Develop adult education in European cooperation!
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Photo: Satu Haavisto

The Erasmus+ programme enables you to develop adult education in European cooperation. Participation brings many benefits to you and your organisation:

  • international cooperation develops the language skills of staff, including volunteers, and their capabilities to operate in an international environment
  • experiences of encountering different cultures and new working methods increase the work motivation of adult educators
  • the projects enhance the exchange of best practices in adult education and promote networking between different countries.

Mobility projects (KA104)

Mobility projects improve the professional skills of staff engaged in adult learning. You can participate in a course, in job shadowing or in a teaching period abroad. All grants that can be applied for in the Erasmus+ programme have been grouped under Key Actions. Mobility projects have been placed under Key Action 1 (KA1): learning mobility of individuals.

Funding for the project is applied for to the Finnish National Agency for Education.

Strategic partnership projects (KA204)

In a strategic partnership project, your organisation can develop adult education in European cooperation. Strategic partnership projects have been placed under Key Action 2 (KA2). Funding for the project is applied for to the Finnish National Agency for Education.

Your organisation’s cooperation project may be a small project involving a few partners, focusing on exchanging good practices. It may also be a more extensive project developing concrete products such as joint study units and teaching materials.

Depending on the nature and objectives of the project, both adult education staff and adult students can participate in the projects.

A consortium of partners has at least 3 organisations from 3 Programme Countries. Cooperation beyond the Programme Countries is possible if this can be justified with the project's objectives or if it brings necessary expertise to the project. The duration of the projects is 12-36 months.

Check which countries participate in the Erasmus+ programme and start to plan the project!

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Funding can be applied for by organisations engaged in adult learning.  

  • adult education institutions such as adult education centres, folk high schools and general upper secondary schools for adults
  • units providing adult education in higher education, e.g. continuing education centres, language centres and open universities
  • companies providing adult education, e.g. language schools
  • non-profit organisations, associations, foundations   
  • cultural organisations, libraries, museums
  • local, regional and national authorities
  • parties providing guidance and advice to adults.

You cannot apply for funding to the Erasmus+ programme as a private individual as funding must always be applied for through an organisation.

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The application period for Erasmus+ adult education projects is once a year. The applicant organisation can submit only one application in each round of selection. However, an organisation can additionally serve as a coordinator or a partner in a network. We organise regular information briefings and provide advice for applying. You will find the forthcoming events in our events calendar.

You should start brainstorming and planning the project well in advance. For example, destinations for visits and courses can be searched through EPALE, the Electronic Platform for Adult Learning in Europe. You may also find a high-quality destination based on tips from colleagues and international networks in your field.

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The aims of the Erasmus+ programme in the adult education sector are to

  • improve the quality of adult education and the competence of staff
  • support the internationalisation of organisations engaged in adult learning
  • promote the teaching and learning of foreign languages
  • help to understand the linguistic and cultural diversity of Europe
  • increase the use of information and communications technology in education
  • support cross-border recognition and identification of prior learning and developing relevant tools
  • increase the competence of adults and develop adults’ basic skills, such as literacy and IT skills
  • encourage participation in adult education
  • develop guidance and advisory services and provide education and training opportunities tailored for individual needs
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You may contact us at erasmus.aikuiskoulutus(at)oph.fi.

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