The European Commission

The European Commission is ultimately responsible for the running of the Erasmus+ Programme. It manages the budget and sets priorities, targets and criteria for the Programme on an on-going basis. Furthermore, it guides and monitors the general implementation, follow-up and evaluation of the Programme at European level. The European Commission also bears the overall responsibility for the supervision and coordination of the structures in charge of implementing the Programme at national level.

The European Commission's European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA)

At the European level, the European Commission's European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) is responsible for the implementation of a number of actions of the Erasmus+ Programme. EACEA implements the programme in direct management. In addition to the information contained in this Guide, the relevant Call documents and application forms for the actions covered by this Guide and managed by the Executive Agency are published in the Funding and Tender Opportunity Portal.

The Executive Agency is in charge of the complete life-cycle management of these projects, from the promotion of the Programme, the evaluation of the grant applications, the monitoring of projects, up to the dissemination of the projects and Programme's results. It is also responsible for launching specific calls for proposals relating to some actions of the Programme that are not covered by this guide.

The European Commission, notably through the Executive Agency, is also responsible for:

• carrying out studies in the fields supported by the Programme;
• carrying out research and evidence-based activities through the Eurydice network;
• improving the visibility and the systemic impact of the Programme through dissemination and exploitation activities of the Programme’s results;
• ensuring the contractual management and financing of bodies and networks supported by the Erasmus Programme;
• managing calls for tenders to provide services within the framework of the Programme.  

The National Agencies

The implementation of the Erasmus+ Programme is mainly implemented through indirect management, meaning that the European Commission entrusts budget implementation tasks to National Agencies. The rationale of this approach is to bring Erasmus+ as close as possible to its beneficiaries and to adapt to the diversity of national education, training and youth systems. For this purpose, each EU Member State or third country associated to the Programme has appointed one or more National Agencies. These National Agencies promote and implement the Programme at national level and are the link between the European Commission and participating organisations at local, regional and national levels. Their tasks are to:

• provide with appropriate information on the Erasmus+ Programme;
• administer a fair and transparent selection process for project applications to be funded in their country;
• monitor and evaluate the implementation of the Programme in their country;
• provide support to project applicants and participating organisations throughout the project life-cycle;
• collaborate effectively with the network of all National Agencies and the European Commission;
• promote and ensure the visibility of the Programme;
• promote the dissemination and exploitation of the results of the Programme at local and national level.

In addition, National Agencies play an important role as intermediate structures for the policy development and qualitative implementation of the Erasmus+ Programme by:  

• carrying out projects and activities outside of the tasks of project life-cycle management that support the qualitative implementation of the Programme and/or trigger policy developments in the fields supported by the Programme, such as Training and Cooperation Activities and Networking Activities;
• providing a supportive approach to newcomers, less experienced organisations and target groups with fewer opportunities, in order to remove the obstacles to full participation in the Programme;
• seeking cooperation with external bodies and National Authorities in order to increase the impact of the Programme their respective fields of action, in their country and in the European Union.

The supportive approach of the National Agencies aims to guide the potential applicants and beneficiaries of the Programme and through all phases, from the first contact with the Programme through the application process to the implementation of the project and the final evaluation. This approach is in line with the fairness and transparency principles of the selection procedures. It is based on the idea that in order to guarantee equal opportunities for everybody, it is necessary to support the Programme’s target groups through advising, counselling, monitoring, and coaching systems tailored to their needs.

The relevant calls covering the actions managed by the Erasmus+ National Agencies are published on the Erasmus+ Website and publicised on the websites of the National Agencies.

What other bodies are involved in the implementation of the Programme?

Apart from the bodies mentioned above, the following Resource Centres and information offices, platforms, and knowledge and expert networks provide complementary expertise to the implementation of the Erasmus+ Programme.

SALTO Resource Centres

The aim of the SALTO Resource Centres is to improve the quality and impact of the Erasmus+ programme at a systemic level through providing expertise, resources, information and training activities in specific areas for Erasmus+ National Agencies and other actors involved in education, training and youth work. Among others, these activities include organising training courses, seminars workshops, study visits, forums, cooperation and partnership-building activities on Erasmus+ priority themes.

