Cooperation & Jean Monnet
With Erasmus+, higher education institutions and colleges of higher education could work together on shared challenges in cooperation projects and help shape the European education area. In the following sections, we will show you what would change in comparison to the Swiss programme for Erasmus+ cooperation and what funding opportunities would be available to you with Erasmus+.
Swiss higher education institutions & colleges of higher education can already participate in many Erasmus+ actions. However, if Switzerland were to become associated with Erasmus+, they would participate in the Erasmus+ programme directly and on an equal footing with all other Erasmus+ institutions. Erasmus+ offers for the academic and administrative staff different funding and participation opportunities in the area of cooperation than the Swiss programme on Erasmus+. The following sections provide an overview and describe the funding opportunities that you should refer to in your Erasmus Policy Statement (EPS) for ECHE accreditation.
What would change compared to the Swiss programme on Erasmus+?
If Switzerland becomes associated with Erasmus+ in 2027, this means that
- You will have access to all Erasmus+ actions in which your type of institution is eligible to participate, i.e. on an equal footing with institutions from EU Member States and other Erasmus+ countries, e.g. now also including Erasmus+ teacher academies.
- As a Swiss university or higher technical college, you can coordinate, submit and manage cooperation projects;
- As a project partner (coordinator or full partner), you will receive funding directly from the Erasmus+ programme.
- As a project partner, you contribute to the minimum participation required for consortia. In the case of cooperation partnerships, for example, only two additional partner institutions from Erasmus+ countries are required (instead of three as previously).
- You can continue to participate on a self-financed basis as an «associated partner». However, Swiss funding can no longer be applied for;
- Swiss higher education institutions no longer have to submit two applications and reports, as was the case under the Swiss programme for Erasmus+. Everything is now handled through the Erasmus+ programme.
- Only the rules and political priorities of the Erasmus+ programme apply. Specific Swiss funding priorities may be added to cooperation partnerships.
Write your Erasmus Policy Statement (EPS) for ECHE accreditation on the assumption that the conditions described above apply. With a Swiss Erasmus+ association, your higher education institution would have access to the full range of Erasmus+ participation opportunities in future.
What are Erasmus+ partnerships for higher education?
In addition to learning mobility for individuals, Erasmus+ also promotes various forms of inter-institutional cooperation. These partnerships are intended to enable higher education institutions and higher technical colleges to deepen international cooperation, develop innovative approaches and actively shape the European Higher Education Area. They contribute to the Erasmus+ programme objectives by promoting quality in teaching, driving innovation and digitalisation, strengthening social inclusion and helping to tackle societal challenges. Due to their transnational dimension, these collaborations create a clear European added value and enable a sustainable impact beyond individual projects.
Erasmus+ distinguishes between the following two key actions:
- Key Action 2 (KA2) promotes higher education cooperation in the form of partnerships and projects;
- Key Action 3 (KA3) supports higher education policy cooperation and reform processes at European level.
In addition, Jean Monnet activities in higher education promote teaching and research initiatives related to the European Union and strengthen understanding of European integration processes in higher education.
What actions does Erasmus+ cover in terms of cooperation?
Erasmus+ offers funding opportunities for different needs and ambitions.
Which actions would be available to Swiss higher education institutions?
Erasmus+ awards funding through annual calls for proposals, which are usually published in October/November. Representatives of Universities and higher education institutions (lecturers, researchers, administrative staff) submit their project ideas in the spring. Projects start in the summer.
The Erasmus+ call for proposals 2027 is expected to include the following actions:
Key Action 2: Cooperation partnerships in higher education (KA220-HED)
Erasmus+ cooperation partnerships are transnational collaborations in which at least three institutions from three different Erasmus+ countries jointly launch innovative projects. The projects run for between 12 and 36 months and receive up to EUR 400,000 in funding per project. This funding format is the smallest in the field of higher education cooperation and is particularly suitable for testing new approaches, sharing best practices and deepening international networking. Information from Erasmus+ on cooperation partnerships.
Key Action 2: Alliances for Innovation (KA234)
Erasmus+ Alliances for Innovation enable higher education institutions and technical colleges to promote innovation and knowledge exchange in collaboration with companies and other partners from Europe. They help to better align study programmes with the requirements of the labour market, develop new skills for students and deepen cooperation between science, industry and society. There are two funding lines: Alliances for Education and Enterprises (Lot 1) and Alliances for Sectoral Cooperation for Skills Development (Lot 2). The projects involve at least 8-12 partner institutions from 4-8 different Erasmus+ countries and are funded in Lot 1 with up to EUR 1 million (2 years) or up to EUR 1.5 million (3 years); in Lot 2 with up to EUR 4 million (4 years). Information from Erasmus+ on alliances for innovation. STEM Skills Foundries (Lot 3) will be added as a pilot project in the 2026 call. Information from Erasmus+ on alliances for innovation.
Key Action 2: Future-oriented projects (KA239)
Erasmus+ Future-oriented projects aim to develop innovative concepts and methods in the field of education and test them on a large scale – with the aim of having an impact across Europe and providing impetus for future reforms. Higher education institutions work in large consortia with partners from various education sectors, politics and society on challenges in different areas of education. The projects involve at least three institutions from three Erasmus+ countries, but in practice the consortia often consist of eight to 15 partners. They usually run for between 24 and 36 months and have a funding volume of up to EUR 1 million per project. Examples of topics from previous calls include the development of robust assessment frameworks for measuring digital skills, the ethical and effective use of generative AI in education, and innovative data exchange and analysis for data-informed decision-making processes. Calls for future-oriented projects were only issued every other year under Erasmus+ 2021-2027, and will probably also be issued in 2027. Information from Erasmus+ on future-oriented projects will follow (example: Erasmus+ call 2025).
