Transition to the updated EWP inter-institutional agreement API (version 7)

After the update, institutions can modify and terminate inter-institutional agreements across all systems, among other improvements.

Where can I find information on the functionalities?

For more information about the functionalities of the new version, please read this article published in September 2023.

How is the update organised?

From 25 March onwards, software providers that have concluded their developments and testing can start the technical preparation to update their system to the new version.

During this transition period, from 25 March until 2 April, institutions should not plan any exchanges of inter-institutional agreements in the network.

After this period, institutions using systems upgraded to version 7 can resume exchanging agreements with their partners.

The transition is a technical task and software providers should keep their users informed about its progress.

How do I know if my system is ready for the update?

Your software provider will inform you about the status of the update. You can also consult the results of technical tests (under the column IIAs v.7.0 in the table).

Does this update have an impact on mutually approved inter-institutional agreements?

No. All agreements previously approved in the EWP network, or through other means, remain valid for the duration they were approved for.

You do not need to adjust any data in your existing agreements considering the update. All institutions can proceed as normal with nominations of their students based on their mutually approved inter-institutional agreements.

If you need to modify an agreement after the transition due to an agreed change in the cooperation, you will be required on this occasion to adjust fields in line with the updated standards (e.g., provide a 4-digit ISCED code if not done in the earlier version of the agreement).

What does the update mean for new agreements or agreements initiated but not approved before the update?

All new inter-institutional agreements initiated after the update will automatically follow the new standards. All inter-institutional agreements initiated but not approved by both parties before the update also need to follow the new standards for them to become mutually approved.

In many cases, the draft agreement already follows the new standard (e.g., 4-digit ISCED codes and language requirements are provided) and in this case, no additional action is required by the users.

What happens with my agreements if my institution is not ready for the update?

The agreements approved via the EWP network before the update remain valid for the duration they were approved for.

For any new agreements or agreements not yet approved via the EWP network, you can conclude them outside the network or wait until both partners support the updated EWP inter-institutional agreement API.

What happens with my agreements if my partner is not ready for the update?

The agreements approved via the EWP network before the update remain valid for the duration they were approved for.

For any new agreements or agreements not yet approved via the EWP network, you can conclude them outside the EWP network or wait until both partners support the updated inter-institutional agreement EWP API.

You can check in the EWP Stats Portal if your partner institution is connected to the version 7 of the inter-institutional agreement API. See the EWP Stats Portal guide [pdf] for more information.

Where do I go for support if I have questions?

You can reach out to the ESCI Service Desk to report any technical problems or questions you may encounter. In case of doubts, contact your National Agency for support. You can also consult the FAQs for more information.