Programme: Erasmus+ - Key Action 3 – Support to Policy Development and Cooperation

Key Action 3 provides support to policy cooperation at European Union level, thereby contributing to the development of new policies, which can trigger modernisation and reforms, at European Union, and systems' level, in the fields of education, training youth and sport.

The Actions implemented through this Key Action are aimed to:

• prepare and support the implementation of the EU policy agenda on education, training, youth and sport by facilitating the governance and functioning of the Open Methods of Coordination;
• carry out European policy experimentations, led by high-level public authorities and involving field trials on policy measures in several countries, based on sound evaluation methods;
• gather evidence and knowledge about education, training, youth and sport systems and policies at national and European level, with a view to facilitate reasoned policy-making;
• facilitate transparency and recognition of skills and qualifications, as well as the transfer of credits, to foster quality assurance, support validation of non-formal and informal learning, skills management and guidance;
• foster policy dialogue with stakeholders within and outside the European Union, through conferences, events and other activities involving policy makers, practitioners and other stakeholders in the fields of education, training, youth and sport, to raise awareness about the relevant European policy agendas and to promote Europe as an excellent study and research destination;
• improve the implementation of the programme in qualitative terms by facilitating knowledge and practice transfer among National Agencies, equipping National Agencies and Commission with "think-tank" resources that allow for elaboration of activities and strategies to implement the programme in stronger connection with policy developments, providing instruments for better exploiting the potential of synergies and complementarities;
• provide opportunities for people at any stage of their life with a learning experience abroad within their field of expertise, such as public governance, agriculture and rural development, new technologies, enterprise etc.;
• allow Erasmus+ implementing bodies to act as facilitators to the scaling-up of Erasmus+ projects to apply for grants or develop synergies through the support of the European Structural and Investment Funds managed at national and regional level, the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, and the programmes relating to migration, security, justice and citizenship, health and culture;
• support events, campaigns and other activities which will inform citizens and organisations about the Erasmus+ programme and European Union policies in the fields of education, training, youth and sport;
• contribute to identifying and disseminating good practices as well as success stories from the supported projects in order to give them more visibility and scale them up at local, national and European levels.

Key Action 3 covers many other Actions in support of policy reform in the education, training and youth fields that are implemented directly by the European Commission or through specific calls for proposals managed by the Education Audio-visual and Culture Executive Agency. These actions are grouped in the following sections:

• Support to European policy development;
• Support to union tools and measures that foster the quality, transparency and recognition of skills, competences and qualifications
• Policy dialogue and cooperation with key stakeholders and international organisations
• Measures that contribute to the qualitative and inclusive implementation of the programme
• Cooperation with other union instruments and support to other union policies
• Dissemination and awareness-raising activities

The Actions implemented through Key Action 3 are intended to produce the main following results:

• improved quality, equity and inclusiveness education and training systems as well as youth and sport policies;
• higher degree of transnational cooperation and mutual learning between competent authorities and policy makers in the fields of education, training, youth and sport;
• increased knowledge and analytical capacity to support evidence-based policies in the fields of education, training, youth and sport;
• availability of sound comparative international data and appropriate secondary analyses for European and national policy making;
• improved tools for assessment, transparency and recognition of skills and qualifications acquired through formal, non-formal and informal learning;
• good functioning of European networks in charge of guidance and implementing tools that foster the transparency and recognition of skills and qualifications acquired through formal, non-formal and informal learning;
• active involvement of civil society networks and non-governmental organisations in policy implementation;
• increased participation of young people and youth stakeholders in the EU Youth Dialogue;
• increased levels of participation of individuals in sport and physical activity;
• higher degree of exchanges of good practices, dialogue, mutual learning and cooperation among policy makers, practitioners and stakeholders from EU Member States, third countries associated to the programme and third countries not associated to the programme;
• increased public awareness about European policies in the fields of education, training, youth and sport as well as increased awareness about the results of the Erasmus+ Programme;
• greater synergies with other EU Programmes, such as the Cohesion Policy Funds, Horizon Europe, as well as with funding schemes at national or regional level.

Erasmus+ is open to many individuals and organisations, although eligibility varies from one action to another and from one country to another.

Individuals can take part in many of the opportunities funded by Erasmus+, although most will have to do so through an organisation taking part in the programme. The eligibility of individuals and organisations depends on the country in which they are based.

Eligible countries are divided into two groups, Programme countries and Partners countries. Although Programme countries are eligible for all actions of Erasmus+, Partner countries can only take part in some, and are subject to specific conditions.

European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) - https://www.eacea.ec.europa.eu/index_en

Since 2006, the European Education and Culture Executive Agency has been a catalyst for projects in education, training, youth, sport, audiovisual, culture, citizenship and humanitarian aid. On behalf of the European Commission, EACEA strives to foster innovation in these areas, always in a spirit of cross-border cooperation and mutual respect.

EACEA are project managers, facilitators of knowledge exchange, and supporters of European projects that connect people and cultures.

National Agencies

To bring Erasmus+ as close as possible to the participants and make sure it works well across different countries, the EU works with National Agencies to manage the programme.

The National Agencies are based in Programme Countries and their role involves

• providing information on Erasmus+
• selecting projects to be funded
• monitoring and evaluating Erasmus+
• supporting applicants and participants
• working with other National Agencies and the EU
• promoting Erasmus+
• sharing success stories and best practices

The list of National Agencies can be found here. Countries not in the list of Programme countries may alternately have a National Erasmus+ Office.

National Erasmus+ Offices

National Erasmus+ Offices (NEOs) assist the European Commission and local authorities in the implementation of Erasmus+ in certain Partner Countries.

These countries are located in the Western Balkans, the Eastern and Southern Mediterranean and Central Asia. Russia also has a National Office.

Providing information on Erasmus+, monitoring and evaluating funded projects, assisting applicants and participants, supporting policy dialogue and maintaining contact with local authorities and EU Delegations are among the responsibilities of the NEOs.