Overview
The European Commission is offering funding under the Erasmus+ Programme for European Policy Experimentations, focusing on the call titled "Digital Education: AI-powered Personalised Learning Pathways for Basic Skills." This initiative aims to support transnational cooperation projects that develop, implement, and test AI-based Personalized Learning Pathways (PLPs) that address educational challenges within school education and initial Vocational Education and Training (VET) for learners at European Qualifications Framework (EQF) levels 1 to 4. The total funding available for the specific topic is €5 million. Eligible applicants include educational institutions, training providers, public authorities, and organizations involved in education. A consortium of multiple organizations from different countries is required to facilitate transnational cooperation. The projects should focus on several priorities such as improving basic skills acquisition, leveraging AI to personalize learning experiences, measuring the effectiveness of interventions through analytics, and promoting ethical AI use in education, adhering to European data and privacy standards. The application process is a single-stage, with the opening date on January 6, 2026, and a deadline for submission on April 8, 2026. Successful applicants are expected to implement their projects within a defined period, with grant agreements targeted for signature by January 2027. Evaluation periods will occur between April and July 2026, with notifications to successful applicants in October 2026. This funding opportunity represents a significant push towards enhancing digital education in Europe, aiming to foster innovative pedagogical approaches and ensure that learning environments remain inclusive and effective for all learners.
Highlights
The European Commission is offering funding through the Erasmus+ Programme for European Policy Experimentations, specifically focusing on Digital Education: AI-powered Personalised Learning Pathways (PLPs) for Basic Skills. This initiative, under the call ERASMUS-EDU-2026-POL-EXP, aims to support transnational cooperation projects that develop, implement, and test the relevance, effectiveness, potential impact, and scalability of activities addressing policy priorities across different countries. The core objective is to foster the application of ethical, transparent, and explainable AI-based PLPs at the school education and initial Vocational Education and Training (VET) levels, targeting learners at European Qualifications Framework (EQF) levels 1 to 4.
The projects should target one or more of the basic skills, with a focus on the following priorities:
Support the deployment of AI-powered PLPs for basic skills development:This involves leveraging PLPs that utilize AI, machine learning, or other innovative methods to tailor the learning journey, content, and pace to individual learners' needs.
Improve basic skills acquisition:Projects should aim to enhance learners' skills in the basic skills set, as outlined in the Action Plan on Basic Skills, to improve their learning process and increase their employability and participation in society through an interdisciplinary approach.
Measure the improvement of basic skills education:Learning progress and basic skills development should be measurable through student and teacher dashboards and learning analytics, complemented by systematic feedback collection from learners and educators.
Enhance innovative pedagogies and approaches:This includes supporting adaptive, data-driven teaching, learning, and assessment methods (such as micro-learning and competency-based progress) to enable schools to foster effective, learner-centered, and inclusive environments that strengthen basic skills and enhance the effectiveness of education and training for basic skills provision.
Foster a level-playing field among learners:Projects should propose innovative pedagogical approaches to use AI-based PLPs in a collaborative environment that supports learners at different levels of attainment to progress together and inclusively towards shared learning goals.
Promote an effective and ethical use of AI in education:Ensuring that the AI systems used are transparent, explainable, ethical, and in accordance with European data and privacy regulations.
Key Conditions and Requirements:
Admissibility Conditions:The proposal's Part B (Technical Description) is limited to 40 pages, including the list of relevant previous projects. The layout must adhere to the guidelines provided in the Important Notice of the Part B of the Application Form, available in the Submission System.
Eligible Countries:Eligibility is detailed in the call document.
Other Eligible Conditions:These are specified in the call document.
Financial and Operational Capacity and Exclusion:Details are available in the call document.
Evaluation and Award:
Submission and Evaluation Processes:Described in the call document.
Award Criteria, Scoring, and Thresholds:These are detailed in the call document.
Indicative Timeline:
Publication of the call:22 December 2025.
Deadline for submitting applications:8 April 2026, 17:00 (Brussels time).
Evaluation period:April - July 2026.
Information to applicants:October 2026.
Signature of grant agreement:by January 2027.
Legal and Financial Set-up:Not applicable.
Available Documents and Guidance:
Call Document:The primary source of information for this call.
Application Form Templates:
Standard Application Form (ERASMUS BB and LSII).
Detailed Budget Table (ERASMUS LSII).
Guidance:
Erasmus+ Programme Guide, Part C - Information for Applicants.
Model Grant Agreements (MGA):Lump Sum MGA.
Additional Documents:
Erasmus+ Work Programme.
Erasmus Regulation 2021/817.
EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509.
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment, and Financial Capacity Assessment.
EU Grants AGA Annotated Model Grant Agreement.
Guidance on managing lump sum grants.
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual.
Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions.
Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement.
Partner Search:
The portal allows LEARs, Account Administrators, and self-registrants to publish partner requests for open and forthcoming topics.
