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 2023 three thematic networks are foreseen:

• Jean Monnet Network on internal policy: Digital Transformation in Europe
• Jean Monnet Network on external policy: Values and Democracy
• Jean Monnet Network on external policy: EU-Africa

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

The following eligibility criteria apply for Jean Monnet networks (in higher education)

Who can apply?

For the network on internal EU issues: Digital Transformation in Europe, the applicants (coordinator and full partners) must be:

• higher education institution (HEI) holding a valid ECHE;
• established in an EU Member State or third country associated to the Programme

For the network on external policy issues: Values and Democracy, the applicants (coordinator and full partners) must be:

• higher education institution (HEI);
• established in an EU Member State or third country associated to the Programme or in a  third country not associated to the Programme;

HEIs established in EU Member States and third countries associated with the Programme must hold a valid ECHE. An ECHE is not required for participating HEIs in third countries not associated with the Programme.

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

For the network on external policy issues: EU-Africa, the applicants (coordinator and full partners) must be:

• higher education institution (HEI);
• established in an EU Member State or third country associated to the Programme or in the following third countries not associated to the Programme: Sub Saharan Africa countries (region 9); Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia (Region 3).                         

HEIs established in EU Member States and third countries associated with the Programme must hold a valid ECHE. An ECHE is not required for participating HEIs in third countries not associated with the Programme.

Nota Bene for all Networks: 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

For the network on internal EU issues: Digital Transformation in Europe, proposals must be submitted:

• by a consortium of at least 12 applicants out of which at least 7 different EU Member States and/or third countries associated to the Programme. Affiliated entities do not count towards the minimum eligibility criteria for the consortium composition.

For the network on external policy issues: Values and Democracy, proposals must be submitted:

• by a consortium of at least 12 applicants out of which at least 6 different third countries not associated to the Programme and covered by external action instruments. Affiliated entities do not count towards the minimum eligibility criteria for the consortium composition.
• The coordinator has to be established in an EU Member States and/or third country associated to the Programme.

For the network on external policy issues: EU-Africa, proposals must be submitted:

• by a consortium of at least 10 applicants from at least 5 different  Sub-Saharan Africa countries (Region 9). The coordinator has to be established in an EU Member State and/or a third country associated to the Programme. Affiliated entities do not count towards the minimum eligibility criteria for the consortium composition.

Duration of the project

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

Where to apply?

To the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA)

Call ID:

• ERASMUS-JMO-2023-NETWORKS-HEI-EU
• ERASMUS-JMO-2023-NETWORKS-HEI-NON-EU-VAL-DEM
• ERASMUS-JMO-2023-NETWORKS-HEI-NON- EU-AFRICA

When to apply?

Applicants have to submit their grant application by 14 February at 17:00:00 (Brussels time)

The following award criteria 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 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 out
  • (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 in total and at least 15 points in each award criterion. The ex aequo proposals within the same topic will be prioritised according to the scores they have been awarded for the award criterion “relevance of the project” and then “impact”.

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 foreign 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 organized in coherent work packages (for example divided into ‘project management’, ‘training’, ‘organization 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 lump sum value will be limited to a maximum of 80% of the estimated budget determined after evaluation.

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

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 Funding and Tender Opportunities Portal (FTOP).