Each SALTO Resource Centre can fully cover all fields of the Programme, or only some. Depending on their scope of action, the SALTO Resource Centres can have either a thematic or regional focus (Eastern Partnership Countries and Russia, Southern Mediterranean, Western Balkans), or a support focus (Europan Solidarity Corps, Training and Cooperation Activities). The regional SALTOs, for example, only cover actions in the field of Youth.

Moreover, the SALTO Resource Centres offer a series of online tools and databases through the SALTO websites, such as an overview of European training activities for youth workers in the European Training Calendar; tools and methods for educational activities; online learning opportunities; a database of trainers and resource persons in the field of youth work; and the possibility to look for partner organisations. The tasks of the SALTO Resources Centres include monitoring and presenting programme achievements, experiences and lessons learnt in their specific areas.

SALTO resource Centres supporting Erasmus+ transversal priorities

In line with the transversal priorities of Erasmus+, four SALTO Resource centres support these priorities:

SALTO Inclusion and Diversity

Two SALTO Resource Centres work together to support the priority on Inclusion and Diversity across all programme fields: one in the field of education and training, and one in the field of youth.

The mission of these SALTO Resource Centres is to improve the quality and impact of Erasmus+ projects, with a view to making the programme more inclusive and diverse.

More specifically, these SALTOs also act as evidence-based knowledge hubs and impartial brokers based on their expertise and experience with programme management in the field of inclusion and diversity. This means continuously building and channelling the knowledge and lessons learned from programme implementation in this thematic area into the contexts of programme development in cooperation with the NA network and the Commission through appropriate platforms. Moreover, these SALTOs support the National Agencies to implement the programme in a way that puts into practice the relevant policy decisions (e.g. Council conclusions/resolutions), results of mutual learning activities, and decisions on the inclusion and diversity priority.

Key responsibilities on SALTOs for Inclusion and Diversity are:

• Raise the quality and impact of projects and activities of Erasmus+, focusing on the inclusion and diversity priority.
• Help to optimise the implementation, monitoring and follow-up of the inclusion and diversity priority in education and training as defined in the Erasmus+ programme.
• Play a key role in guiding the National Agencies on analysis and impact evaluation of projects focusing on the inclusion and diversity priority in education and training.

SALTO on green transition and sustainable development

The SALTO Resource Centre on green transition and sustainable development covers all fields of the Erasmus+ Programme and contributes to tackling the challenges of climate change through our programmes, addressing climate and environmental-related topics throughout the actions.

This SALTO is supporting the implementation of the priority on environmental protection, sustainability and fight against climate change in the new Programmes in line with the European Green Deal and the Climate Pact, supporting the actions of the European Education Area in terms of education for climate and sustainability, and contributing directly to the achievement of one of the 11 European Youth Goals (Sustainable Green Europe) included in the EU Youth Strategy. Key responsibilities of SALTO on green transition and sustainable development are:

• raising the quality and impact of projects and activities of Erasmus+, focusing on sustainability and fight against climate change
• helping to optimise the implementation, monitoring and follow-up of the priority on environmental protection, sustainability and fight against climate change, as defined in the Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps programmes
• playing a key role in guiding the National Agencies on analysis and impact evaluation of projects focusing on the environmental protection, sustainability, and fight against climate change priority of the programmes

SALTO digital

The SALTO Digital Resource Centre covers all fields of the Erasmus+ Programme and, in line with the Digital Education Action Plan and key policy documents for youth, supports the implementation of the digital dimension as an overarching priority in the Erasmus and European Solidarity Corps Programmes, continuously raising the quality of digital education and digital aspects in the field of youth. It acts as an evidence-based knowledge hub in the field of digital Education and Youth, and channel knowledge in the area of its mandate into programme as well as policy development. Key responsibilities on SALTO Digital are:

• raising the quality and impact of projects and activities of our programmes, focusing on the digital priorities
• helping to optimise the implementation, monitoring and follow-up of digital education and youth priorities as defined in the Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps programmes
• playing a key role in guiding the National Agencies on analysis and impact evaluation of projects focusing on the digital priorities of the programmes, which would also feed into policy and stakeholder fora and in particular the European Digital Education Hub