Submission System:
The submission system is planned to open on the date stated in the topic header.
Support and Contacts:
For call-related help, contact EACEA-POLICY-SUPPORT@EC.EUROPA.EU.
For technical issues (passwords, access rights, etc.), contact the IT Helpdesk.
Refer to the Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ for submission-related queries.
Consult the Online Manual for a step-by-step guide through the Portal processes.
Budget Overview:
The call includes multiple topics with varying budgets:
ERASMUS-EDU-2026-POL-EXP-T01-DIGITAL-CONTENT:€2,000,000
ERASMUS-EDU-2026-POL-EXP-T02-DIGITAL-ETHICSAI:€6,000,000
ERASMUS-EDU:€5,000,000
ERASMUS-EDU-2026-POL-EXP-T04-MICRO-CRED:€3,000,000
ERASMUS-EDU-2026-POL-EXP-T05-SCHOOL-STEM:€6,000,000
ERASMUS-EDU-2026-POL-EXP-T06-SCHOOL-BS:€9,000,000
ERASMUS-EDU-2026-POL-EXP-T07-VET-BS:€5,000,000
ERASMUS-EDU-2026-POL-EXP-T08-VET-QUALIFICATIONS:€8,000,000
ERASMUS-EDU-2026-POL-EXP-T09-ADULT-PS:€5,000,000
ERASMUS-EDU-2026-POL-EXP-T10-ADULT-EMPOWER:€5,000,000
All topics follow a single-stage submission process, with the same opening and deadline dates:
Opening date:06 January 2026
Deadline date:08 April 2026
This Erasmus+ call for proposals represents a significant opportunity for transnational projects focused on enhancing digital education through AI-powered personalized learning pathways. It seeks to modernize and improve basic skills acquisition for learners in school education and VET, aligning with European policy priorities for ethical AI use and inclusive education. By providing substantial lump sum grants, the European Commission aims to stimulate innovative approaches and scalable solutions that can be adopted across different countries, ultimately contributing to a more skilled and employable European workforce.
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Breakdown
Eligible Applicant Types:The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated in the provided text. However, given the focus on transnational cooperation projects and the involvement of school education and initial VET, eligible applicants could include universities, research institutes, educational institutions, vocational training providers, and possibly other organizations involved in education and training. The reference to LEARs, Account Administrators, and self-registrants suggests a broad range of organizations can participate.
Funding Type:The funding type is a grant, specifically an ERASMUS Lump Sum Grant (ERASMUS-LS).
Consortium Requirement:The opportunity involves transnational cooperation projects, which strongly suggests that a consortium of multiple applicants is required.
Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):The geographic eligibility is not explicitly stated, but given the nature of Erasmus+ and European policy experimentations, it is likely that the eligibility includes EU member states, EEA countries, and potentially other countries associated with the Erasmus+ program. The mention of a "strong European dimension" suggests a focus on European countries.
Target Sector:The target sectors are digital education, artificial intelligence (AI), school education, vocational education and training (VET), and adult learning. Specifically, the program targets the application of AI-based Personalized Learning Pathways (PLPs) for basic skills development. It also targets STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education in schools.
Mentioned Countries:No specific countries are mentioned, but the opportunity is focused on European policy experimentations, implying that EU member states and associated countries are the primary focus.
Project Stage:The project stage is focused on development, implementation, and testing, indicating a stage of validation and demonstration. The aim is to test the relevance, effectiveness, potential impact, and scalability of activities.
Funding Amount:The funding amounts vary by topic, ranging from €2,000,000 to €9,000,000 per topic. These are lump sum grants.
ERASMUS-EDU-2026-POL-EXP-T01-DIGITAL-CONTENT - ERASMUS-LS ERASMUS Lump Sum Grants 2 000 000
ERASMUS-EDU-2026-POL-EXP-T02-DIGITAL-ETHICSAI - ERASMUS-LS ERASMUS Lump Sum Grants 6 000 000
ERASMUS-EDU - ERASMUS-LS ERASMUS Lump Sum Grants 5 000 000
ERASMUS-EDU-2026-POL-EXP-T04-MICRO-CRED - ERASMUS-LS ERASMUS Lump Sum Grants 3 000 000
ERASMUS-EDU-2026-POL-EXP-T05-SCHOOL-STEM - ERASMUS-LS ERASMUS Lump Sum Grants 6 000 000
ERASMUS-EDU-2026-POL-EXP-T06-SCHOOL-BS - ERASMUS-LS ERASMUS Lump Sum Grants 9 000 000
ERASMUS-EDU-2026-POL-EXP-T07-VET-BS - ERASMUS-LS ERASMUS Lump Sum Grants 5 000 000
ERASMUS-EDU-2026-POL-EXP-T08-VET-QUALIFICATIONS - ERASMUS-LS ERASMUS Lump Sum Grants 8 000 000
ERASMUS-EDU-2026-POL-EXP-T09-ADULT-PS - ERASMUS-LS ERASMUS Lump Sum Grants 5 000 000
ERASMUS-EDU-2026-POL-EXP-T10-ADULT-EMPOWER - ERASMUS-LS ERASMUS Lump Sum Grants 5 000 000
Application Type:The application type is an open call, with a single-stage submission process.
