Capacity Building in the Field of Higher Education

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, 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 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.

These projects should include activities that foster national ownership by experimenting and mainstreaming positive and best practices in higher education at national and/or regional level, Contribute to efficient and effective policy making in the field of higher education, Foster regional academic cooperation, Foster the introduction of funding mechanisms, Enhance the attractiveness of the teaching profession by introducing different measures.

Strenghtening the education digital environment for Ukraine

Under this Strand 3, this action will also support a Structural reform project aimed at the creation of an open education digital environment to offer quality higher education for students enrolled in Ukrainian HEI, in particular for those fleeing from Ukraine or internally displaced students – as well as educational opportunities for the wide Ukrainian community abroad – based on cooperation between Ukrainian and other European universities. Such a digital environment would also support exchanges and cooperation with academic staff.

The expected goal of this project is to support the development of a high-performing digital education ecosystem of Ukrainian universities, thus guaranteeing the continuation of their activities, support the digitalisation of teaching and learning methods and the provision of infrastructure required for online and inclusive learning, also in line with the general goals of the Digital Education Action Plan 2021-2027.

Consortium composition

Eligible third countries not associated to the Programme for this action: All third countries not associated to the Programme in Regions 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11. Exception: organisations from Belarus (Region 2) and the Russian Federation (Region 4) are not eligible to participate in this action.

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.

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.

For Strands 1 & 2:

The applicants (coordinator) and partners must be legal entities:

  • 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.

For Strand 3

Strenghtening the education digital environment for Ukraine:

Proposals must be submitted by a consortium (coordinator and partners), which
complies with the following conditions:

Geographical coverage:

  • Territory of Ukraine as recognised by international law;
  • at least 1 EU Member State or third country associated to the Programme

Institutional coverage:

  • at least 1 HEI from each participating country national competent authority (e.g.Ministry) responsible for higher education in Ukraine

Other Structural Reform Projects:

The applicants (coordinators) and partners must be legal entities:

  • higher education institutions (HEIs), organisations of HEIs or recognised national or international rector, teacher or student organisations;
  • established in an EU Member State, in a third country associated to the Programme or in eligible third countries not associated to the Programme.
  • organisations from Syria are not eligible to participate in this Strand.

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).

Who can participate?

Proposals must be submitted by a consortium (coordinator and partners), which complies with the following conditions:

For Strands 1 & 2:

Proposals must be submitted by a consortium (coordinator and partners),
which complies with the following conditions:

  • at least 2 EU Member States or third countries associated to the Programme;
  • at least 1 eligible third country not associated to the Programme
  • at least 2 eligible third countries not associated to the Programme for Regions 1,10 and 11.
  • at least one third country not associated to the Programme from Region 10 and another from Region 11 for projects involving both Regions

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:

  • 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.

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:
      • Strengthening the education digital environment for Ukraine: up to EUR 5,000,000
      • 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).

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.

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