Erasmus+

The European Union’s Erasmus+ Programme is a funding scheme to support activities in the fields of Education, Training, Youth and Sport. The European Commission is responsible for Erasmus+ policies and oversees the overall programme implementation for the period 2014-2021.

The Programme is made up of three so-called “Key Actions” and two additional actions, partly managed at the national level by National Agencies and partly at the European level by the EACEA – Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency.

Programme “Key Actions” are:

• KA 1 – Learning mobility of individuals
• KA2 – Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices
• KA3 – Support to policy reform
• Additional action 1: Jean Monnet (Supporting teaching, studies and debate on the EU)
• Additional Action 2: Promoting the development of the European dimension in sport

The HERMES project is funded under Key Action 2, Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices, which makes it possible for organisations from different participating countries to work together, to develop, share and transfer best practices and innovative approaches in the fields of education, training and youth.

Under KA2, the specific sub-action called Transnational Strategic Partnerships for Vocational Education and Training (VET) is managed at the national level by delegated Erasmus+ National Authorities. Project under this peculiar framework, such as HERMES, aim to develop initiatives addressing one or more fields of education training and youth, promoting innovation, exchange of experience and know-how between different types of organisations involved in education, training and youth or in other relevant fields.

Among the possible activities to be undertaken under the sub-action Transnational Strategic Partnerships for Vocational Education and Training (VET) we find:

• development, experimentation and implementation of innovative practices
• support for the development, recognition and validation of knowledge, skills and abilities acquired through formal, non-formal and informal learning experiences
• cooperation between regional authorities for the promotion of the development of education and training systems and their integration into local and regional development actions
• strengthening cooperation between organizations in order to facilitate the exchange of practices
• transnational initiatives to support entrepreneurial skills, to encourage active citizenship and entrepreneurship (including social entrepreneurship)
• support for learners with disabilities / special needs to complete their educational cycle and facilitate their transition in the labour market also through the fight against segregation and discrimination in education
• activities to better prepare education and training professionals on the challenges of equality, diversity and inclusion in the learning environment

Other activities foreseen under the KA2 Action are:

• activities that strengthen the cooperation and networking between organisations
• testing and/or implementation of innovative practices in the field of education, training and youth
• activities that facilitate the recognition and validation of knowledge, skills and competences acquired through formal, non-formal and informal learning
• activities of cooperation between regional authorities to promote the development of education, training and youth systems and their integration in actions of local and regional development
• activities to support learners with disabilities/special needs to complete education cycles and facilitate their transition into the labour market, including by combating segregation and discrimination in education for marginalised communities
• activities to better prepare and deploy the education and training of professionals for equity, diversity and inclusion challenges in the learning environment
• activities to promote the integration of refugees, asylum seekers and newly arrived migrants and raise awareness about the refugee crisis in Europe
• transnational initiatives fostering entrepreneurial mind-sets and skills, to encourage active citizenship and entrepreneurship (including social entrepreneurship), jointly carried out by two or more groups of young people from different countries.