SALTO participation and information

The SALTO Participation and Information Resource Centre covers all fields of the Erasmus+ Programme and sets up strategic and innovative actions to encourage active participation in democratic life, including through:

• Developing guidance for applicants and beneficiaries, in particular to foster the involvement of young people in democratic decision-making, the youth participation in civic and social life through volunteering or taking up a role in youth organisations;
• Providing guidance to and support for all National Agencies on state-of-the art strategies for reaching out to a higher number of young people, increasing quality and impact of information activities as well as their inclusiveness and the sustainability and transferability of project results.

In addition to these SALTOs, two field specific SALTO Resource Centres contribute to developing the capacities of the National Agencies and beneficiary organisations to work with Erasmus+, facilitating transnational cooperation, networking and mutual learning among National Agencies and different stakeholders, mainly through Training and Cooperation Activities (TCAs).

TCAs are organised by Erasmus+ National Agencies with the purpose of bringing added value and increasing the overall quality of the Erasmus+ programme. TCAs can be workshops, seminars and other types of events or activities (such as research) that focus on sharing good practices, lessons learnt and provide networking opportunities amongst Erasmus+ stakeholders. In particular, contact making seminars are an efficient way to find partners for newcomers. TCA participants can be the representatives of those institutions which are already participating in the Erasmus+ Programme or planning to apply for a grant in the Programme.

SALTO training and cooperation for education and training

• offers a platform to support European Training and Cooperation activities (TCAs)
• enables stakeholders to, inter alia, develop their organisations' capacities to fully seize Erasmus+ opportunities
• shares best practices across European countries, find partners, or increase their projects' impact at the European level

More information available at www.salto-et.net.

SALTO training and cooperation in the field of youth

The SALTO Training and Cooperation Resource Centre focuses on developing European youth work strategic and innovative actions to ensure the overall quality approach to training strategies and activities in the youth field, and the recognition of non-formal and informal learning in youth work throughout Europe, including through:

• developing and implementing processes, activities, and tools within the Youthpass Strategy to support and promote the recognition and validation of non-formal and informal learning activities and of youth work
• developing and implementing processes, activities, and tools within the European Training Strategy in the field of youth, to support capacity building and quality development of European youth work
• enhancing the quality of youth projects through training courses, tools and practical publications and guidance
• providing support to National Agencies staff through the Knowledge Management and Staff Training

Regional SALTO resource centres in the field of youth

The three regional SALTOs: SALTO SOUTH EAST EUROPE, SALTO EASTERN EUROPE and CAUCASUS and SALTO EUROMED fosters strategic and innovative cooperation between stakeholders from EU Member States and third countries associated to the Programme and third countries not associated to the Programme in Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps, aiming to:

• further raise the quantity, quality and impact of projects and partnerships,
• support youth work and youth policy development in third countries not associated to the Programme in the Western Balkans, Eastern Partnership and Russia and in the South-Mediterranean

More information available at: www.salto-et.net and www.salto-youth.net

Information offices

National Erasmus+ Offices

In certain third countries not associated to the Programme, (Western Balkans, Neighbourhood East, South-Mediterranean countries, Central Asia), the National Erasmus+ Offices (NEOs) assist the Commission, the Executive Agency and the local authorities in the implementation of the Erasmus+ Programme. They are the focal point in these countries for their stakeholders involved in the Erasmus+ Programme in the area of higher education, vocational education and training, youth and sports. They contribute to improving awareness, visibility, relevance, effectiveness and impact of the international dimension of Erasmus+.

The National Erasmus+ Offices are responsible for:

• providing information about Erasmus+ activities that are open to the participation of their countries (including in the fields of higher education, VET, youth and sports, where relevant);
• advising and assisting potential applicants;
• coordinating the local team of Higher Education Reform Experts (HEREs);
• contributing to studies and events;
• providing support to policy dialogue;
• maintaining contacts with the local authorities and EU Delegations;
• following policy developments in the above mentioned areas in their country.