Nature of Support:The beneficiaries will receive money in the form of lump sum grants.
Application Stages:The application process is a single-stage process.
Success Rates:The success rates are not mentioned in the provided text.
Co-funding Requirement:The co-funding requirement is not explicitly stated.
Summary:
This opportunity is a call for proposals under the Erasmus+ program, specifically targeting European policy experimentations in digital education. The call, titled "Digital Education: AI-powered Personalised Learning Pathways for Basic Skills," aims to foster the application of ethical, transparent, and explainable AI-based Personalized Learning Pathways (PLPs) at the school education and initial VET level, focusing on learners at EQF levels 1 to 4.
The projects should address one or more basic skills, with priorities including:
Supporting the deployment of AI-powered PLPs for basic skills development.
Improving basic skills acquisition through an interdisciplinary approach.
Measuring the improvement of basic skills education using student and teacher dashboards and learning analytics.
Enhancing innovative pedagogies and approaches, such as adaptive, data-driven teaching, learning, and assessment methods.
Fostering a level-playing field among learners through collaborative AI-based PLP environments.
Promoting an effective and ethical use of AI in education, ensuring transparency, explainability, and compliance with European data and privacy regulations.
The call is structured around multiple topics, each with a specific budget allocation ranging from 2,000,000 to €9,000,000. These topics include digital content, digital ethics in AI, digital basic skills, micro-credentials, school STEM education, school basic skills, VET basic skills, VET qualifications, adult personalized skills, and adult empowerment.
Eligible applicants are expected to form transnational cooperation projects to develop, implement, and test the relevance, effectiveness, potential impact, and scalability of their proposed activities. The application process is a single-stage submission, with a deadline of April 8, 2026. The evaluation period will take place from April to July 2026, and successful applicants will be informed in October 2026, with grant agreements expected to be signed by January 2027.
The funding is provided as Erasmus Lump Sum Grants, and applicants are required to adhere to specific proposal page limits and layouts as described in the call document. The call encourages applicants to seek partners through the Funding & Tenders Portal. Overall, this call seeks to leverage AI and digital technologies to enhance basic skills education and training across Europe, supporting innovative pedagogical approaches and promoting ethical AI implementation in the education sector.
Short Summary
Impact This funding aims to support transnational cooperation projects that develop, implement, and test AI-powered personalised learning pathways for basic skills education, enhancing learners' competencies in literacy, numeracy, and digital skills. | Impact | This funding aims to support transnational cooperation projects that develop, implement, and test AI-powered personalised learning pathways for basic skills education, enhancing learners' competencies in literacy, numeracy, and digital skills. |
Applicant Applicants should possess expertise in education, training, and the application of artificial intelligence in educational settings, with a focus on developing innovative pedagogical approaches and measuring educational outcomes. | Applicant | Applicants should possess expertise in education, training, and the application of artificial intelligence in educational settings, with a focus on developing innovative pedagogical approaches and measuring educational outcomes. |
Developments Funding will be directed towards projects in digital education, specifically targeting the implementation of AI-based personalised learning pathways for basic skills in school education and initial vocational education and training (VET). | Developments | Funding will be directed towards projects in digital education, specifically targeting the implementation of AI-based personalised learning pathways for basic skills in school education and initial vocational education and training (VET). |
Applicant Type This funding is designed for educational institutions, training providers, public authorities, and organizations involved in education and training, particularly those engaged in transnational cooperation. | Applicant Type | This funding is designed for educational institutions, training providers, public authorities, and organizations involved in education and training, particularly those engaged in transnational cooperation. |
Consortium A consortium of multiple applicants from different countries is required for this funding opportunity, emphasizing transnational cooperation. | Consortium | A consortium of multiple applicants from different countries is required for this funding opportunity, emphasizing transnational cooperation. |
Funding Amount The total funding available for this specific topic is €5,000,000, with individual project grants typically ranging from €200,000 to €1,000,000+ based on standard Erasmus+ project structures. | Funding Amount | The total funding available for this specific topic is €5,000,000, with individual project grants typically ranging from €200,000 to €1,000,000+ based on standard Erasmus+ project structures. |
Countries Eligible countries include EU member states, EEA countries, and potentially other countries associated with the Erasmus+ program, focusing on European policy experimentations. | Countries | Eligible countries include EU member states, EEA countries, and potentially other countries associated with the Erasmus+ program, focusing on European policy experimentations. |
Industry This funding targets the education and training sector, specifically focusing on digital education and the application of artificial intelligence in enhancing basic skills development. | Industry | This funding targets the education and training sector, specifically focusing on digital education and the application of artificial intelligence in enhancing basic skills development. |
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