Key Action 2: Capacity-building projects for higher education (KA211)
With its Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) projects, Erasmus+ supports the modernisation and internationalisation of higher education systems in partner countries outside the Erasmus+ area. This action is financed by funds for the EU's non-European activities, in particular within the framework of development cooperation and EU neighbourhood policy. Higher education institutions from Erasmus+ countries work together with partner institutions worldwide to improve structures, develop study programmes or strengthen higher education management capacities. Budgets typically range from EUR 200,000 to EUR 1,000,000 per project, depending on the scope, duration (2–3 years) and number of partner institutions. Information from Erasmus+ on capacity-building projects for higher education.
Key Action 2: European Universities (KA230)
European Universities are alliances of higher education institutions across Europe that engage in particularly close institutional cooperation and share a long-term common vision. The aim is to create a shared, transnational campus where students, researchers and teachers can work together seamlessly across national borders. Erasmus+ funded projects involving these alliances usually comprise 8 to 10 higher education institutions and many other associated partner institutions. The alliances have the opportunity to receive funding over several cycles (up to EUR 14 million per four-year project to date, or approximately EUR 7 million per two-year project in the 2026 call). From 2028, the alliances will have the opportunity to receive financial support over an even longer funding period (up to 7 years). Information on the European Universities initiative.
Key Action 2: European Degree exploratory action
The Exploratory Actions on the European Degree are testing how a common European degree label could be implemented. Higher education institutions are developing pilot models for joint degrees to strengthen transparency, recognition and learning mobility in Europe. The first projects on this topic were funded in 2022 under Key Action 3 and served as preparation for possible future reforms. European Degree exploratory action projects will be funded in 2025, 2026 and, if necessary, 2027 under Key Action 2. Information on the European Degree.
Key Action 2: Teacher Academies (KA232)
The Erasmus+ Teacher Academies bring together universities and other teacher training and continuing education institutions to promote international learning mobility for prospective and practising teachers and to drive innovation in areas such as digital skills, inclusion and multilingualism. The projects run for up to three years, involve at least six partners from four Erasmus+ countries and can receive up to €1.5 million in funding per project. Information from Erasmus+ on Teacher Academies.
Key Action 2: Erasmus Mundus Actions (KA231)
Erasmus Mundus Actions (EMA) promote high-quality, internationally oriented Master's programmes offered jointly by consortia of higher education institutions from at least three countries and open to students worldwide. There are two lots: Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (EMJM) for the development and implementation of joint programmes with scholarships for students worldwide, and Erasmus Mundus Design Measures (EMDM) to support higher education institutions in setting up new consortia and new joint Master's programmes. While EMJM supports a consortium project, only a single higher education institution applies for funding under EMDM. Higher education institutions benefit from international visibility, attractive study programmes and sustainable networking. Information from Erasmus+ on Erasmus Mundus Actions.
Key Action 3: European experimental measures
Key Action 3 (support for policy reform) accompanies developments in education policy at European level. Of particular relevance to higher education institutions are the European experimental measures, which enable policy strategies to be tested in practice through targeted calls for proposals (independent of the general Erasmus+ call for projects in autumn). In contrast to the more practice- and system-oriented "future-oriented projects" (see above), which aim at innovation and testing methods, these measures focus on testing and scaling concrete education policy instruments – such as a European degree label, a legal status for higher education alliances or micro-credentials. Such ambitious projects combine research, practice and management perspectives – often involving high-level public bodies such as education ministries or umbrella organisations – and generate targeted, evidence-based impetus for EU education policy. They thus contribute significantly to the integration of higher education institutions and political actors. New priorities and topics are constantly being defined- that is for example in 2026, the development of transnational partnerships between universities and companies in sectors with major skills shortages. Example: Erasmus+ Call for European Experimental Actions 2024.
Jean Monnet Actions in the field of higher education
Jean Monnet Actions in the field of higher education support universities in expanding teaching and research on the European Union. Among other things, Jean Monnet Modules (EU-related courses), Jean Monnet Chairs (for proven experts) and Jean Monnet Centres of Excellence (institutional anchor points for research and networking) are funded. The aim is to anchor knowledge about European integration processes in studies and research and to strengthen exchanges between higher education institutions, politics and society. Information from Erasmus+ on Jean Monnet Actions in the field of higher education.
Funding opportunities from other areas
Higher education institutions can participate not only in actions specifically aimed at the higher education sector, but also in projects for other areas of education. They are particularly in demand where they can contribute specific technical or methodological expertise – for example, when a teacher training college participates in a cooperation partnership for school education or a university of applied sciences is part of a Centre of Vocational Excellence (COVE).
In addition, Erasmus+ also opens up interesting opportunities for universities in the field of sport. Funding is available for cooperation partnerships on topics such as inclusion, healthy living, dual careers or combating discrimination – areas in which universities can closely combine research, teaching and practice. Further information on cooperation partnerships in sport can be found directly at Erasmus+.