Erasmus+ National Focal Points

In certain third countries not associated to the Programme (Americas, Saharan Africa, Middle East, Asia and Pacific) the network of National Focal Points (NFPs) support the Commission, the Executive Agency and the local authorities to provide guidance, practical information and assistance on all aspects of participation in Erasmus+ in the field of higher education, youth, vocational education and training and sport. They act as focal points for the stakeholders in their country and contribute to improving awareness, visibility, relevance, effectiveness and impact of the international dimension of Erasmus+.

National Academic Recognition Information Centres (NARIC)

The NARIC network provides information concerning the recognition of diplomas and periods of study undertaken in other European countries as well as advice on foreign academic diplomas in the country where the NARIC is established. The NARIC network provides authoritative advice to anyone travelling abroad for the purposes of work or further education, but also to institutions, students, advisers, parents, teachers and prospective employers.

The European Commission supports the activities of the NARIC network through the exchange of information and experience between countries, the identification of good practices, the comparative analysis of systems and policies in this field, and the discussion and analysis of matters of common educational policy interest.

More information available at: https://www.enic-naric.net/

Eurodesk network

The Eurodesk network offers information services to young people and those who work with them on European opportunities in the education, training and youth fields, and the involvement of young people in European activities.

Present in all EU Member States and third countries associated to the Programme, and coordinated at European level by the Eurodesk Brussels-link Office, the Eurodesk network offers enquiry answering services, funding information, events and publications. It also contributes to the animation of the European Youth Portal.

The European Youth Portal offers European and national information and opportunities that are of interest to young people who are living, learning and working in Europe. It provides information in 28 languages.

To access the European Youth Portal, please go to: http://europa.eu/youth/. For more information on Eurodesk, please go to: https://www.eurodesk.eu.

Otlas – the partner finding tool for organisations in the youth field

One of the tools developed and hosted by the SALTO-Youth Resource Centres is Otlas, a central online partner finding tool for organisations in the youth field. Organisations can register their contact details and areas of interest in Otlas, and also create partner requests for project ideas.

More information available at: www.salto-youth.net/otlas or https://www.otlas.eu/

Platforms and tools

The Erasmus+ Project Results Platform

The Erasmus+ Project Results Platform provides access to information and results concerning all projects funded under the Erasmus+ Programme. Organisations can find their inspiration in the wealth of project information and make use of the results and lessons learned from Erasmus+ implementation.

Project information and results displayed on the platform must be fully compliant with personal data rules and regulations applicable. This is primarily the responsibility of project beneficiaries under the oversight of project officers in the Agencies.

Projects can be searched by keyword, key action, year, country, topic, type of results, etc. Searches can be saved and constantly updated on the most recent projects, according to pre-defined criteria. Good practice projects - which have been identified in terms of policy relevance, impact, communication potential - are highlighted.

The Erasmus+ Project Results Platform can be accessed here: https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/projects

European School Education Platform (ESEP) and eTwinning

The European School Education Platform is the meeting point for all stakeholders in the school education sector – school staff, researchers, policymakers and other professionals – spanning every level from early childhood education and care to primary and secondary school, including initial vocational education and training.

The platform is also home to eTwinning, a community of teachers and school staff hosting a secure space accessible only to staff vetted by National Support Organisations (NSO). Participants can take part in many activities: carrying out projects with other schools and classrooms; discussions with colleagues and development of professional networking, involvement in a variety of professional development opportunities (online and face-to-face).

Teachers and schools participating in eTwinning receive support from their National Support Organisations (NSO). These are organisations appointed by the competent national authorities. They assist schools during the process of registration, partner finding and project activity, promote the use of eTwinning, deliver prizes and quality labels and organise professional development activities for teachers.

The National Support Organisations are coordinated by a Central Support Service (CSS), which is also responsible for the development of the European School Education Platform and the organisation of teacher professional development activities at European level.

