Key action 1

This action supports vocational education and training providers (VET) and other organizations active in the field of VET who want to organize learning mobility activities for students and VET staff. A wide range of activities are supported, including on-the-job and staff development courses, internships and long-term internships (ErasmusPro), invited experts, and other activities as explained below.

Participating organizations should actively promote inclusion and diversity, environmental sustainability, and digital education through their activities: by using the specific funding opportunities provided by the Program for these purposes, raising awareness among their participants, sharing best practices, and selecting an appropriate design for their activities.

VET providers and other organizations active in vocational education and training can apply for funding in two ways:

  • Short-term student and staff mobility projects enable applicant organizations to organize various mobility activities from six to eighteen months. Short-term projects are the best choice for organizations trying out Erasmus+ for the first time, or for those who want to organize only a limited number of activities.

  • Accredited student and staff mobility projects are open only to organizations holding Erasmus accreditation in the field of vocational education and training. This special funding direction allows accredited organizations to receive regular funding for mobility activities that contribute to the gradual implementation of their Erasmus Plan.

In addition, organizations can join the Programme without applying with/how:

  • Joining an existing Erasmus+ Mobility consortium led by an accredited consortium coordinator in their country, which accepts new members to their consortium.

  • Host participants from another country: any organization can host students or staff coming from a partner organization abroad. Becoming a hosting organization is a valuable experience and a good way to learn more about the Programme before you sign up.


ACTIVITIES

Employee/staff mobility (eligible participants including teachers, trainers, and all other non-teaching experts and staff working in initial vocational education and training (iVET) and continuing vocational education and training (cVET)

- Job shadowing (2 to 60 days)
- Teaching or training assignments (2 to 365 days)
- Courses and training (2 to 30 days, maximum 10 days of course fees per participant)

Student mobility (eligible participants include students and interns in initial vocational education and training (iVET) and continuing vocational education and training (cVET). Participants must be enrolled in the appropriate iVET or cVET program)

- Participation in VET skills competitions (1 to 10 days)
- Short-term learning mobility of VET students (10 to 89 days)
- Long-term learning mobility of VET students (Erasmus Pro) (90 to 365 days)

Other supported activities:

- Invited experts (2 to 60 days)
- Hosting teachers and educators in training (10 to 365 days)
- Preparatory visits

STUDY IN EUROPE

Study in Europe is a project of the European Commission with the following goals:

- Promotion of European higher education institutions outside Europe;
- To help international students get acquainted with the opportunities to study in Europe;
- Connecting European higher education institutions with international students and partners;
The Study in Europe project covers all higher education institutions from 34 Erasmus+ Programme Countries, including the Republic of North Macedonia.

The coordinator for the project Study in Europe for the Republic of North Macedonia is the National Agency for European Educational Programs and Mobility.

Erasmus+, Higher Education Between Programme States KA131

Higher education between programme countries (EU countries, EFTA, Republic of Serbia, Republic of Turkey, and Republic of North Macedonia) includes the following activities:

1. Student Studies and Student Internships
All levels of higher education (undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral)

2. Teaching Engagements and Training for administrative staff
Teaching and administrative staff

3. Short intensive courses
Courses with a physical presence and mandatory virtual component

Erasmus+, Higher education between program (34 programme countries) and partner countries (Western Balkans except the Republic of Serbia and all other countries in the world) KA171

Students, professors, and administrative staff of higher education institutions can take part in the above activity/action.

The activities refer to student mobility, student internships, teaching engagements, and training for administrative staff.

Important:

The selection of students, professors, and administrative staff for participation in the Erasmus + program (KA131 and KA171) is performed by domestic higher education institutions by the following criteria:
- Average grades
- Recommendations from professors
- Activity of the University
- Language competencies and
- Motivational letter

This action supports providers and other organizations active in the field of adult education who want to organize mobility for the education of adult students and educational staff.

A wide range of activities is supported, including job shadowing and professional development courses, individual and group mobility for adult students with fewer opportunities with special emphasis on low-skilled adult learners, expert invitation, etc.

