Record number of mobility periods funded in the Erasmus+ spring 2025 call

In total, the grants awarded will enable the organisation of approximately 29,000 mobility periods abroad. Grants were allocated to different education sectors, the youth sector and the sport sector. The numbers of mobility periods increased in all sectors. 

Learner mobility remains strong in general education and vocational education and training

In the general education sector, a total of €10.2 million in grants was awarded to 267 projects for a total of 5,690 mobilities, of which 4,370 were learner mobilities and 1,320 were staff mobilities. The number of mobilities funded increased by 743 compared to 2024. In general education, Erasmus+ mobility funding can be sought by daycare centres, schools, general upper secondary schools, education providers and educational institutions providing basic education in the arts. 

In the vocational education and training (VET) sector, a total of €15.2 million in grants was awarded to 82 projects for a total of 7,064 mobilities, of which 5,529 were learner mobilities and 1,535 were staff mobilities. In VET, the majority of mobilities are student mobilities, which allow students to accumulate competence in foreign workplaces and educational institutions or in skills competitions. 

“The competences, skills and attitudes acquired during mobility periods abroad are of huge importance to individuals later in their lives. While mobility periods are known to be excellent for learning languages and appreciation for different cultures, they also play a major role in teaching skills and attitudes that employers appreciate. These include the ability to adapt to new situations, curiosity and open-mindedness, self-regulation skills and self-confidence, which mobility periods spent abroad have been found to increase almost across the board,” lists Director of the Finnish National Agency for Erasmus+ Mika Saarinen from the Finnish National Agency for Education.

“Another aspect of mobility that is often overlooked is the development of vocational competence through a traineeship or work-based learning abroad. Working abroad can allow students to work in different environments and with different methods and, in many cases, perform completely different tasks than in Finland. Mobility periods abroad therefore have an impact on society as a whole by allowing citizens to develop their competence and international networks. This is also in line with the objectives of the EU’s Union of Skills, which is aimed at raising the level of skills and professional mobility of Europeans," Saarinen continues.

Higher education institutions awarded over €28 million for organising mobility periods

The European mobility for higher education action awarded approximately €24.4 million in grants for a total of 9,566 mobility periods, of which 7,457 were student mobilities and 2,109 were staff mobilities. There was an increase in both the total grant amount (+15%) and in the number of mobilities funded (+18%) compared to 2024.

The number of blended intensive programmes funded also increased by 18%. Their funding increased by EUR 206,400 compared to the previous year.

The Erasmus+ global mobility for higher education action awarded funding to a total of 24 higher education institutions and two mobility consortia. The total grant amount was just under €4.2 million, which is approximately €330,000 more than in the previous year. The awarded grants will fund a total of 969 exchanges between Finland and the partner countries. 

Funding was also awarded for cooperation with a total of 52 countries. Sub-Saharan Africa received the most funding, followed by the Neighbourhood East and the Western Balkans. Seven higher education institutions were awarded funding for student and staff mobility with Ukraine. 

Almost 40% of funded mobility periods in adult education were for disadvantaged learners

In the adult education sector, a total of approximately €3 million in grants was awarded to 24 projects for a total of 1,677 mobility periods. The numbers of applications and mobilities awarded were higher for learner mobilities than for staff mobilities. Of the awarded mobilities, 39% were for disadvantaged participants. 

As regards staff mobilities, the numbers of mobilities awarded were highest in mobilities intended for continuing education, courses and job shadowing. As for learner mobilities, the number of mobilities awarded was highest in group mobilities.

Number of mobilities in the youth sector doubled 

In the youth sector, a total of €4.2 million in grants was awarded to 47 projects for a total of 3,968 mobility periods, more than twice as many as in the spring 2024 call. 

Most of the funded mobility periods are organised by accredited organisations. The numbers of mobilities in youth exchanges and youth worker mobility projects were significantly lower than in previous years, due to the increase in the number of accredited organisations at the end of 2024.

“The number of accredited organisations increased, with many youth work actors gaining Erasmus+ accreditation at the end of last year. The accreditation makes it easier to integrate internationalisation into the work of an organisation and emphasises long-term strategic thinking," says Programme Specialist Paavo Pyykkönen from the Finnish National Agency for Education's Internationalisation Services for Youth, Culture and Sports.

“Most mobility activities in youth are carried out under accreditation, but we still want to see new small actors get involved through the implementation of individual projects.” 

The sport sector continues to support sports clubs

In the sport sector, grants were awarded to 13 projects, with the total grant amount being approximately €205,000. This amount will fund 107 mobility periods, which is 22 more than in the previous year. All the beneficiaries are sports clubs.

“Equality and community cohesion were particularly popular themes among the funded projects. Equality was also one of the main themes in the spring 2024 call," says Programme Manager Terhi Liintola from the Finnish National Agency for Education's Internationalisation Services for Youth, Culture and Sports.

Erasmus+ Sport offers mobility periods for sports staff, giving grassroots coaches, staff and volunteers the opportunity to improve their competence and qualifications and acquire new skills in another organisation, thus developing the capabilities of sports clubs.