You can access the European School Education Platform and eTwinning at: https://school-education.ec.europa.eu/

Electronic Platform for Adult Learning (EPALE)

The Electronic Platform for Adult Learning in Europe – known as EPALE – is an initiative of the European Commission funded by the Erasmus+ Programme. It is open to adult learning professionals: teachers, educators, trainers and volunteers, as well as policy-makers, researchers, journalists and academics, and others involved in adult learning.

The site offers up-to-date news on developments in the field and interactive networks, enabling users to link with others all around Europe, engage in discussions and exchange good practice. Amongst many tools and content, EPALE offers instruments of specific interest for Erasmus+ (potential) beneficiaries. Some examples include:

• A Calendar of courses and events
• A Partner-search tool, useful to find partners to prepare an EU-funded project or to find or offer a job shadowing opportunity
• A Course Catalogue, where visitors can find a broad range of online and offline courses
• Communities of practice offer an additional facility to liaise with people and organisations with similar interest
• Collaborative spaces, where project partners can work in a safe environment to develop their project
• The Erasmus+Space, a safe and secure tool in particular for Erasmus+ KA1 and KA2 project coordinators and their partners to put blended mobility/cooperation into practice and to use it for project management and dissemination;
• A Resource centre, where project beneficiaries can source useful reference material and /or post articles, teaching materials, reports, manuals, and any other material produced by their project or their organisation, hence offering an additional dissemination opportunity
• A Blog, where participants in projects can share their experience or upload videos presenting their results in an informal and dynamic way.

Projects that receive EU funding are encouraged to share information on their activities and results on the platform through blog posts, news, events and other kinds of activities.

EPALE is implemented by a Central Support Service and a network of National Support Organisations in EU Member States and third countries associated to the Programme which are in charge of identifying interesting information and encourage stakeholders to use and contribute to the platform.

EPALE can be accessed at: https://epale.ec.europa.eu/.

Self-reflection on Effective Learning by Fostering the use of Innovative Educational technologies (SELFIE)

SELFIE (“Self-reflection on Effective Learning by Fostering the use of Innovative Educational technologies”) is a free, multilingual, web-based, self-reflection tool to help general and vocational schools develop their digital capacity.

SELFIE for Schools anonymously gathers the views of students, teachers and school leaders on how technology is used in their school. This is done using short statements and questions and a simple 1-5 answer scale. Based on this input, the tool generates a report – a snapshot (‘SELFIE’) of a school‘s strengths and weaknesses in their use of technology. SELFIE is available for any primary, secondary and vocational schools in Europe and beyond, and in over 30 languages. It can be used by any school – not just those with advanced levels of infrastructure, equipment and technology use.

The Covid-19 pandemic has shown a massive shift towards digital technologies for remote working and learning, including for VET. It also demonstrated the difficulty of maintaining the work-based learning (WBL) part of VET in companies, which makes it even more urgent to increase the effectiveness of the dialogue between VET teachers and in-company trainers via digital means.

As part of the Digital Education Action Plan, a new tool for teachers (‘SELFIE for Teachers’) available in all official EU languages allows teachers to self-assess their digital competence and confidence and to get immediate feedback on strengths and gaps and where they can further develop. Teams of teachers can also work together to use the tool and develop a training plan.

In October 2021, the new SELFIE tool for work-based learning (WBL) was launched in all official EU-languages. It helps to bring VET institutions and companies closer together to jointly discuss how to best embed digital technology in the education and training provided. SELFIE for work-based learning not only gathers the three perspectives of school leaders, VET teachers and learners, but also adds as a fourth perspective the view of in-company trainers. Further work on SELFIE for work-based learning will focus on exploring how the tool can support policy monitoring and development at country and EU level. In addition, the impact of SELFIE for WBL on companies should also be further analysed to explore further involvement of companies or to develop further the tool to cover different aspects according to companies’ needs.

SELFIE has been developed by the Joint Research Centre and Directorate General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC).

