Large thematic networks in Higher Education will have as primary objective to collect, share and discuss among the partners research findings, content of courses and experiences, products (studies, articles, etc.). Each network will establish a tool allowing the partners to share their academic works and run peer review exercises, also commenting on the posted documents. The coordinator of the network will regularly make a selection of the most innovative and interesting results to be provided to the Commission.

In 2025, two thematic networks are foreseen:

• Jean Monnet Network on internal policy: EU enlargement as a catalyst for progress
• Jean Monnet Network on external policy: EU-North America

The final aim of the thematic networks is to provide regular feedback (e.g. an online newsletter) on the most advanced and innovative practices in the field, supporting and adding value to the debate.

Jean Monnet Networks in other fields of education and training will foster the creation and development of networks of schools and VET institutions that aim to exchange good practices, share experiences on both content and methodologies and build knowledge in teaching European issues. Networks should in particular focus on bringing facts and knowledge about the EU to their learners in an innovative and creative way.

Applicants targeted by this call are schools and vocational training institutes established in an EU Member State or third country associated to the programme.

Thematic networks in higher education

In order to be eligible for an Erasmus+ grant, project proposals for Jean Monnet Network on internal policy: EU enlargement as a catalyst for progess must comply with the following criteria.

Eligible participating organisations (Who can apply?)

In order to be eligible, the applicants (beneficiaries and affiliated entities, if applicable) must:

• be a higher education institution (HEI) established in an EU Member State or third country associated to the Erasmus+ Programme
• be holders of a the ECHE certificate (Erasmus Charter for Higher Education)

Nota Bene: The designated European institutions (identified in the Regulation establishing the Erasmus+ Programme) pursuing an aim of European interest are not eligible to apply under this Action.

Consortium composition (Number and profile of participating organisation)

Proposals must be submitted by a consortium of at least 12 applicants which complies with the following condition:

• minimum 7 entities from different EU Member States and/or third countries associated to the Erasmus+ Programme.

Only beneficiaries (not affiliated entities) count for the consortium composition.

Geographic location (Venue of the activities)

Activities must take place in the eligible countries (see Part A of this Guide).

Duration of the project

Projects should normally last 36 months (extensions are possible, if duly justified and through an amendment of the grant agreement).

Where to apply?

To the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA)

Call ID: ERASMUS-JMO-2025-NETWORKS-HEI-EU

When to apply?

Applicants have to submit their grant application by 12 February at 17:00:00 (Brussels time).

How to apply?

For information, please consult Part C of this Guide.

In order to be eligible for an Erasmus+ grant, project proposals for Jean Monnet Network on external policy: EU-North America must comply with the following criteria.

Eligible participating organisations (Who can apply?)

In order to be eligible, the applicants (coordinators and partners), beneficiaries and affiliated entities, if applicable) must:

• be a higher education institution (HEI) established in EU Member State or third country associated to the Erasmus+ Programme, or
• be a higher education institution (HEIs) established in the following third countries not associated to the Erasmus+ Programme: Canada and United States (region 12) may also participate, but not as coordinator

HEI established in an EU Member States and third country associated to the Erasmus+ Programme must be holders of the ECHE certificate (Erasmus Charter for Higher Education).  

Organisations from Belarus (Region 2) and the Russian Federation (Region 4) are not eligible to participate in this action.

Nota Bene: The designated European institutions (identified in the Regulation establishing the Erasmus+ Programme) pursuing an aim of European interest are not eligible to apply under this Action.

Consortium composition (Number and profile of participating organisation)

Proposals must be submitted by a consortium of at least 12 applicants (beneficiaries, not affiliated entities) which complies with the following conditions:

• minimum 3 entities from Canada and 3 entities from the United States (region 12)
• the coordinator has to be established in a EU Member States or a third country associated with the Erasmus+ Programme

Only beneficiaries (not affiliated entities) count for the consortium composition.

Geographic location (Venue of the activities)

Activities must take place in the eligible countries (see Part A of this Guide).

Duration of the project

Projects should normally last 36 months (extensions are possible, if duly justified and through an amendment of the grant agreement).

Where to apply?

To the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA)

Call ID: ERASMUS-JMO-2025-NETWORKS-HEI-NON-EU-NORTH-AMERICA

When to apply?

Applicants have to submit their grant application by 12 February at 17:00:00 (Brussels time).

How to apply?

For information, please consult Part C of this Guide.

The award criteria below apply for Networks.

