Erasmus + Cooperations in School Education
Through cooperation projects school education institutions can work together to tackle common challenges and help shape the European Education Area. With an association with Erasmus+, educational institutions in Switzerland would gain equal access to all Erasmus+ funding opportunities as institutions in other Erasmus+ programme countries. On this page we give an overview of the changes an Erasmus+ association would bring for cooperations, compared to the current Swiss Programme for Erasmus+.
School education institutions in Switzerland can already take part in Erasmus+ cooperations under certain conditions under the current Swiss Programme for Erasmus+. However, if Switzerland were to become associated with Erasmus+, they could participate in Erasmus+ cooperations as equal full partners under the same conditions as all other educational institutions in Erasmus+ programme countries. With an association of Switzerland with Erasmus+, educational institutions in Switzerland would have access to additional funding and to more programme formats in the area of cooperations than under the current Swiss Programme for Erasmus+.
Changes compared to the Swiss Programme for Erasmus+
In case Switzerland is to be associated with the European education programme Erasmus+ from 2027 onward, the following changes would come into effect:
- Educational institutions would have access to all Erasmus+ actions / programme formats for which the type of institution is eligible to participate, i.e. institutions in Switzerland would be on an equal footing with institutions from EU Member States and other Erasmus+ programme countries.
- Institutions in Switzerland in the field of school education (school, local education authority, universities of teacher education, or other organisations active in the school sector) would be allowed to coordinate, submit, and manage cooperation projects, thus acting as project coordinators.
- As a project partner (coordinator or full partner), institutions in Switzerland would receive funding directly from the Erasmus+ programme budget. Funding generally would no longer be based on actual costs, but would function as a lump-sum model, which prioritises project implementation xml-ute-0000@deepl.internal .
- As a project partner, institutions in Switzerland would be counted among the required minimum of participating programme countries in a consortium. In the case of cooperation partnerships, for example, only two additional partner institutions from two distinct Erasmus+ programme countries would be required (instead of three, as is currently the case under the Swiss Programme for Erasmus+);
- Educational institutions in Switzerland would continue to have the possibility to participate on a self-funded basis as an ‘associated partner’. However, it would no longer be possible to apply for Swiss funding from Movetia;
- For institutions in Switzerland there would no longer be a need to submit a separate Swiss application besides the Erasmus+ application nor a need for separate reporting, as is currently the case under the Swiss Programme for Erasmus+.
- Only the rules and policy priorities of the Erasmus+ programme would apply. In the case of cooperation partnerships specific Swiss funding priorities could be added.
In den folgenden Abschnitten finden Sie kurze Beschreibungen der Erasmus+ Fördermöglichkeiten für Institutionen der Berufsbildung.
Erasmus+ cooperations strengthen school and curriculum development in school education
In addition to the learning mobilities of individuals, Erasmus+ also supports various forms of inter-institutional cooperation. These cooperations are designed to enable institutions in school education to develop international cooperation and innovative pedagogical approaches and to play an active role in shaping the European Education Area. The cooperations contribute to the Erasmus+ programme objectives by enhancing the quality of school education, driving innovation and digitalisation, strengthening social inclusion, and helping to address societal challenges. Given their transnational nature, these cooperations bring an additional benefit and have a lasting impact that extends beyond individual projects.
Erasmus+ distinguishes between the following two categories of institutional cooperation:
- Key Action 2 (KA2) supports cooperations in school education in the form of partnerships and projects;
- Key Action 3 (KA3) supports cooperation on education policy and reform processes at an European level.
In addition, the Jean Monnet Actions provide funding in the divisions of education and vocational training.
Erasmus+ supports a wide range of cooperation formats
Erasmus+ offers funding opportunities tailored to different needs and ambitions:
The diagram shows how these formats can be categorised along two dimensions: the level of ambition on the vertical axis and the long-term strategic focus on the horizontal axis.
Even under the current Swiss programme, it is possible to participate in most of these cooperation projects, but only as an associated partner, not as an equal full partner and without the possibility to act as the project coordinator. The possibility to take part in cooperations as an associated partner rather than as a full partner would still be available even if Switzerland was not to become associated with Erasmus+ as of 2027.
Actions offered by Erasmus+
Decentralised actions are managed and supported by the national agencies (in Switzerland, this is expected to be Movetia). Applications are submitted via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. This applies to cooperation partnerships, small-scale partnerships and European partnerships for school development.
Centralised actions are managed by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) in Brussels. Applications are submitted via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal and assessed in Brussels. This applies to Alliances for Innovation, Capacity Building, as well as KA3 and Erasmus Mundus.
Movetia can advise you on all cooperation formats.