More information about SELFIE can be found here: https://education.ec.europa.eu/selfie

HEInnovate

The HEInnovate guiding framework offers higher education institutions (HEIs) in the EU and beyond the opportunity to examine their innovation and entrepreneurship capacities through self-reflection in one or several of eight dimensions available, which are:

• Leadership and Governance
• Organisational Capacity: Funding, People and Incentives
• Entrepreneurial Teaching and Learning
• Preparing and Supporting Entrepreneurs
• Digital Transformation and Capability
• Knowledge Exchange and Collaboration
• The Internationalised Institution
• Measuring Impact

HEInnovate is also a community of practice and its experts offer workshops for HEIs to improve their innovation performance and train the trainers events to disseminate the approach more widely at national level. Training materials are available on the website. The platform also provides case studies and user stories to showcase examples of different innovation approaches in HEIs throughout the EU. A number of Country Reviews have been done in collaboration with the OECD and are available on the HEInnovate and OECD websites. The HEInnovate Country Reports show innovation and entrepreneurship approaches in different EU member states.

Erasmus+ -funded projects such as the European University alliances and the Alliances for Innovation are invited to use HEInnovate where relevant to accompany their projects.

HEInnovate can be accessed at: https://heinnovate.eu/en

The European Youth Portal

The European Youth Portal offers European and national information and opportunities that are of interest to young people who are living, learning and working in Europe. It also encourages the participation of young people in democratic life in Europe notably via the EU Youth Dialogue and other initiatives to engage with young people to influence policy making. The European Youth Portal also provides information for other stakeholders working in the field of youth, is available in 28 languages and can be accessed here: https://europa.eu/youth/

European Student Card Initiative

The European Student Card Initiative aims at simplifying learning and training mobility by digitalising all the main components necessary for the organisation of student mobility, from information provision to application processes and settling into the host community while abroad. In the context of this initiative, the Erasmus+ Mobile App and Erasmus Without Paper Network are now available for higher education institutions and students and will be further enhanced by adding new services and features for users.

The Erasmus+ Mobile App gives students a single online point of access to all the information and services they need before, during, and after their exchanges abroad. The Erasmus+ Mobile App also includes information about participation in the programme for learners in other sectors. The app is available for download in the App store and on Google Play. More information can be found at: erasmusapp.eu

The Erasmus Without Paper Network allows higher education institutions to connect to a central communication channel to exchange seamlessly student mobility data in a secure and streamlined manner supporting a fully digitalised mobility management, including digital learning agreements and digital inter-institutional agreements. Higher education institutions that are looking for information on how to connect to and use the Erasmus Without Paper Network can access information, guidelines and tutorials by visiting the Erasmus Without Papers Page on the European Student Card Initiative portal.

Knowledge and expert networks

Eurydice network

The Eurydice network primarily focuses on the way education in Europe is structured and organised at all levels and aims at contributing towards a better mutual understanding of education systems in Europe. It provides those responsible for education systems and policies in Europe with European-level comparative analyses and national specific information in the fields of education and youth, which will assist them in their decision-making.

The Eurydice network produces a vast source of information, including detailed descriptions and overviews of national education systems (National Education systems and Policies), comparative thematic reports devoted to specific topics of community interest (Thematic Reports), indicators and statistics (Key Data Series), and a series of facts and figures related to education, such as national education structures, school calendars, comparison of teacher salaries and of required taught time for countries and education levels (Facts and Figures).

It consists of a central coordinating unit located at the Executive Agency and national units based in all EU Member States and third countries associated to the Programme, as well as Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. 

More information is available on the website of the Executive Agency and on the website of the Eurydice network.

Youth Wiki National Correspondents Network

In line with the EU Youth Strategy and the objective of improving the knowledge on youth issues in Europe, financial support is provided to National Structures contributing to the Youth Wiki, an interactive tool providing information on the situation of young people in Europe and on national youth policies in a coherent, updated and exploitable way.

Financial support is given to the bodies designated by the national authorities, located in an EU Member State or third country associated to the Programme, for actions carried out by these bodies for the production of country specific information, comparable country descriptions and indicators which contribute towards a better mutual understanding of youth systems and policies in Europe.

More information is available on the online platform.

