Erasmus+ virtual exchanges projects (EVEs) consist of online activities that promote intercultural dialogue and soft skills development. They make it possible for all young people to access high-quality international and intercultural (both formal and non-formal) education without physical mobility. Although virtual debates or education do not fully replace the benefits of physical mobility, participants in virtual exchanges should gain some of the benefits of international educational experiences.
Erasmus+ virtuaalivaihdon ruutunäkymässä ihmisiä laitteidensa kameroiden kuvaamana
Photo: Erasmus+ Virtual Exchanges

Erasmus+ virtual exchanges projects are carried out in small groups, and they are always moderated by a trained facilitator. They should be easy to integrate into youth projects (non-formal education) or higher education studies. Virtual exchange projects may involve participants from both the field of youth and the higher education sectors, although they may also involve participants from only one of the two higher education sectors.

Organisations and participants from both EU Member States and/or third countries associated to the Programme and third countries not associated to the Programme participate in all Erasmus+ virtual exchanges projects.

The objectives of Erasmus+ virtual exchanges programme are to

  • encourage intercultural dialogue between EU Member States as well as European third countries associated to Erasmus+ and third countries not associated to the Programme, and foster tolerance through people-to-people interaction based on digital and youth friendly technologies.
  • promote different types of virtual exchanges to supplement the physical mobility in the Erasmus+ programme so that more young people have access to intercultural and international experiences.
  • develop critical thinking and media literacy especially in the use of the internet and the social media to prevent discrimination, indoctrination, polarisation and violent radicalisation.
  • promote the development of digital and soft skills, including the practice of foreign languages and teamwork, among students, young people and youth workers especially to improve employability.
  • promote citizenship and the shared values of freedom, tolerance and non-discrimination through education.
  • strengthen the youth dimension in the EU’s relationships with third countries.

A bottom-up approach is used in Erasmus+ virtual exchanges. The participating organisations are free to choose the topic(s) on which the project will focus. However, the project application must indicate the expected outcomes of the project in relation to the objectives listed above.

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An Erasmus + virtual exchanges project may be co-ordinated by:

  • public and private organisations in the higher education or youth sector (non-formal education)
  • higher education institutions and their associations and organisations as well as nationally recognised national or international organisations of principals, teachers or students.

The coordinator submits an application on behalf of all organisations participating in the project. The coordinator must be located in an EU Member State or a third country associated to the Programme.

Partner organisations participating in the project may be located either in EU Member States and/or in third countries associated to the Programme and third countries not associated to the Programme (partner countries). The projects should and may only include participants from one eligible partner country region. Eligible partner country regions for this action are the Western Balkans, Neighbourhood East, South-Mediterranean Countries and Sub-Saharan Africa (regions 1, 2, 3 and 9).

 

The participating organisations may be:

  • organisation in the field of youth
  • higher education institutions and their associations and organisations or nationally recognised national or international organisations of principals, teachers or students.
  • vectors of change in education systems (management of higher education institutions, international offices, deans, quality assurance organisations, etc.) or public and private organisations in the higher education or youth sector (non-formal education)

Other organisations may participate in such roles as consortium members, associated partners, subcontractors, third parties making in-kind contributions and similar. Such associated partners may not receive financing from the project.

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Grant applications for Erasmus+  Virtual Exchanges are submitted to the European Commission's Executive Agency. 

Application period

The deadline for applications in the 2024 call is 25 April at 18:00 Finnish time (17:00 CET).
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This action follows a funding model based on a lump sum. The amount of each grant is determined according to the estimated budget for the project proposed by the applicant.

The EU grant per project is a maximum of EUR 500,000 and a maximum EUR 200 per person (i.e., a project awarded EUR 500,000 should reach at least 2,500 participants). 

 

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For more detailed information on applying for Erasmus Virtual Exchanges, the award criteria and the funding rules, see Part B of the Erasmus+ Programme Guide.

The European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) of the European Commission is responsible for providing guidance to applicants in this action. Contacts related to applications for virtual exchanges can be addressed to the Executive Agency’s email address: EACEA-EPLUS-VlRTUAL-EXCHANGES [at] ec.europa.eu.

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