Helping higher education institutions to fulfil their mission

In today’s fast-changing world we look to our centres of knowledge and innovation – universities - to help us tackle the many challenges that face us: climate breakdown, resource management and supply and how we safely but effectively harness the power of artificial intelligence.

Erasmus+ capacity building for higher education projects mobilise and equip universities and academics to address these challenges through international cooperation.

They work as partnerships between higher education organisations from (i) the EU and other associated European countries, and (ii) from other countries or regions of the world. Together they develop innovative teaching content and techniques, train staff and help higher education institutions carry out their missions in this world of change.

Capacity Building projects for higher education also develop the skills and expertise for Europe and its partners to drive forward Global Gateway projects and the value chains that they aim to develop.

Zero-carbon to health education

This year, the 180 projects proposed for funding include the participation of some 1 640 higher education stakeholders from 113 countries worldwide as full partners or coordinators.

All will work together to modernise and internationalise higher education in partner countries, and to strengthen the EU’s relations with these countries – both in the education sector and more widely.

This year a special focus on European Studies in Moldova resulted in the selection of INTEGRA, a project coordinated by the Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova working with the national ministry, Moldova State University and three other European partner universities from Strasbourg (France), Padua (Italy) and Tartu (Estonia).

INTEGRA creates a first nationally institutionalised flagship masters programme in European Affairs, specially designed to support the country’s accession process. Delivered by Moldovan higher education institutions in English, INTEGRA is aimed at both civil servants and young professionals, it acts as an instrument for academic qualification but also systemic reform in the higher education sector.

But CBHE is global, as demonstrated by some other examples from this year’s selection:

• Nursing resilience (Western Balkans)
• Research management excellence (Neighbourhood East)
• Quality of digital education in Palestine (South Mediterranean)
• Smart and sustainable cities development (Asia)
• University financing models (Central Asia)
• Modernising engineering education (Middle East)
• Private sector in climate-responsive employability (Pacific)
• Agric-food and the blue-green economy (sub-Saharan Africa)
• Teaching to tackle disinformation and AI misuse (sub-Saharan Africa)
• Micro-credentials for employability and career development (Latin America)
• Entrepreneurial learning (Caribbean)
• Resilience for war-affected higher education (Cross-regional)
• Masters programme on governance and anti-corruption (Cross-regional)

Total budget

The 2026 projects are funded by a budget allocation of € 113 million. Over the 2021-27 period, € 613 million is budgeted under Erasmus+ to support annual calls for Capacity Building for Higher Education projects.