Schools at any level from pre-school to secondary can receive funding for projects which include sending their staff members on a teaching assignment or dedicated period of training in another participating country. Both teaching and non-teaching staff involved in school education (e.g. school managers, inspectors, counsellors) can take part. Projects must involve a minimum of two participating organisations (at least one sending and one receiving) from different countries. However, receiving organisations do not have to be identified at the time of application.
Staff can spend from two days to two months–excluding travel time–on their teaching assignment or training. Periods abroad can be staggered throughout the project duration, allowing for many different staff members to participate. Projects can be carried out over one year or two years.
Possible activities include:
Search the School Education Gateway for suitable courses and Mobility opportunities.
The teaching assignment or training period must respond clearly to identified staff development needs, and be framed within the school’s European Development Plan (see ‘how to… apply’ for more detail).
Sending organisations must be schools and the consent of the school leader is required. Individuals cannot apply for funding directly. For full eligibility criteria, see the boxed text ‘Eligible participating organisations’ in the ‘Mobilty project for school education staff’ section of the Erasmus+ Programme Guide. For Irish project examples, see the School Education flyer.
FUNDING
Funding is available for travel to and from the host country; to cover the participants cost of living while abroad; and to support the sending organisation with costs directly linked to coordinating the project. Funding for course fees and for special needs is available where sufficiently justified in the application form. Funding is calculated on a per participant basis and amounts vary depending on the receiving country involved. For full funding details, see ‘What are the funding rules?’ in the ‘Mobility project for school education staff’ section of the Erasmus+ Programme Guide.
BENEFITS
School education staff can gain first-hand knowledge of other European education systems, hone their professional skills and ensure their own continuous professional development.
Schools can identify target areas of interest , such as particular subjects or skill sets, and establish a school-wide plan for training. Schools increase their capacity to engage at international level, and are encouraged to use their project experience to innovate and improve their own practices. The increased staff development opportunities can also increase the school’s appeal for learners and their families.
Strategic Partnerships allow schools to cooperate with each other or with external organisations to run projects directly focused on issues affecting school education, such as teaching standards, citizenship, improvement of basic or subject-specific skills, or the development of a new tool or system to improve school education. Projects are expected to develop, transfer and/or implement innovative practices. Project results must be shared with the wider community to encourage use of these methods and ensure an impact beyond the organisations directly involved.
For most types of partnership, a minimum of three organisations from three different programme countries must be involved. For partnerships that involve a school collaborating directly with another school, or a school authority collaborating directly with another school authority, a minimum of two organisations from two different programme counties must be involved. There is no maximum number of partners, but funding for managing the project is capped at a level equivalent to ten organisations.
Projects can last either two years or three years.
NB: Irish schools and school authorities can participate as either ‘lead’ or ‘partner’ organisations. Only the lead organisation of a partnership applies for funding.
As projects can be large- or small-scale and can include a diverse range of partners, a very wide range of activities are possible. Possible activities include but are not limited to:
Register on the School Education Gateway to search for partnership opportunities.
For more information on who can take part, click here. For full details of eligibility criteria and possible project activities, please see the ‘Strategic Partnerships in the field of education, training and youth’ section of the Erasmus+ Programme Guide. For Irish project examples, see the School Education flyer.
FUNDING
The maximum funding available is €300,000 for two-year projects or €450,000 for three-year projects. All projects can receive funding for project management and implementation; apart from these, eligible expenses depend on the types of activities in the project. See the School Education Summary Guide (coming soon) and ‘What are the funding rules?’ in the ‘Strategic Partnerships in the field of education, training and youth’ section of the Erasmus+ Programme Guide for detail.
In 2016, €1,955,751 has been allocated for School Education KA2 projects. €43,000 of this is reserved for Transnational Cooperation Activities. The remainder is split between KA201 Strategic Partnership projects (60%/€1,147,291) and KA219 School to School Partnership projects (40%/€764,860).
BENEFITS
Strategic Partnerships help participating schools to better address the needs of their staff, learners and stakeholders. They foster the development of more attractive education programmes, and promote new approaches to current challenges. Participation also contributes to the professional development and motivation of the staff group and enables each school to operate successfully in a wider European arena.
Erasmus+ provides funding to Irish schools from pre-school to upper secondary level to carry out a wide range of projects involving staff, learners and the wider school community. Schools can send their staff to other participating countries for teaching assignments or training (under Key Action 1), or cooperate with other organisations to meet common challenges in innovative ways (under Key Action 2). Click the ‘By Key Action’ tab at the top of this page to find out more and read our Practical Guide for School Leaders. For examples of Irish Erasmus+ projects, read the School Education flyer.
Erasmus+ emphasises the organisational, local and national benefits of participation, so while individual staff and learners can take part in the projects, it is the organisation rather than the individual that applies for project funding. To see the project lifecycle and how to apply, click ‘How to’. However, individuals (with the support of their organisation) may apply to attend international meetings called Transnational Cooperation Activities (TCAs) where relevant.
To find courses, mobility opportunities for training and job shadowing, or to look for partners, register on the European Commission’s School Education Gateway.
Note for course or training providers in Ireland: If your organisation wishes to host Erasmus+ participants on teaching or training courses, please note that funding is provided to the sending organisations by their own National Agencies rather than to host organisations by Léargas.
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Rural Study Visit 19 - 24 September - South West Finland. The deadline for applications is 11 August. bit.ly/2ui1EQX pic.twitter.com/6o4oGJDaUA
