
The number of applicants (coordinator and full partners) from third countries not associated to the Programme must be equal or higher than the number of applicants from EU Member States and third countries associated to the Programme.
Exception: In third countries not associated to the Programme where the number of HEIs is lower than 5 in the whole country, or in cases where one single institution represents more than 50% of the overall student population of the country, applications counting only one HEI from those countries will be accepted.
For Strand 3:
Proposals must be submitted by a consortium (coordinator) and partners, which complies with the following conditions:
Geographical coverage:
- at least 2 EU Member States or third countries associated to the Programme;
- at least 1 eligible third country not associated to the Programme.
Institutional coverage:
- For all projects (except EU-Moldova Master’s programme in European Affairs)
- at least 1 HEI from each participating EU Member State or third country associated to the Programme;
- at least 2 HEIs from each participating third country not associated to the Programme;
- national competent authority (e.g. Ministry) responsible for higher education in each of the eligible third countries not associated to the Programme.
Institutional coverage applies to all countries participating in the consortium.
- For EU-Moldova Master’s programme in European Affairs
- at least 1 HEI from each participating EU Member State or third country associated to the Programme;
- at least one HEI from Moldova;
- the national competent authority (e.g. ministry) responsible for higher education, European, or foreign affairs in the country.
The number of applicants (coordinator) and full partners from third countries not associated to the Programme must be equal or higher than the number of applicants from EU Member states and third countries associated to the Programme.
Exception: In third countries not associated to the Programme where the number of HEIs is lower than 5 in the whole country, or in cases where one single institution represents more than 50% of the overall student population of the country, applications counting only one HEI from those countries will also be accepted.
Duration of the project
Strand 1 and Strand 2 projects can last 24 or 36 months.
Strand 3 projects can last 36 or 48 months.
Funding rules
Funding amounts per Strand:
- Strand 1: Between EUR 200,000 and EUR 400,000 per project
- Strand 2: Between EUR 400,000 and EUR 800,000 per project
- Strand 3:
- EU-Moldova Master’s programme in European Affairs: up to EUR 2,000,000
- Other Structural Reform projects: Between EUR 600,000 and EUR 1,000,000 per project.
This action follows a lump sum funding model. The budget should be detailed as necessary by beneficiaries and organised in coherent work packages (for example divided into ‘project management’, ‘training’, ‘organisation of events’, ‘mobility preparation and implementation’, ‘communication and dissemination’, ‘quality assurance’, “equipment” etc.). The grant can cover staff costs, travel and subsistence costs, equipment costs and subcontracting as well as other costs (such us dissemination of information, publishing or translation).
EU funding rate is 90% of total project budget.
More details about the Capacity Building in Higher Education projects can be found in the Erasmus+ Programme Guide on the website of the European Commission.