How to make the most of Erasmus+ ?Óskar Eggert Óskarsson, Icelandic NA

What does it offer the higher education sector:• Student mobility for studies and/or training during studies

and after graduation, within and outside of Europe.• Staff mobility for teaching and/or training, within and

outside “Europe” (Erasmus+ Programme countries). • Strategic Partnerships / Knowledge Alliances• Capacity Building projects (previously Tempus)• Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees• Erasmus+ Master Degree Loans

What’s new

• 40% increased total budget (increase between years 2014-2020)– At least 63% of budget is for mobility (KA1) – As least 28% of budget is for cooperation (KA2)

• Additional funding from external actions instruments to support international dimension of higher education

• Simplified financial management: use of unit costsNew approach

Need for closer links with world of workWe need more cross sectoral partnerships with world of work

Policy objectives

• More opportunities for VET and HE students to increase their employability through traineeships

• Foster quality improvement in all sectors through staff mobility and strategic partnerships

• Europe 2020 targets• Education and Training 2020 strategy

Student mobility

What’s new!• Minimum duration of placements is 2 months• Students can go again and again (up to 12 months at each study cycle)

• Students can go after graduation– The host can be big or small, private or public, etc.

• Mobility outside Europe (mainly incoming)

Field specific priority in higher education:support activities that help attune curricula to current and emerging labour market needs and equip the young generation with transversal skills such as entrepreneurship, by developing active cooperation between HEI and partners from outside academia: enterprises, professional organisations, chambers of commerce, social partners, local/regional bodies etc.;

Staff mobilityHigh demand but can be easy to get!

• Relatively easy to apply.• Relatively easy to get IF applied for in due time with a clear

teaching/training plan. Long term planning. • Teaching is not only lecturing. • Training can take place at enterprises (can be linked to

organising placements for students). • Mobility outside Europe

Field specific priority in higher education:strengthen the links between education, research and business to promote excellence and regional development

Mobility outside “Europe”• Higher grants than “regular” Erasmus+ mobility– Incoming staff 100-160 € per day + travel grant– Outgoing staff 160 € per day + travel grant– Incoming students 750-850 € per month + travel– Outgoing students 650 € per month + travel– (350 € Organisational Support for each mobile person)

• 11 “budget envelopes” (regions)– high demand and low supply vs. high supply and low demand

• Emphasis on incoming student mobility• No demand on distribution between student and staff

– The Icelandic NA puts emphasis on staff mobility the first year

• Application deadline for universities 4th March! – “your” plans need to be included

Cooperation projects

• Mobility (350€ for organisational cost for each sent participant)

• Strategic Partnerships, max 150.000 EUR per year• Knowledge Alliances• Capacity Building • Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Degree(Erasmus+ Master Degree Loans)

Be open to other possibilities• Nordplus for Nordic/Baltic coopertion• EEA/EFTA grants for bilateral projects

• Don’t hesitate to use national contacts points to get information