KA 2: Strategic partnerships

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

Strategic Partnerships encompass transnational projects of organisations in Programme Countries, aiming to develop and share innovative practices and promote cooperation, peer learning, and exchanges of experiences in the fields of education, training, and youth. Strategic partnerships addresses horizontal priorities as well as specific priorities (more info on priorities is available in the Programme Guide) in:

■ Higher education

■ Vocational education and training

■ School education

■ Adult education, and

■ Youth.

Two types of Strategic Partnership exists, providing opportunities for pupils, students, learners, and staff to learn, be trained, or to teach abroad, taking into account that these transnational teaching, training and learning activities contribute to the achievement of the project's objectives:

■ supporting innovation

■ supporting the exchange of good practices.

Different public, private and non-governmental organisations can implement Strategic Partnership projects, including following activities:

■ Strengthening cooperation and networking between organisations,

■ Promoting the development, testing, and implementation of innovative practices,

■ Promoting the recognition and validation of knowledge, skills, and competences,

■ Promoting cooperation between regional authorities to develop new systems for education, training, and youth,

■ Supporting learners with disabilities and special needs and ease their transition to the labour market,

■ Supporting education and training professionals to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion in learning,

■ Promoting integration of newly arrived migrants and raising awareness about the refugee crisis in Europe

■ Promoting entrepreneurship and active citizenship among young people.

Applications witjin Strategic Partnership action should be led by an organisation established in a Programme Country and must generally involve at least three organisations from different Programme Countries, and may also include organisations from Partner Countries, provided that they bring essential added value to the project. Higher Education Institutions established in Programme Countries must also hold a valid Erasmus Charter for Higher Education.

Exception may exists with partnerships in the field of school education and youth may involve at least two organisations from different Programme Countries. Partnerships in these fields can also choose to apply for specific formats of "School Exchange Partnerships" and "Transnational Youth Initiatives". A simpler application process and a slightly modified set of rules apply for these special formats.

Strategic Partnerships projects can have different durations, depending on the field:

■ Higher education: between 24 and 36 months

■ Adult education, school education and vocational education and training: between 12 and 36 months

■ Youth: between 6 and 36 months

Application grants for projects are usually are around € 150,000 per year, while for the specific format "School Exchange Partnerships" are around € 99,000 per year.

Applications should be submitted to the National Agency in the Programme Country where the applicant organisation is established.

Useful links:

■ Brochure on funding for education, training, and youth projects.

■ Erasmus+ Programme Guide

■ Erasmus+ Programme Portal of European Commission.

■ full 2014 compendium

■ higher education 2014 compendium

■ vocational education 2014 compendium

■ school education 2014 compendium

■ adult learning 2014 compendium

■ youth 2014 compendium

■ full 2015 compendium