Relevance of the project - (maximum score 25 points)

• the relevance of the proposal to the priority subject as defined in the call
• the relevance of the proposal for the respect and promotion of shared EU values, such as respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, as well as fighting any sort of discrimination
• the extent to which the proposal is suitable for fostering the development of new teaching, research or debating activities
• the evidence of academic added value

Quality of the project design and implementation - (maximum score 25 points)

• methodology: quality, novelty and feasibility of the proposed activities
• quality of the proposed system for analysing and reviewing the academic production
• quality of the proposed model for feeding EU policy
• the extent to which the work programme is presented in a clear, complete and coherent manner, with due care taken to present the appropriate planning of preparation, implementation, evaluation, follow-up and dissemination phases
• the extent to which the resources assigned to the activities are in line with their objectives and deliverables
• monitoring and evaluation strategy

Quality of the partnership and the cooperation arrangements - (maximum score 25 points)

• Composition of the Network in terms of geographical coverage and complementarity of competencies
• internal organisation of the partnership:
  • pertinence and complementarity of the profile and expertise of participants involved in the activities proposed, in line with the specific theme addressed by the proposal
• cooperation arrangements and distribution of roles, responsibilities and tasks

Impact - (maximum score 25 points)

The expected impact of the networks having long lasting effects.

Dissemination and communication:

• the appropriateness and quality of actions aimed at disseminating the outcomes of the activities within and outside the institution involved in the networks:
  • raising awareness of activities and results, enhancing visibility of participants and organisations
• the extent to which the dissemination tools foreseen will reach the target audience via
  • media exposure (including social media, publications, etc.)
  • events

Sustainability and continuation: the proposal includes appropriate measures and resources to ensure that results and benefits will be sustained beyond the project lifetime

To be considered for funding, proposals must score at least 70 points. Furthermore, they must score at 15 score points in each of the categories of the award criteria mentioned above. 

Ex-aequo proposals will be prioritised according to the scores they have been awarded for the award criterion ‘Relevance’. When these scores are equal, priority will be based on their scores for the criterion ‘Quality of the project design and implementation”. When these scores are equal, priority will be based on their scores for the criterion ‘Impact’. 

If this does not allow to determine the priority, a further prioritisation can be done by considering the overall project portfolio and the creation of positive synergies between projects, or other factors related to the objectives of the call. These factors will be documented in the panel report.

Expected impact

The Networks in Higher Education will support the academic and public “debate on European integration matters” in line with Article 8 of the Erasmus+ regulation through collecting, sharing and discussing among the partners research findings, content of courses and experiences, products (studies, articles, etc.). By regularly providing the Commission with the innovative and interesting results of the networks’ cooperation, the networks shall contribute to the Commission’s policymaking by offering evidence and new insights on policy developments of the calls’ thematic priorities.

Geographical targets

The Network on internal policy should focus its activities on Member States and third countries associated to the Erasmus+ Programme. The Networks on external policy "EU-North America" support the academic cooperation on the priorities of the Jean Monnet actions between European and North American Higher Education institutions and is therefore limited to Member States, third countries associated to the Erasmus+ Programme and North America countries (region 12).

What are the funding rules?

This action follows a lump sum funding model. The amount of the single lump sum contribution will be determined for each grant based on the estimated budget of the action proposed by the applicant. The granting authority will fix the lump sum of each grant based on the proposal, evaluation result, funding rates and the maximum grant amount set in the call.

Maximum EU contribution per network on internal EU issues is EUR 1 000 000

Maximum EU contribution per network on external policy issues is EUR 1 200 000

How is the project lump sum determined?

Applicants must fill in a detailed budget table according to the application form, taking into account the following points:

• the budget should be detailed as necessary by beneficiary/-ies and organised in coherent work packages (for example divided into ‘project management’, ‘training’, ‘organisation of events’, ‘mobility preparation and implementation’, ‘communication and dissemination’, ‘quality assurance’, etc.)
• the proposal must describe the activities covered by each work package
• applicants must provide in their proposal a breakdown of the estimated costs showing the share per work package (and, within each work package, the share assigned to each beneficiary and affiliated entity)
• costs can cover staff costs, travel and subsistence costs, equipment costs and subcontracting as well as other costs (such as dissemination of information, publishing or translation)

Proposals will be evaluated according to the standard evaluation procedures with the help of internal and/or external experts. The experts will assess the quality of the proposals, against the requirements defined in the call and the expected impact, quality and efficiency of the action.

Following the proposal evaluation, the authorising officer will establish the amount of the lump sum, taking into account the findings of the assessment carried out. The co-financing rate of 80% will be applied to the total estimated eligible costs determined after evaluation.

The grant parameters (maximum grant amount, funding rate, total eligible costs, etc) will be fixed in the Grant Agreement.

Financial support to third parties in the form of grants or prizes is allowed.

Project applications must clearly specify why financial support to third parties is needed, how it will be managed and provide a list of the different types of activities for which a third party may receive financial support. The proposal must also clearly describe the results to be obtained.

Maximum amount of financial support that can be paid to a third party shall not exceed EUR 60 000.

Volunteer costs are allowed. They shall take the form of unit costs as defined in the Commission Decision on unit costs for volunteers.

The project achievements will be evaluated on the outcomes completed. The funding scheme would allow putting focus on the outputs rather than the inputs, thereby placing emphasis on the quality and level of achievement of measurable objectives.

More details are described in the model Grant Agreement available in the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.