The organizations that will take part in the program need, through their activities, to actively promote inclusion and diversity, environmental sustainability, and digital education. The promotion will be realized through the specific financing opportunities provided by the Programme intended for these purposes, by raising the awareness of the participants, sharing good practices, and choosing an appropriate plan of activities.

Objectives of the action:
  • Strengthening the European dimension of teaching and learning;
  • Promoting the values of inclusion and diversity, tolerance and democratic participation;
  • Supporting the development of professional networks across Europe;
  • Improving the quality of formal, informal, and non-formal adult education in Europe including basic skills (literacy, digital skills) and other life skills;
  • Capacity building of adult education providers to run high-quality projects;
  • Increasing the participation of adult students from the different socio-economic environments in adult education, with special emphasis on the participation of organizations working with people with disabilities and new users in the programme.

Participation in Erasmus+

Organizations active in the field of adult education can be involved in the Programme in two ways:
  • Short-term projects for the mobility of students and staff - offer the opportunity for organizations to organize various activities over 6-18 months. Short-term projects are the best choice for organizations entering the Erasmus + program for the first time or for those who want to organize a limited number of activities.
  • Accredited student and staff mobility projects are open to applications only to organizations holding Erasmus accreditation in the field of adult education. This special funding direction allows accredited organizations to receive regular funding for mobility activities that contribute to the gradual implementation of their Erasmus Plan.

Youth-supported activities provide non-formal and informal learning opportunities for young people and youth workers.

Informal and informal learning enables young people to acquire basic competencies that contribute to their personal and socio-educational development and encourage their active participation in society, which will improve their employment.

Through their participation in activities, youth workers develop skills relevant to their professional development, encouraging new organizational practices and raising the quality of youth work in general.

The learning activities through the Field of Youth serve a significant positive impact on the youth, the organizations involved, the communities where the activity will take place, the Field of Youth, and the European Economic and Social Sector. The following activities are supported:

  • Mobility of young people - Youth exchanges
  • Mobility projects for youth workers
  • Youth participation activities
  • DiscoverEU Inclusion Action

There are two ways to apply for funding:

Standard projects give applicants (organizations and informal youth groups) the opportunity to carry out one or more youth activities over three to twenty-four months. Standard projects are the best choice for organizations trying out Erasmus+ for the first time, for those who want to organize a project for one and/or A. limited number of activities.

Accredited projects are open only to organizations that have Erasmus accreditation in the field of youth. This special funding direction enables accredited organizations to receive regular funding for mobility activities that contribute to the gradual implementation of their accredited plan.

Organizations wishing to organize regular mobility activities can apply for Erasmus accreditation in the youth field.

In addition, organizations and informal youth groups can join the Program without applying by joining a project as a partner.

Applicants must have an Organization Identification Number (OID) number to be eligible for the Erasmus + program. Applicants to register for an OID number should do so through the organization registration system;
https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/erasmus-esc/organisation-registration/screen/home

Erasmus accreditations are a tool for organizations wishing to open up to cross-border exchange and cooperation, youth participation, and capacity building to support youth workers and youth work organizations through mobile learning activities. Erasmus Youth Accreditation facilitates the mobility of youth learning by providing accredited organizations with a simpler and more flexible alternative format for conducting activities.

In the field of youth, this action has the following objectives:

  • Strengthen personal and professional development of young people through non-formal and informal learning mobility activities;
  • Foster the empowerment of young people, their active citizenship, and participation in democratic life;
  • Foster quality development of youth work at local, regional, national, European, and international levels by building the capacity of organizations active in the youth field and supporting the professional development of youth workers;
  • Promote inclusion and diversity, intercultural dialogue, and the values of solidarity, equal opportunities, and human rights among young people in Europe.

Applicant organizations will be required to set their long-term goals and plan for activities to be supported with Erasmus + funds, expected benefits, and their approach to project management. The Erasmus Youth Accreditation Award confirms that the applicant has appropriate and effective processes and measures to implement high-quality learning mobility activities as planned and to make use of them in the field of youth.

Organizations can apply for accreditation in the field of youth on an ongoing basis, successful applicants for Erasmus Accreditation in the field of youth will receive an easier access to opportunities for key action 1 in the field of youth.

