Ensuring European Student Card Initiative continuity and stability

There have been many changes and updates in recent months around the European Student Card Initiative. Given these changes, we want to underline the European Commission’s support for the ESCI's digital infrastructure until the end of the current Erasmus+ programme period in 2027. Preserving business continuity remains a top priority.

Why we're committed

The European Student Card Initiative (ESCI) remains as important today as when it was first launched.

ESCI is a flagship action supporting the creation of a more interconnected and inclusive European Education Area. It enables higher education institutions to exchange data securely and efficiently, while empowering students to validate their student status wherever they are in Europe.

At its core, ESCI is about breaking down administrative barriers, enhancing student mobility, and ensuring that digital tools facilitate, rather than hinder, the Erasmus+ experience.

Continuity for institutions and stakeholders

As part of its ongoing commitment to the ESCI, the European Commission reaffirms its support for the digital infrastructure behind the Erasmus Without Paper (EWP) Network and the European Student Card (ESC). This support will remain in place until the conclusion of the current Erasmus+ programme period, ensuring continuity for institutions and stakeholders across Europe.

Continuity for the Erasmus+ digital ecosystem

Over the past years, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), along with third-party IT providers and in-house systems, have made significant investments to implement and integrate digital mobility processes. Interinstitutional Agreements (IIAs) and Learning Agreements (LAs) have been a particular focus. The Commission acknowledges these efforts and reiterates that preserving business continuity remains a top priority.

Support maintained

Throughout the current programme we will support the:

• EWP Network
• EWP Dashboard
• Statistical portal
• Helpdesk

This support ensures operational stability and lasting value for the time and resources invested by HEIs and the broader Erasmus+ community in the digital transformation of mobility processes.

Status and upcoming developments

Learning Agreement API

• no major architectural changes are foreseen before the end of the current programme
• minor updates may be introduced as new Erasmus+ programme guidelines take shape

Nomination API

• technical specifications have been finalised after extensive consultation with the IT community
• the rollout will begin with beta testers in the coming months, followed by a broader deployment to the entire EWP community by the end of 2025
• a detailed timeline will be published soon

Transcript of Records (ToR)

• currently under discussion in the Infrastructure Forum
• API development is ongoing and the timing for roll out is being discussed by DG EAC, the EWP+ consortium, and user groups

Other community support

We will also keep providing

• regular updates for national agencies and authorities to guarantee aligned guidance and implementation across EU countries
• dedicated outreach activities, including webinars and town-hall meetings, to provide hands-on assistance with key digital processes
• stakeholder engagement channels through working groups to ensure effective two-way communication and input from the field

Summary

By the end of 2024, over 3 300 HEIs were successfully connected to the EWP Network, and more than 1.2 million active European Student Cards were in circulation. The community can be proud of this sustained growth as the numbers continue to grow.

The work undertaken by IROs in higher education institutions and their IT teams continues to drive Erasmus+ mobility forward, with no disruption expected.

Discussions for the post-2027 programme are underway. The Commission's guiding principles will continue to be transparency, continuity, and reliability.

Together, we are building a future-proof foundation for European student mobility - digital, seamless, and inclusive.