{Last Update: 24.12.2025}

The program – Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) – supports international cooperation projects based on multilateral partnerships between organizations operating in the field of higher education. It stimulates the harmonization and modernization of the quality of higher education in third countries not associated with the programme. 

The program contributes to the implementation of the main priorities of the European Commission:

Green Deal – Higher education systems play an important role in the process of supporting the Green Deal. CBHE projects develop skills in different areas, innovate green sector skills strategies and methodologies, as well as future-oriented curricula that can better meet the needs of individuals. Erasmus+ also supports the development of innovative practices to prepare learners and education providers to become true agents of change.

Digital transformation – CBHE projects should promote the development and acquisition of digital skills. To make digitization as comprehensive and inclusive as possible. Projects innovate the change of digital strategies in the direction of higher education. Within the framework of the program, it becomes possible to implement digital transformation in higher education systems and educational programs, which provides an opportunity to integrate digital skills into the process of teacher training and online teaching.

Integration of migrants – Projects should promote mobility, in particular by promoting the recognition of qualifications and certificates between regions and countries. Projects should promote the integration of migrants and internally displaced persons through access to education.

Governance, Peace, Security and Human Development – CBHE projects can lay the foundation for the formation and development of an active civil society in areas such as democracy, human rights and multilateralism. CBHE projects can contribute to finding long-term solutions to the problems of weak governance in higher education.

Sustainable development and jobs – Higher education is needed to acquire life and work skills. It supports employment and it is higher education that is a prerequisite for sustainable growth. The main goal of the direction is to eliminate the discrepancy between the results of education and the requirements of the labor market. This objective also includes the development of work-based learning. 

The main essence of CBHE projects is to support the development of third countries not associated with the program, their higher education institutions and systems.

Program Objectives

• to improve the quality of higher education in third countries not associated with the program and to increase its relevance for the labor market and society;
• to improve the competences, skills and employment potential of students in higher education institutions of third countries not associated with the program by developing new and innovative educational programs;
• promote inclusive education, equality, justice, fight against discrimination and promote the development of civic competences in higher education in third countries not associated with the program;
• to strengthen teaching and evaluation mechanisms for staff and students of higher education institutions, quality assurance, management, governance, inclusion, innovation, knowledge base, digital and entrepreneurial capabilities, as well as international cooperation in higher education institutions of third countries not associated with the program;
• to increase the capacity of higher education institutions of third countries not associated with the program, responsible education authorities and competent authorities for the modernization of higher education systems, especially in terms of governance and financing, by supporting the definition, implementation and monitoring of reforms;
• improve teacher training and continuous professional development to have a long-term impact on the quality of the education system in third countries not associated with the programme;
• encourage inter-institutional collaboration, capacity building and exchange of best practices;
• Promote cooperation between different regions of the world through joint initiatives.

activities

The activities described within the project should be directly related to the above objectives, regional priority areas, characteristics of the strands and should be described in detail in the project description, which includes its entire implementation period.

 

In the CBHE context, project activities should be aimed at strengthening and benefiting third countries not associated with the programme, their higher education institutions and other organizations operating in the field of higher education.

 

Funded projects will be able to cover a wide range of collaboration, exchange, communication and other activities, examples of which are given in the description of the three available strands within the programme.

The activities described should create added value and have a direct impact on the achievement of project results.

Geographical division

CBHE (Capacity Building in Higher Education) projects can be implemented in the following form:

• National projects – projects that include only third country institutions not associated with one program;
• multi-country (regional) projects within one region;
• Multi-country projects involving several regions (cross-region projects) involving at least one country from each respective region.

project strands

In response to various challenges in third countries not associated with the programme, the CBHE (Capacity Building in Higher Education) program consists of three specific strands:

Strand 1 - Promoting cooperation to increase access to higher education

This strand is intended to involve less experienced higher education institutions and small-scale actors in the CBHE programme in order to facilitate the integration of new participating organisations. This partnership should be a first step for higher education institutions and organisations operating in third countries not associated to the programme with limited operational capacity to access and enhance opportunities for people/beneficiaries with fewer opportunities.

