Capacity building in Higher Education: Pacific

The Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) program is currently offering funding opportunities specifically focused on Region 8a, which includes Pacific nations. The program aims to strengthen higher education systems through international partnerships with a focus on modernization, quality, and socio-economic resilience. The funding mechanism is structured as ERASMUS Lump Sum Grants, offering flexibility in budget management to allow institutions to allocate resources across various project activities. Eligible applicants include higher education institutions, research organizations, and national authorities from countries in the Pacific region that are not associated with the Erasmus+ Programme. This encompasses a wide range of organizations, including those from least developed nations and remote areas, with an emphasis on collaboration with EU or associated countries. The deadline for application submissions is set for February 10, 2026, and projects are expected to adhere to specific thematic areas such as climate adaptation, digital transformation, sustainable growth, and the modernization of higher education systems. The funding for Region 8a is specifically allocated to Strand 1 of the program, with a budget of €450,663 intended to support one project. The proposal process follows a single-stage submission, meaning applicants need to submit fully developed proposals without multi-stage evaluation. Each application will be evaluated based on quality, relevance, partnership collaboration, and potential impact, with a minimum score of 60 out of 100 required for funding consideration. The indicative budget for the entire 2026 CBHE call is significantly larger, totaling €113,117,100 distributed across various strands, but for the Pacific region, only Strand 1 has available funds. Successful projects will likely focus on enhancing educational management, accessibility, and quality within the targeted institutions. Overall, this opportunity provides a crucial channel for developing capacity and addressing key educational challenges faced by Pacific islands while fostering sustainable partnerships and systemic change in higher education.

The Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) call, part of the Erasmus+ Programme, funds international higher-education partnerships to strengthen universities and systems in eligible third countries not associated with the Programme. It aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement, supporting quality, modernisation, and responsiveness in higher education to address socio-economic recovery and global challenges. The action contributes to the European Commission's overarching priorities and broader EU external policy goals, including Global Gateway initiatives and the Pact for the Mediterranean.

The total indicative budget for the 2026 CBHE call is €113,117,100, divided among three strands: Strand 1 with €23,359,660, Strand 2 with €60,135,486, and Strand 3 with €29,621,954.

For Region 8a Pacific, the indicative budget is €450,663, intended to fund one project under Strand 1. Strands 2 and 3 have no budget allocation for this region. There is flexibility to transfer budgets between the Strands.

In Region 8a Pacific, overarching priorities include the Green Deal, Digital Transformation, and Sustainable Growth and Jobs. For Strands 1 and 2, these priorities are further detailed in the regional context. The Green Deal aims to modernise economies, establish links with the private sector, and create knowledge and capacity to adapt to climate change. Digital Transformation focuses on digital governance, partnerships, and connectivity, addressing challenges of distance and insularity. Sustainable Growth and Jobs aims to support the creation of stable knowledge repositories, avoid brain drain, enhance domestic education systems, and develop the "blue economy" concept.

For proposals referencing an Erasmus+ Global Gateway relevant priority, applicants should select the ‘Global Gateway’ fixed keyword. Strand 3 proposals must align with Erasmus+ Global Gateway-related priorities defined at the country or cluster of countries level. Applicants submitting proposals under Region 8a Pacific should propose academic capacity building aspects that align with the Global Gateway investment priorities and projects for the country/region concerned.

Applicants must identify one of the overarching priorities defined by the European Commission in Part A of the application form.

Beyond the overarching priorities, the CBHE action in Region 8a is composed of three specific strands:

Strand 1:Fostering access to cooperation in higher education. This strand targets less experienced HEIs and small-scale actors, focusing on HEIs from least developed third countries, HEIs in remote regions, newcomer HEIs and faculties, and students and staff with fewer opportunities. Activities include enhancing management/administrative capacity, ensuring high quality and relevant education, and increasing accessibility for students/staff with fewer opportunities. Examples of activities are reforming university governance, establishing international relations offices, developing quality assurance units, creating planning and evaluation units, enhancing communication mechanisms, building capacities for student and staff mobility, developing study programs, implementing training courses for HEI staff, creating synergies with the business sector, developing remote and inclusive learning pathways, updating digital technology for students with disabilities, promoting positive discrimination, and reducing barriers faced by disadvantaged groups.

Strand 2:Partnerships for transformation in higher education. This strand introduces new approaches and initiatives in higher education with a significant and long-term impact on targeted HEIs. Projects should pursue innovation in higher education and reform in HEIs. Activities include developing innovative curricula, implementing new learning methods, introducing Bologna-type reforms, introducing practical training schemes, internships, and study of real-life cases, introducing dual learning systems, developing solutions for challenging issues, supporting innovation centers, developing continuous education programs, reforming governance and management systems, developing strategies for internationalisation, and developing tools for upskilling academic and administrative staff.

