Erasmus+ project funding strengthened international cooperation at Finnish higher education institutions in 2014–2020

Programmes Higher education Erasmus+ Erasmus+ for higher education Internationalisation Education development

During the 2014–2020 programme period of the Erasmus+ programme, Finnish higher education institutions received funding for a total of 521 partnership and education development projects. This funding was used to develop the quality of education, support the creation of new innovations and promote the digitalisation of education and training, among other things.

Two women are looking at a computer screen in a classroom.

Photo: Negin Aladdin Photography

The Erasmus+ programme enables educational institutions and organisations to engage in international cooperation in education. Through Erasmus+ projects, the programme offers funding to higher education institutions for partnerships and the development of education. This funding has contributed significantly to the internationalisation of higher education institutions and the development of the quality of education in Europe.

During the 2014–2020 programme period, there were six types of projects under Erasmus+ that provided support for education development projects of different types and sizes.

Infographic detailing Finnish participation in Erasmus+ projects in 2014–2020. Between 2014 and 2020, the Erasmus+ programme funded strategic partnerships managed by National Agencies for Erasmus+ and centralised actions managed by the EACEA in Brussels. During this period, Finnish higher education institutions participated in a total of 521 Erasmus+ projects, 92 of which had a Finnish coordinator. The number of different Finnish higher education institutions that served as project coordinators was 25.

Erasmus+ project funding has provided Finnish higher education institutions with opportunities to develop their education with European and international partners. This development has involved measures such as applying teaching practices found to be effective elsewhere, developing new online learning environments or creating joint study units.

Erasmus+ partnerships have also allowed the personnel of higher education institutions to develop their competence and expand their professional networks.

International projects coordinated by 25 Finnish higher education institutions

During the 2014–2020 programme period, Finnish higher education institutions participated in a total of 430 Erasmus+ projects aimed at developing higher education through European and international cooperation.

Finnish organisations participated in Erasmus+ projects in various roles, serving as both partners and coordinators.

International cooperation requires careful preparation and constant communication, in the success of which the coordinator organisation plays a key role. The project coordinator is responsible for project administration, timetables and smooth cooperation and ensures that the objectives of the project are met.

It is indicative of the proactive approach of Finnish organisations that a total of 25 Finnish higher education institutions coordinated one or more higher education projects in 2014–2020. Of these 25 Finnish higher education institutions, 10 served as coordinators of both centralised actions and strategic partnerships.

Strategic partnerships supporting international cooperation and innovation

Erasmus+ strategic partnerships are managed by National Agencies. In Finland, the National Agency for Erasmus+ is the Finnish National Agency for Education. Strategic partnerships focus on supporting the internationalisation and quality of higher education. The partnerships offer opportunities to renew higher education and develop innovative outcomes.

During the 2014–2020 programme period, there were a total of eight calls for proposals for Erasmus+ strategic partnerships, with one of these being an additional call that was organised as part of measures to support recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, focusing on innovative practices in the digital age. Through these calls, funding was granted to a total of 41 Finnish higher education projects coordinated by 19 different higher education institutions. The total amount of funding granted was EUR 12.4 million.

Finnish higher education institutions also participate in higher education projects funded from other countries, as a result of which Finnish higher education institutions have participated in a total of 290 projects. In addition to this, Finnish higher education institutions have also been actively involved in the partnerships of other education sectors and youth work in both Finland and other countries.

In addition to higher education institutions, there have also been other Finnish organisations involved in strategic partnerships, such as associations, companies, public sector organisations, research institutes and foundations. The projects with Finnish coordinators have included the most partners from Spain, Germany and the United Kingdom. The projects have focused on a comprehensive range of sectors, ranging from the healthcare and social welfare sector to technology, the humanities and tourism.

The strategic partnerships have developed various tools, learning modules and curricula, which have often been multidisciplinary and responded to the current competence needs of the labour market and society. The partnerships also promote the functioning and unity of the European Higher Education Area. The funded partnerships have achieved their objectives well and produced high-quality outputs for wider utilisation as well.