Network of Higher Education Reform Experts (HEREs)

In third countries not associated to the Programme served by National Erasmus+ Offices, the National Teams of Higher Education Reform Experts provide a pool of expertise to local authorities and stakeholders to promote reform and enhance progress in higher education. They participate in the development of policies in higher education in their respective country. HERE activities are based on "peer to peer" contacts. Each national team consists of five to fifteen members. The HEREs are experts in the field of higher education (Rectors, Vice-Rectors, Deans, senior academics, international relations officers, students etc.).

The mission of the HEREs involves supporting:

• policy development in their respective countries, by supporting modernisation, reform processes and strategies in higher education, in close contact with the local authorities concerned
• policy dialogue with the EU in the field of higher education
• training and counselling activities targeted at local stakeholders, in particular higher education institutions and their staff
• Erasmus+ projects (in particular those implemented under the Capacity-building Action) by disseminating their results and outcomes, notably good practices and innovative initiatives and exploiting these for training purposes

National Teams to support the implementation of EU VET tools

The purpose of the national teams of VET experts is to provide a pool of expertise to promote the application of EU VET tools and principles in EU funded projects supported by the Erasmus+ Programme. The concerned EU VET tools are laid down in the relevant EU VET policy documents such as the European Framework for Quality and Effective Apprenticeships and the Council Recommendation on VET (such as the EQAVET Framework, EU core profiles, graduate tracking and others). The experts should in particular provide support to the beneficiaries of EU funded projects supported by the Erasmus+ Programme to implement the above=mentioned EU VET tools in their projects.

Network of EQAVET National Reference Points

The EQAVET National Reference Points (NRPs) are established by national authorities and bring together existing relevant bodies involving the social partners and all stakeholders concerned at national and regional levels, to contribute to the implementation of the European framework for quality assurance in VET as defined in the Council Recommendation on vocational education and training for sustainable competitiveness, social fairness and resilience.

The EQAVET NRPs aim to

• take concrete initiatives to implement and further develop the EQAVET Framework
• inform and mobilise a wide range of stakeholders to contribute to implementing the EQAVET framework
• support self-evaluation as a complementary and effective means of quality assurance
• provide an updated description of the national/regional quality assurance arrangements based on the EQAVET Framework
• engage in EU level peer reviews of quality assurance at VET system level

EQF, Europass and Euroguidance - National centres

For each country, these three networks of national centres are supported through a single or several grant agreements:

European Qualifications Framework National Coordination Points (EQF NCPs)

The EQF NCPs, designated by national authorities, support them in:

• developing, implementing and reviewing national qualifications frameworks and referencing them to the European Qualifications Framework (EQF);
• reviewing and updating, when relevant, the referencing of the levels of the national qualifications frameworks or systems to the levels of the EQF.

EQF NCPs bring the EQF closer to individuals and organisations by:

• supporting the inclusion of the appropriate EQF levels on certificates, diplomas, supplements and other qualification documents and on databases of qualifications;
• developing qualification registers or databases that include qualifications included in the national qualification frameworks and publishing them on the Europass platform.

More information available at: https://europa.eu/europass/en/implementation-european-qualifications-framework-eqf

Europass National Centres

The main feature of Europass is an online platform that provides individuals and organisations with interactive tools and information on learning opportunities, qualifications frameworks and qualifications, guidance, skills intelligence, self-assessment tools and documentation of skills and qualifications, and connectivity with learning and employment opportunities. This requires substantial work at national level, carried out by bodies designated by national authorities. This includes in particular:

• making national information available for the EU platform, namely ensuring the interconnection between the EU platform and national data sources for learning opportunities and national qualifications databases or registers
• promoting the use of the services provided by the EU platform
• liaising with all relevant stakeholders at national level

Euroguidance network

Euroguidance is a European network of national resource and information centres, designated by national authorities. All Euroguidance centres share the following common goals:

• cooperation and support at Union level to strengthen policies, systems and practices for guidance within the Union (the development of the European dimension of lifelong guidance)
• support competence development of guidance practitioners
• provide quality information on lifelong guidance
• promote European opportunities for learning mobility and career management (through the Europass platform)

The main target group of Euroguidance is guidance practitioners and policy makers from both the educational and employment sectors.

More information available at: http://euroguidance.eu