Erasmus Charter for Higher Education

The Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE) is an essential accreditation mechanism for higher education institutions (HEIs) wishing to participate in the Erasmus+ Programme. Eligible applicants include both public and private HEIs located in EU Member States, countries associated with the Erasmus+ Programme, and specific Western Balkans third countries like Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Montenegro. The ECHE serves as a prerequisite for accessing funding within the Erasmus+ framework, particularly for student and staff mobility and cooperation projects.

The application process operates on an open call basis with multiple cut-off deadlines, meaning institutions can submit their applications at various times throughout the year. Each HEI must apply individually, and consortium applications are not permitted. The application evaluation includes assessing admissibility, eligibility, and adherence to specific criteria set forth by an Evaluation Committee.

Although the ECHE does not provide direct financial support, its accreditation enables HEIs to apply for various Erasmus+ funding streams. The success rates for applications are generally high; for instance, in a recent evaluation period, 431 applications were submitted, with approximately 67% meeting the threshold for acceptance.

The ECHE focuses on enhancing the operational capacity of institutions to engage in learning mobility and innovation. It emphasizes principles such as inclusion, sustainability, and digitalization, and is valid until 2027 with potential extensions. Clear guidelines and criteria are provided to institutions, with results from evaluations communicated promptly after each cut-off. This opportunity is vital for HEIs looking to strengthen their international collaboration and mobility initiatives within the framework of the Erasmus+ Programme.

The ERASMUS EDU 2022 ECHE CERT FP call aims to accredit recognized Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) located in eligible countries that have the operational capacity to participate in the Erasmus+ Programme's activities. These activities include learning mobility of individuals and cooperation for innovation and good practices. There is only one topic available, and the light procedure is no longer applicable; therefore, all parts of the APPLICATION FORM PART B must be completed. HEIs should indicate their Erasmus code in their application, if they already have one, and use their existing PIC. OIDs cannot be used.

To be eligible, the applicant must be a higher education institution (public or private) established in one of the eligible countries, which include EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs)), listed EEA (European Economic Area) countries, countries associated with the Erasmus+ Programme (associated countries), countries in ongoing negotiations for an association agreement where the agreement enters into force before grant signature, and Western Balkans third countries not associated with the Erasmus+ Programme: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Montenegro.

The deadline for submitting applications varies each year, so applicants should check the call document for yearly deadlines. The indicative date for publishing selection results for applications submitted in 2022 was October 2022. From 2023 onwards, results will be published in July each year. An Evaluation Committee will evaluate the applications against admissibility, eligibility, and award criteria.

Evaluation results for the deadline of 25.01.2024 are as follows: 431 proposals were submitted, 8 were inadmissible, 43 were ineligible, 289 were above the threshold, and 71 were below the threshold.

The list of Higher Education Institutions holding an ECHE for 2021-2027 is available at https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/document/higher-education-institutions-holding-an-eche-2021-2027.

Evaluation results for the first cut-off (3 May 2022) are as follows: 339 proposals were submitted, 7 were inadmissible, 18 were ineligible, and 239 were accepted.

For questions, applicants can contact EACEA-ECHE@ec.europa.eu.

The publication date for the call was February 22, 2022, with a deadline for submitting applications on January 26, 2023, at 17:00 (Brussels Time). The evaluation period was from February to June 2023, and information to applicants was scheduled for July 2023.

The application template should be downloaded from the submission service, and the template available on the website is for information purposes only. To access the Electronic Submission Service, applicants should click on the submission button next to the type of action and the type of model grant agreement that corresponds to their proposal. To access existing draft proposals, applicants should log in to the Funding & Tenders Portal and select the My Proposals page of the My Area section.

The call includes a list of projects funded under this topic, including the project ID, acronym, and legal name of the applying institution.

In summary, this opportunity is for recognized Higher Education Institutions in eligible countries to obtain accreditation to participate in the Erasmus+ Programme. The accreditation is based on the institution's operational capacity to engage in learning mobility and cooperation for innovation. The application process requires filling out all parts of the application form, indicating the Erasmus code, and using the PIC number. The evaluation process involves an Evaluation Committee assessing applications based on admissibility, eligibility, and award criteria. The call has multiple cut-off dates, and the results are communicated to applicants via email and are available on the Funding & Tenders Portal.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicants are Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), both public and private, located in eligible countries. These eligible countries include EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs)), EEA countries, countries associated with the Erasmus+ Programme, and Western Balkans third countries not associated with the Erasmus+ Programme (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Montenegro). The call document should be consulted for a comprehensive list of eligible countries.

Funding Type: The funding type is accreditation, specifically the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE). This charter is a prerequisite for HEIs to participate fully in the Erasmus+ Programme's activities, such as learning mobility and cooperation for innovation and good practices.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity is for a single applicant. Consortia are not eligible. Each Higher Education Institution must apply individually.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs)), EEA countries, countries associated with the Erasmus+ Programme, and specific Western Balkans third countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Montenegro). The Call document provides the definitive list of eligible countries.

Target Sector: The target sector is education, specifically higher education. The program focuses on enhancing the capacity of Higher Education Institutions to participate in the Erasmus+ Programme, promoting learning mobility, cooperation for innovation, and good practices within the higher education sector.

Mentioned Countries: Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Kosovo, Italy, Ireland, Malta, Montenegro, Norway, Poland, Serbia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey.

Project Stage: The project stage is aimed at institutions with existing operational capacity to participate in Erasmus+ activities. It is not targeted at initial research or idea stages but rather at accrediting institutions ready to implement mobility and cooperation projects.

Funding Amount: The provided text does not specify a funding amount. The ECHE is an accreditation, not a grant providing a specific monetary value. However, holding an ECHE is a prerequisite for HEIs to apply for funding under other Erasmus+ actions.

Application Type: The application type is an open call with multiple cut-off dates. This means that there are several deadlines throughout the program's duration when applications can be submitted and evaluated.

Nature of Support: The nature of support is non-monetary services. The Erasmus Charter for Higher Education is an accreditation that enables institutions to apply for funding under the Erasmus+ Programme. It does not provide direct financial support but rather opens doors to various funding opportunities within Erasmus+.

Application Stages: The application process involves evaluation against admissibility, eligibility, and award criteria by an Evaluation Committee. The number of stages is not explicitly mentioned, but it involves at least one stage of evaluation after submission.

Success Rates: Based on the evaluation results from the first cut-off, the success rate can be estimated. 339 proposals were submitted, 7 were inadmissible, 18 were ineligible, and 239 were accepted. This suggests a rough success rate of approximately 70.5% (239/339) for admissible and eligible proposals. However, this is just for the first cut-off.

Co-funding Requirement: The provided text does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement for obtaining the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education.

Summary: This opportunity is a call for Higher Education Institutions to obtain the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE), which is essential for participating in Erasmus+ Programme activities. The ECHE accreditation is open to both public and private HEIs located in eligible countries, including EU Member States, EEA countries, countries associated with the Erasmus+ Programme, and specific Western Balkans third countries. The application process involves a thorough evaluation of the institution's capacity and commitment to Erasmus+ principles. There is no monetary funding directly associated with obtaining the ECHE, but it is a prerequisite for accessing various funding opportunities under the Erasmus+ Programme, particularly those related to learning mobility and cooperation for innovation. The call follows a multiple cut-off date model, allowing institutions to apply at different times throughout the year. The success rate for admissible and eligible proposals is relatively high, but institutions must meet specific eligibility and quality criteria to be awarded the charter.