During the programme period, the number of partnerships increased significantly from the two partnerships funded in 2014 to the 21 partnerships funded in 2020. This reflects the strong interest in the development of higher education and international cooperation as well as the flexibility of the partnership format, which enabled existing projects to continue and new projects to launch even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Finnish higher education institutions actively applied for project funding from Brussels

Centralised actions, the name of which refers to the fact that they are centrally managed, are education and training development projects managed by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). The Finnish National Agency for Education serves as Finland's National Agency for Erasmus+ and provides support, advice and networking opportunities for Finnish organisations.

Centralised actions enable the establishment of large multinational consortia, in which higher education institutions, businesses and other organisations work together to achieve educational and innovative objectives.

During the 2014–2020 programme period, Erasmus+ funding was available for five centralised actions:

Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters, meaning joint degree programmes organised by consortia of higher education institutions that included studies in several different countries.
Knowledge Alliances, in which higher education institutions and companies work together to develop higher education and support the emergence of new innovations.
Capacity Building projects supporting the renewal of higher education in non-EU partner countries.
European Universities that improve the quality and competitiveness of European higher education and promote European values and identity.
Jean Monnet Actions for promoting teaching and research concerning the European Union worldwide.

Finnish higher education institutions’ knowledge of the centralised actions and related know-how increased over the course of the 2014–2020 programme period. The results of this increase were reflected in the form of increased Finnish success and an increase in the number of projects.

Over the course of seven years, Finnish organisations participated in a total of 190 higher education centralised actions, 51 of which were coordinated by a Finnish organisation. The Finnish organisations participating in these projects consisted of a total of 29 higher education institutions, 23 companies and 9 other actors, such as associations, foundations or research institutes.

Between 2014 and 2020, the participation of Finnish organisations was highest in capacity-building projects, which became the most successful type of centralised action during the programme period. Capacity-building projects also reflect the continuum and links between programme periods. The effective participation of Finnish higher education institutions during the 2014–2020 programme period also contributed to them becoming coordinators of capacity-building projects in the current 2021–2027 programme period.

The second-most popular centralised actions during the 2014–2020 programme period were Knowledge Alliances and Erasmus Mundus Masters. Finnish participation in these actions spiked towards the end of the programme period.

At the same time, funding for Jean Monnet Actions was utilised more evenly throughout the programme period. There were Finnish participants in Jean Monnet Actions almost every year, but the numbers remained modest.

The programme period also saw the establishment of a new action, as calls for the European Commission’s flagship project, the European Universities action, started in 2019. The calls attracted widespread interest, with Finnish higher education institutions participating and finding success in them as part of European consortia. By the end of the programme period, 11 Finnish higher education institutions had participated in the European Universities network.

Lessons learned during the past period on the way to the next

The continuity of the Erasmus+ programme enables higher education institutions to develop and strengthen the quality and internationalisation of education over the long term. The programme and its actions develop in line with the objectives set by the EU for higher education and competitiveness.

The new Erasmus+ programme period 2021–2027 introduced an approach based on priorities, which emphasises digitalisation, inclusion, environmental themes, common values, civic engagement and participation. These priorities play a key role in steering future projects and cooperation.

What is the Erasmus+ programme?

Funded by the European Commission, the Erasmus+ programme is one of the most important EU funding programmes in the fields of education, youth and sport.

The programme enables educational institutions and organisations to engage in international cooperation in the area of education. At the same time, it supports the initiatives of the European Commission, such as the European strategy for universities, which is aimed at strengthening the adaptability of higher education institutions and Europe's global role.

The Finnish National Agency for Education serves as Finland’s National Agency for Erasmus+, providing support and guidance to Finnish applicants.

The programme has operated over seven-year programme periods, with the previous period covering 2014 to 2020 and the new period that began in 2021 continuing until 2027.

The funding source for the programme is the EU budget, which consists of contributions made by Member States, among other things. During the 2014–2020 programme period, the Erasmus+ programme had a budget of approximately EUR 14.7 billion, a part of which was specifically allocated to promoting the internationalisation of higher education.