What to Do if Your Organisation Is not Registered with Erasmus+
Although you can apply for some Erasmus+ Programmes as an individual without your institution’s support, this does not apply to most. All Erasmus Plus staff training assignments, teacher programmes, and most adult learner courses are only accessible through registered institutions. That said, some course providers, including Atlantic, allow professionals to join from outside the Erasmus sphere. This post examines what to do if your organisation is not registered with Erasmus+.
If you are a teacher or work in higher education and want to participate in an Erasmus+ Staff Mobility programme, your institution either needs to hold an Erasmus+ Charter for Higher Education (Programme countries) or it must have signed an inter-institutional agreement with the programme provider (receiving institution). Otherwise, you cannot access the financial support available to cover travel and subsistence costs.
Both your HE organisation and the facility where you wish to do the course must belong to an Erasmus National Mobility Consortium and have a Mobility Agreement in place before you can join your course. The agreement outlines your rights, responsibilities, and learning goals while providing a pathway to formally recognise your learning.
Contact Your National Erasmus+ Agency
If you have discovered an interesting programme but realise your institution is not affiliated with Erasmus+, your National Erasmus Agency is your first port of call. The details relevant to your National Agency are available on the EU’s Erasmus Plus website.
Each EU member state and third country linked to the Erasmus Plus has a National Agency responsible for supporting institutions and individuals on their Erasmus+ journey. The National Agencies provide information and select projects worthy of funding. They promote the EU education initiative while monitoring and evaluating the programmes. In partnership, they develop best practices and share success stories to better the European education landscape globally.
Your National Agency is best placed to answer your eligibility questions. They may advise you to encourage your school or college to sign up with Erasmus+ and discuss the necessary steps. The EU provides a detailed guide for institutions wishing to join Erasmus Plus. You can share this link with the person responsible for staff training.
If for one reason or another, those options are not feasible, they may point you toward other further education opportunities and funding sources.
Contact Your Management, HR Department, or Training Officer
You can also reach out to the management of your school or higher education institution. Outline your desire to participate in an Erasmus+ programme and share the application requirements and criteria. They may be open to exploring becoming an Erasmus+ institution or allowing you to visit an Erasmus+ programme under a separate training scheme.
Most HE institutions and schools welcome staff’s eagerness to develop themselves, meaning they will likely support your efforts. If your institution neither has funding available nor is in a position to become an Erasmus+ institution you can find Erasmus+ course providers who take non-Erasmus+ participants. Although this may mean covering associated costs yourself, you may find that the benefits outweigh this drawback. Course participation promotes personal and professional growth while opening doors to new opportunities and gainful networking.
Many Professionals Choose to Participate Regardless
At Atlantic, anyone wishing to participate is more than welcome to join. Some of our students carry the costs while others find alternative funding sources.
The courses are structured to benefit any top-level professional from any industry, delivering skills and tools actionable in any type of employment. To give you an example: During the pandemic, non-native PhD students joined our Academic Writing Skills programme with the financial support of their university.
The funding source is immaterial, meaning any participant can reap the benefits of the various programmes. While non-Erasmus+ students do not require the administrative support associated with Erasmus+, they will obtain a Certificate of Participation/Completion to boost their resume.
The fruitful exchange between professionals is among the core Erasmus+ benefits. Participation by professionals from outside this sphere only adds to the richness.
Quality Professional Development through English for Anyone
While thousands of teachers and higher education employees benefit from the stellar financial support and quality training provided through the Erasmus+ initiative any professional can reap significant rewards.
Since the EU course criteria only allow highly relevant and current course content, providing institutions deliver top-quality programmes. As a result, Erasmus+ courses boost skill sets and careers while providing participants with ample networking opportunities. The professional competencies gained are indispensable in any profession, including public services, private enterprises, and startups. Non-native speakers with a good command of English can sharpen their English communication, a key in any job position.
The vast programme choice ensures you can identify a course delivering precisely what you may feel, you lack.
What to Do if Your Organisation Is not Registered with Erasmus+
Your organisation lying outside Erasmus+ doesn’t preclude your participation. Follow the steps above to see if your institution can help. Contact your National Erasmus+ Agency and speak to your institution’s management to explore their joining. It is also worth exploring other available funding sources.
One way or another, you can participate and benefit from most Staff Mobility programmes. And if you have any questions, contact us right away, we will be glad to help.