Spring 2024 call for Erasmus+ partnerships for cooperation attracted more applicants and competition than in 2023

Programmes Erasmus+ Erasmus+ for adult education Erasmus+ for vocational education Erasmus+ for higher education Erasmus+ for youth work Erasmus+ for general education EU youth programmes Internationalisation Education development Quality and development

In the spring 2024 call for Erasmus+ partnerships for cooperation, Finnish organisations ended up receiving a total of EUR 9.7 million in grants. The grants will be used to fund the development of education and projects promoting sustainable development and digital skills, among other things. The number of applicants was highest in the higher education sector, while the number of approved projects was highest in the general education sector. Many of the organisations that received grants were first-time applicants.

Three children and their kindergarden instructor are in the forest and look at a mobile device.

Photo: Opetushallitus / Negin Aladdin

Partnerships for cooperation in the general education sector were granted a total of EUR 2.2 million in funding in the spring call. This sum funded a total of 14 projects: seven cooperation partnerships and seven small-scale partnerships. The numbers of applications received for both types of projects were high, so the acceptance rate was relatively low at approximately 22%.

The approved projects emphasise the promotion of sustainable development and people’s relationship with nature through various methods, the development of digital skills and increasing the enjoyment of reading, among other things. One of the projects is targeted at children with disabilities, which is a rare target group for projects.

Funding was granted to a wide variety of organisations, such as daycare centres, schools, higher education institutions, organisations and foundations. Many of the grant recipients are newcomers, meaning that they hadn't received Erasmus+ funding earlier.

In the vocational education and training (VET) sector, nine cooperation partnerships were approved and granted a total of EUR 2,1 million in funding. The total number of applications received was 38. The number of applications received for small-scale partnerships was four, of which two were approved, receiving a total of EUR 120,000 in funding.

The number of applications received for VET partnerships for cooperation – a total of 42 applications – was the highest ever recorded during this programme period; for example, in 2023 the number of applications received for partnerships for cooperation was 36.

In both project types, the funded projects include several projects coordinated by organisations that have not previously coordinated any partnerships for cooperation. The themes of the partnerships for cooperation in the VET sector funded in this call include sustainable development and student wellbeing.

The number of applications received for Erasmus+ for Higher Education partnerships for cooperation was 45, the highest ever recorded, with six projects ultimately granted funding. The approval rate was 13%, and the total amount of funding granted was EUR 2.4 million. All of the approved projects are three-year projects, and they each received EUR 400,000 in funding. The amount of funding granted was fairly small relative to the number of applicants, which means that the competition for funding was fierce in this call. As has usually been the case, universities of applied sciences were more active applicants than universities: of the 45 applications received, 31 were coordinated by universities of applied sciences and 14 were coordinated by universities, and applications were received from a total of 19 different higher education institutions.

One of the most prominent themes in many of the applications and several of the projects that were granted funding was AI. The funded higher education projects cover all four Erasmus+ priorities: environmental responsibility, inclusion and diversity, digital transition, and active citizenship.

The number of applications received for Erasmus+ for Adult Education cooperation partnerships was 16. Funding was ultimately granted to four projects, with each project receiving EUR 250,000, bringing the total funding amount to EUR 1.0 million. The most prominent themes of the applications included the promotion of inclusion, competence development and sustainable development.

The number of applications received for small-scale partnerships was 23. Based on these, funding was granted to five projects, with the total funding amount being EUR 270,000. Of these projects, four were EUR 60,000 projects and one was a EUR 30,000 project.

Most of the applicants were first-time applicants, and associations were the most active applicants. The most prominent themes of the applications included the promotion of inclusion and green values.

The number of applications received for Erasmus+ Youth small-scale partnerships was 12, of which four were approved. The number of applications received for cooperation partnerships was 16, of which four were approved. The total number of applications received was thus 28, of which eight, or 29%, were approved. The total amount of funding granted to partnerships for cooperation in the youth sector was EUR 1,5 million.