Strand 1 finances small-scale projects to reduce the gap in international cooperation between higher education institutions in third countries not associated with the programme.

Projects should establish partnerships to develop collaborative ideas, as well as facilitate the exchange of knowledge, experience and best practices, promote social inclusion, as well as offer quality higher education to students and staff with fewer opportunities. 

The proposed activities and project results must have clear added value for the target beneficiaries in the following areas:

• Activities aimed at strengthening the management/administrative capacity of target higher education institutions;
• Activities aimed at ensuring high-quality and relevant education;
• Activities aimed at increasing accessibility for students/staff with disabilities.

Strand 2 – Partnerships for transformation in higher education

Projects implemented in this direction will introduce new approaches and initiatives in higher education, based on peer learning and the transfer of experience and good practices, which will have an impact not only on institutions, but also on society as a whole. The results of the projects should have a significant and long-term impact on the target higher education institutions after the projects have expired and, therefore, be beneficial to society as a whole.

In particular, these projects will combine the following elements for the benefit of higher education institutions in third countries not associated with the programme:

• Innovation in higher education, in order to increase its compliance with the requirements of the labor market and society. It is expected that the proposed projects will be aimed at eliminating inconsistencies between the demands of employers and the offers of higher education institutions and will offer integrated solutions that will improve the employability of students. This can be done through complex interventions that include:
  • design of innovative training programs and implementation of innovative elements in existing training plans;
  • implementation of innovative teaching and learning methods (for example, student-centered and real-world problem-based teaching and learning);
  • Active engagement with the business world and research, organization of continuing education programs and activities, both with enterprises and within enterprises;
  • Strengthening the capacity of higher education institutions of third countries not included in the program to effectively network in research, scientific and technological innovation.
• promotion of reforms in higher educational institutions, so that they become catalysts for economic and social development in non-programme third countries. Projects should support higher education institutions to develop and implement institutional reforms that will make them more democratic, inclusive, fair and full participants in civil society. Institutional reforms include the creation of new governance and management systems and structures, digital skills readiness, modern university services, quality assurance processes, tools and methods for the professionalization and professional development of academic, technical and administrative staff. The development of an entrepreneurial mindset and improved competencies and skills in institutions are key aspects of the success of this direction. Teaching transversal skills, entrepreneurship education and practical application of entrepreneurship skills will enable higher education institutions to put their knowledge and resources at the service of local, national and regional communities.

activities

The proposed activities and project results must have a clear added value for the target beneficiaries. These could be innovative curricula in terms of content or structure, new teaching methods, tools and materials, Bologna-type reforms, the introduction of recognised and accredited practical training schemes/work placements/internships, dual education systems, ways of addressing complex issues or pressing social needs and addressing vulnerable groups or changes in attitudes and values, the creation of centres, innovation incubators, staff or student exchanges for limited periods, strategies and tools for the internationalisation of higher education institutions, strategies for reforming governance and management systems, tools and methods for upgrading the qualifications of academic staff or strengthening relevant study programmes, new curricula and learning methods that are in line with the Global Gateway Strategy and that inform the priorities of the country and/or region.

Strand 3 – Structural reform projects

Projects under this direction should support the development of coherent and sustainable higher education systems in third countries not included in the program to meet their socio-economic needs and broad aspiration to create a knowledge-based economy. Generalization and scaling up of successful results, as well as synergies with ongoing or planned support from bilateral aid programs, are also elements of this direction. Structural reform projects will address the needs of third countries not included in the program in order to support sustainable systemic and structural improvement and innovation at the level of the higher education sector. More specifically, these projects will contribute to countries' efforts to develop coherent and sustainable higher education systems to meet their socio-economic needs and ultimately create a knowledge-based economy. In these projects, the competent national authorities (in particular, ministries of education), higher education institutions, research institutes and other relevant bodies and stakeholders should be involved. 