With Erasmus+ the funding is awarded by way of annual calls for proposals, which are usually announced around October/November. School education institutions have to submit their projects in the call for proposals in spring 2027. Projects start in the summer. The national agency may decide whether there will also be a second call in the fall of 2027. This will be announced in autumn 2026. The 2027 Erasmus+ Call is expected to cover the following actions:
Small-Scale Partnerships for School Education (Key Action 2: KA210-SCH)
Erasmus+ Small-Scale Partnerships are transnational cooperations in which at least two institutions from two different Erasmus+ programme countries jointly launch a project. Projects run for 6 to 24 months and are funded with either 30’000 EUR or 60’000 EUR per project. This cooperation format is particularly suitable for new or inexperienced project managers. Its aim is to test new approaches, exchange best practices, and foster international networking.
Cooperation Partnerships for School Education (Key Action 2: KA220-SCH)
Erasmus+ Cooperation Partnerships are transnational cooperations in which at least three institutions from three different Erasmus+ programme countries jointly launch innovative projects. The projects run for 12 to 36 months and receive funding of up to 400’000 EUR per project. This funding scheme is particularly well-suited to the exchange of knowledge and experience in school education, the development of new approaches and international networking. The Swiss programme already supports associated participation in this project format. Information on Erasmus+ Cooperation Partnerships can be found here.
European Partnerships for School Development (Key Action 2: KA240-SCH)
Erasmus+ European Partnerships for School Development support schools and school authorities in collaborating with partners from other Erasmus+ programme countries on a long-term basis. The aim is to work together to further develop the quality of teaching and school management, and to enable more pupils and school staff to gain international experience.
The partnerships promote the exchange of best practice, the development of new approaches and collaboration on topics such as basic skills, inclusion, education for democracy, and sustainability.
A project involves at least two school authorities from two different Erasmus+ countries. Each school authority works with at least two schools. The projects have a duration of three years and are supported with a lump sum of 400’000 EUR.
Teacher Academies (Key Action 2: KA232)
The Erasmus+ Teacher Academies bring together higher education institutions and other organisations involved in teacher education and continuing education to promote international learning mobility for trainee and practising teachers and to drive innovation in areas such as digital skills, inclusion, and multilingualism. Projects run for up to three years, involve at least six partners from four Erasmus+ programme countries and are eligible for funding of up to 1’500’000 EUR per project.
Key Action 3: European Experimental Measures
Key Action 3 (Support for Policy Reforms) supports developments in education policy at the European level. In contrast to the more practice- and system-oriented Future-Oriented Projects (see above), which aim for innovation and implementation of methods, these measures focus on testing and scaling up specific education policy instruments. Such ambitious projects bring together research, practice and policy perspectives, often involving high-level public bodies such as education ministries or umbrella organisations, and generate targeted, evidence-based data for EU education politics. They bring together the perspectives from school practice and policymakers. New priorities and topics are continually being defined. The Swiss Programme for Erasmus+ already supports associated participation in this project format. Information on the 2026 Erasmus+ Call.
Jean Monnet Activities for Schools
Jean Monnet Activities support schools in integrating topics relating to the European Union into their teaching and school development. The aim is to promote knowledge on the EU, its mechanisms and its values, as well as to strengthen democratic participation and active citizenship.
Funding is available, amongst other things, for teaching initiatives on the European Union, continuing education for teachers and networks of schools and educational organisations. The projects facilitate the exchange of experience, the development of new learning materials and collaboration with partners in other countries.
The Swiss programme does not currently support this type of project.
Next steps for you in project planning
This is how you can start preparing for Erasmus+ cooperations now:
Familiarise yourself with the programme guidelines
Become acquainted with the E+ Programme Guide at an early stage, particularly the sections on KA2. We also recommend materials from other National Agencies, such as the PAD (Germany) or the Agence Erasmus+ (France). Movetia will be happy to advise you.
Learn from existing projects
On the Erasmus+ Project Results Platform, you will find funded collaboration projects from all programme formats. Browse the platform to get a feel for the language and structure of Erasmus+ applications. You can also obtain sample applications from Movetia or online.
Finding partners
The planning of international cooperations takes time; it is thus important to approach existing contacts at an early stage. Movetia supports you in establishing new partnerships through various networks. In order to take the first joint planning steps, you can submit an application for a preparatory visit.
Consider both scenarios
When conceptualising your project you should take into account its compatibility with the funding framework and programme formats of Erasmus+ and with the funding framework of the current Swiss Programme Erasmus+, factoring in the respective budget frameworks, partner requirements, and risks.
Shaping school and curriculum development together
Benefit from the opportunity to identify topics your institution would like to work on with European partner institutions. Erasmus+ cooperation projects offer the opportunity to jointly develop and test innovative approaches to teaching and school development, and to engage in an exchange of experience.
Further information
Contact
For individual project advice, please contact the school education team