Strand 3:Structural reform projects. This strand supports efforts in third countries to develop coherent, inclusive, and sustainable systems of higher education to meet their socio-economic needs and ambition to create a knowledge-driven economy, including in STEM fields. Projects involve National Authorities, HEIs, research institutions, and other relevant stakeholders.

The proposal page limit is 40 pages, as described in the call document. Evaluation criteria, scoring, threshold, and process are also detailed in the call document.

The call was published on 26 November 2025, and the deadline for submitting applications is 10 February 2026 at 17:00 Brussels Time. The evaluation period is from March to June 2026, with information to applicants in July 2026 and signature of the grant agreement in November 2026.

Relevant documents include the call document, application form templates (Standard application form ERASMUS BB and LSII, Detailed budget table ERASMUS LSII), guidance documents (ERASMUS Programme Guide, How to manage your lump sum grants, Guide for applicants), Model Grant Agreements (Lump Sum MGA), 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, and Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual.

For help related to this call, contact EACEA-EPLUS-CBHE@ec.europa.eu. Additional resources include the Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ and the IT Helpdesk.

In summary, this call aims to bolster higher education in third countries through international partnerships, focusing on modernization, quality, and relevance to global challenges. Region 8a Pacific has a specific focus on the Green Deal, Digital Transformation, and Sustainable Growth and Jobs, with funding available primarily for Strand 1 projects. Applicants should carefully consult the call document and related materials to ensure their proposals align with the objectives and priorities of the Erasmus+ Programme and the Global Gateway initiative.

Eligible Applicant Types:The eligible applicant types are Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) from least developed third countries not associated to the Programme, HEIs located in remote regions/areas of third countries not associated to the Programme, Newcomers or less experienced HEIs and Faculties from third countries not associated to the Programme. The call also targets students and staff with fewer opportunities. The call specifies that the projects should involve the competent National Authorities (notably Ministries of Education) of third countries not associated to the Programme as well as HEIs, research institutions and other relevant authorities/bodies and stakeholders.

Funding Type:The funding type is a grant, specifically an ERASMUS Lump Sum Grant (ERASMUS-LS).

Consortium Requirement:The opportunity requires international higher-education partnerships, implying a consortium of multiple applicants.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):The geographic eligibility focuses on third countries not associated to the Programme, with a specific focus on Region 8a – Pacific.

Target Sector:The program targets the higher education sector, with a focus on capacity building, modernization, and responsiveness in higher education systems. It also targets areas such as green deal, digital transformation, sustainable growth and jobs, science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM).

Mentioned Countries:The opportunity focuses on Region 8a – Pacific, which includes countries in the Pacific region. No specific countries are explicitly named, but the region is the focus.

Project Stage:The project stage is variable, ranging from fostering access to cooperation (Strand 1) to partnerships for transformation (Strand 2) and structural reform (Strand 3). This suggests projects can be in various stages of development, from initial cooperation to more advanced reform initiatives.

Funding Amount:For Region 8a Pacific, the indicative budget for Strand 1 is €450,663, with an expectation of funding one project. Strands 2 and 3 have an indicative budget of €0 for this region. The total 2026 CBHE indicative budget is €113,117,100, distributed across different strands and regions.

Application Type:The application type is an open call, as indicated by the publication of the call and the defined deadline for submitting applications.

Nature of Support:Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of lump sum grants.

Application Stages:The application process appears to be a single-stage process, as indicated by the "single-stage" deadline model.

Success Rates:The success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but for Region 8a Pacific, only one project is expected to be funded under Strand 1, suggesting a competitive process.

Co-funding Requirement:The document does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required.

Summary:

The Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) program is offering grants to international higher-education partnerships that aim to strengthen universities and systems in eligible third countries not associated with the Programme. The program is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement, supporting quality, modernization, and responsiveness in higher education to address socio-economic recovery and global challenges.

The call is structured into regions and strands, with Region 8a – Pacific having specific overarching priorities related to the Green Deal, digital transformation, and sustainable growth and jobs. There are three strands: Fostering access to cooperation in higher education (Strand 1), Partnerships for transformation in higher education (Strand 2), and Structural reform projects (Strand 3).

The indicative budget for Region 8a Pacific is €450,663 for Strand 1, with an expectation to fund one project. Strands 2 and 3 have no allocated budget for this region. Eligible applicants include Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) from least developed third countries, HEIs in remote regions, and newcomer HEIs and Faculties. The application deadline is February 10, 2026. The funding type is an ERASMUS Lump Sum Grant, and the application process is a single-stage open call.