Erasmus Accreditation is awarded for the period from 2021 to 2027, which is subject to regular monitoring and continues to comply with the requirements and guidelines for accreditation issued by the National Supervising Agency. To be accredited under the current call, applications must be submitted by December 31, 2021, at the latest.

HOW DO ACCESS OPPORTUNITIES OF MOBILITY WITH ERASMUS ACCREDITATION?

Eligible applicants: organizations that have valid Youth Accreditation.

Eligible activities:
  • Youth exchange;
  • Activities for professional development of youth workers.

Additionally, the following activities can be implemented:
  • Preparatory visits.

OBJECTIVES OF THE ACTION

This action supports the professional development of youth workers and thus the development of quality youth work at local, regional, national, European, and international levels, through informal and informative experiences in activities. The action contributes to the goals of the EU Youth Strategy 2019-2027, especially to the European Youth Work Agenda for quality, innovation, and recognition of youth work.

More specifically, Mobility projects for youth workers aim to:

  • Provide non-formal and informal learning opportunities for educational and professional development of youth workers, contributing to high-quality individual practice as well as to the evolution of youth work organizations and systems;
  • Build a community of youth workers that can support the quality of projects and activities for young people in EU programmes and beyond.
  • Develop local youth work practices and contribute to capacity building for quality youth work of the participants and their organization, having a clear impact on the participating youth workers' regular work with young people.

OBJECTIVES OF THE ACTION

Erasmus supports the non-formal learning mobility of young people in the form of Youth Exchanges, to engage and empower young people to become active citizens, connect them to the European project as well as help them acquire and develop competencies for life and their professional future.

More specifically, Youth Exchanges aim to:

  • Foster intercultural dialogue and learning and feeling of being European;
  • Develop skills and attitudes of young people;
  • Strengthen European values and break down prejudices and stereotypes;
  • Raise awareness about socially relevant topics and thus stimulate engagement in society and active participation.
The Action is open to all young people, with a special focus on those with fewer opportunities.

European Youth Goals

The aim of the 6th cycle of the EU Youth Dialogue - Youth in Europe: What’s next? which took place in 2017/2018 – was to collect the voices of young people and contribute together to creating the EU Youth Strategy 2019-2027. As a result, eleven European Youth Goals were developed. These goals reflect the views of European youth and represent the vision of those active in the EU Youth Dialogue:

  1. Connecting EU with Youth
  2. Equality of All Genders
  3. Inclusive Societies
  4. Information & Constructive Dialogue
  5. Mental Health & Wellbeing
  6. Moving Rural Youth Forward
  7. Quality Employment for All
  8. Quality Learning
  9. Space and Participation for All
  10. Sustainable Green Europe
  11. Youth Organisations & European Programmes

The EU Youth Strategy should contribute to realizing this vision of young people by mobilizing EU level policy instruments as well as actions at the national, regional, and local levels by all stakeholders.

Activities outside formal education and training that encourage, foster, and facilitate young people’s participation in Europe’s democratic life at local, regional, national, and European levels.

Objectives of the Action

Erasmus+ supports youth-driven local, national, and transnational participation projects run by informal groups of young people and/or youth organizations encouraging youth participation in Europe's democratic life and following one or more of the following objectives:

  • Provide young people with opportunities to engage and learn to participate in civic society (providing pathways of engagement for young people in their daily lives but also in democratic life, aiming for a meaningful civic, economic, social, cultural, and political participation of young people from all backgrounds, with special focus on those with fewer opportunities);
  • Raise young people's awareness about European common values and fundamental rights and contribute to the European integration process, including through contribution to the achievement of one or more of the EU Youth Goals;
  • Develop young people’s digital competencies and media literacy (in particular critical thinking and the ability to assess and work with information) to increase young people’s resilience to disinformation, fake news, and propaganda, as well as their capacity to participate in democratic life;
  • Bring together young people and decision-makers at local, regional, national, and transnational levels and/or contribute to the EU Youth Dialogue.

Youth participation activities aim to enable young people to experience exchange, cooperation, and cultural and civic action. Supported activities should help participants strengthen their personal, social, and digital competencies and become active European citizens.

This action supports the use of alternative, innovative, smart, and digital forms of youth participation.