Priorities of the Erasmus+ Programme from the perspective of higher education institutions

The aim has been to make participation in the Erasmus+ Programme as easy as possible for everyone. The principle is to guarantee equal and equitable opportunities to all participants. 

In exchange studies, this means making exchange periods possible especially for those students for whom participating would otherwise be more difficult. 

From the point of view of the inclusion principle, it is important to develop the internal selection procedures of HEIs to make them equal. Applicants’ merits and motivation must be holistically taken into account.

HEIs are encouraged to develop built-in mobility periods, or so-called mobility windows, in their degree programmes to enable students of all fields to participate in exchange studies. 

For example, shorter blended mobility periods combining virtual learning or remote work and physical short-term mobility provide new kinds of opportunities to students for whom the traditional long mobility periods are not possible.

In the Erasmus+ programme, the mobility of participants with fewer opportunities is supported with a fixed top-up grant and with inclusion support, which must be applied for separately and can be used to cover the extra costs resulting from the mobility period. Inclusion support also includes additional support granted to HEIs or consortiums on the basis of the number of participants receiving inclusion support.

In the project activities under the Erasmus+ Programme, inclusion should be visible in both the objectives and the operating practices of the projects that are applied for. Specific financial support can also be granted to projects for facilitating the participation of persons with fewer opportunities in all activities of the project. Inclusion and diversity and the participation of newcomer organisations in the consortium of partners has also been included in the evaluation criteria for applications for cooperation partnerships.

According to the conditions of the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education, HEIs must promote environmentally responsible operating practices in all their activities related to the Erasmus+ Programme. For example, this means that environmentally friendly and green modes of transport are favoured in connection with the exchanges, environmental perspectives are considered when events, conferences and meetings related to the Erasmus+ Programme are organised, and paper-based processes are replaced with electronic ones. HEIs must also increase mobile learners’ awareness of environmental matters and how they can decrease the carbon and environmental footprint of their exchange while abroad and so promote more sustainable learner and staff mobility.

When the person going on exchange uses a low-emissions means of transport, such as train, bus or car-pooling, they can receive a green travel grant, which is a higher amount of travel support, or a fixed top-up grant and subsistence support for more travel days. Green travel grants are also available for project activities.

Environmental responsibility should also be visible in project activities in both the objectives and the implementation of the projects that are applied for. For example, teaching content that improves students’ competence in the theme can be developed and new, environmentally friendlier operating practices can be tested in the projects.