Examples of activities to be implemented in this direction can be found on the EU Funds and Tenders Portal.

Eligibility Criteria – Strand 1 and Strand 2

Who can apply?	Strand 1, 2 and 3:  Applicants must be: Higher education institutions or organizations Organizations or institutions active in the labor market or in the fields of education, training and youth The applicant organization must be based on: In a European Union member state In third countries associated with the program Eligible third countries not associated to the programme: Regions 1, 2, 3, 5a, 6, 7a, 8a, 9, 10 and 11. Of the entities described above, only higher education institutions (HEIs) or organisations of HEIs can be CBHE application coordinators. General rules for higher education institutions: Higher education institutions located in an EU Member State or in a third country associated with the Programme must have a valid Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE). Higher education institutions established in eligible third countries not associated to the Programme must be recognised by the competent authorities, their affiliated entities (if any). They must offer full study programmes leading to higher education degrees and diplomas recognised at the level of higher education qualifications.
Composition of the consortium	Strand 1 and 2  The minimum composition must comply with the following criteria: National project (Only for regions 2, 3, 5A, 6, 7A, 8A, 9.)  At least 2 EU member states or third countries associated with the program; At least 1 higher education institution in each of these countries must be involved. Only 1 third country not associated with the programme; With the participation of at least 2 higher education institutions The number of participants from third countries not associated with the program must be equal to or higher than the number of participants from EU member states and third countries associated with the program. Exception: In third countries not associated with the program, where the number of higher education institutions (HEIs) across the country is less than 5, or in cases where a single institution represents more than 50% of the country's total student base, only one HEI from these countries may have been represented. Applications made with the participation of  Strand 3:  Proposals must be submitted by a consortium (coordinator and partners) that meets the following conditions: At least 2 EU member states or third countries associated with the program; At least 1 third country not associated with the program. Institutional Coverage: At least 1 higher education institution (HEI) in each participating EU Member State or third country associated with the programme; At least 2 HEIs from third countries not associated with each programme; The relevant national competent authority (for example, a ministry) responsible for higher education in a third country not associated with each program. Institutional criteria apply to all countries participating in the consortium. The number of participants from third countries not associated with the program must be equal to or higher than the number of participants from EU member states and third countries associated with the program. Exception: In third countries not associated with the program, where the number of higher education institutions (HEIs) across the country is less than 5, or in cases where a single institution represents more than 50% of the country's total student base, only one HEI from these countries may have been represented. Applications made with the participation of
Place of activities	Planned activities should be implemented in the countries participating in the projects.
Duration of the project	For strand 1 and 2 directions, the duration of the projects is 24 or 36 months (in case of justification, extension is possible). The duration of projects for strand 3 direction is 36 or 48 months (in case of justification, extension is possible).
Where is the application submitted?	European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA).  Strand 1 Call ID: ERASMUS-EDU-2025-CBHE Topic ID: ERASMUS-EDU-2025-CBHE-STRAND-1 Strand 2 Call ID: ERASMUS-EDU-2025-CBHE Topic ID: ERASMUS-EDU-2025-CBHE-STRAND-2 Strand 3 Call ID: ERASMUS-EDU-2025-CBHE Topic ID: ERASMUS-EDU-2025-CBHE-STRAND-3
When is the application submitted?	Participants must submit an application until 6:17:00 on February 00 (Brussels time).

 

Funding rules

The program is based on lump-sum disbursement model. The amount of the one-time financial payment for each grant will be determined based on the budget submitted by the applicant.

The EU grant for each project is determined as follows: 

• For strand 1 direction – promotion of higher education cooperation: EUR 200,000 and EUR 400,000 per project;
• Strength for direction 2 – Partnerships for transformation in the field of higher education: EUR 400,000 and EUR 800,000 for each project;
• Strand 3 for directions – Structural reform projects: EUR 600,000 and EUR 1,000,000 per project. Specifically for the EU-Moldova Master's Programme in European Affairs: up to €2,000,000 for each project.