Vocational education and training

Why take part in Erasmus+?

Erasmus+ allows vocational education and training (VET) providers to partner with institutions across Europe, giving students and staff the chance to gain hands-on experience abroad. These opportunities help students develop new technical and interpersonal skills, build confidence, and strengthen their employability for future careers. With flexible options and funding provision for travel abroad, Erasmus+ expands opportunities for learners who may otherwise face social or economic barriers.

Organisations offering vocational education and training are eligible to apply, including further education colleges, training providers and organisations providing apprenticeships, as well as schools offering vocational technical qualifications.

Further education colleges applying for Erasmus+ funding can submit applications under the schools, vocational education and training, adult education or higher education sectors, depending on the type of courses and programmes they deliver.

What opportunities are available?

Mobility projects (Key Action 1)

Learners and staff can gain international experience and develop future-ready skills with funding for placements abroad. Applications for mobility projects are managed by the National Agency.

Opportunities for learners

  • Group mobility: A group of students can travel abroad to learn with peers in a partner VET provider. These projects can last for between two and 30 days and can also include virtual learning activities. Learners must be accompanied by qualified staff.
  • Individual mobility: An individual student can travel abroad to a partner VET provider, a company or another VET organisation to learn or train. The placement must have a strong work-based component. This can be short-term from ten days to three months, or long-term from three months to one year.
  • Skills competition: Funding for students to compete in a skills competition. The duration can be from one to ten days.

Opportunities for staff

  • Job shadowing: Staff can visit a provider in another Erasmus+ country to learn new practices. This can be from two days to two months.
  • Teaching abroad: Staff can teach in a partner organisation. This can be anything from two days to one year.
  • Training courses: Staff can attend training courses in another Erasmus+ country (from two to ten days).

Partnerships (Key Action 2)

Small-scale partnerships

Designed for smaller organisations or those new to Erasmus. Partnerships run from between six months to two years and involve at least two organisations from different countries. Erasmus+ offers funding of €30,000 or €60,000.

Co-operation partnerships

These partnerships involve at least three organisations from different countries. These partnerships focus on innovative approaches or innovative educational materials that can also be used by others. The projects should run for between one and three years. Grant options are €120,000, €250,000 or €400,000.

Applications for Small-scale and Cooperation partnerships are made through the National Agency.

Other partnerships

There are a number of other partnership opportunities open to VET providers. Applications for these projects should be made through the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA).

  • Centres of vocational excellence: Regional networks drive innovation, quality and inclusion in VET.
  • Alliances for innovation: Educational institutions and companies work together to develop future work skills. Includes separate funding for projects focusing on education, enterprise, sectoral cooperation and STEM skills.
  • Future-oriented projects: These projects are dedicated to current challenges and innovations in education.
  • Capacity building in VET: These projects aim to strengthen VET systems in partner countries outside the EU.

Jean Monnet Actions

VET providers can also apply for funding for teacher training, EU learning initiatives and European Networks for VET. Funding for initiatives under Jean Monnet Actions comes from the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA).

You can browse previous projects for inspiration on the Erasmus+ website.

Be inspired

Two people sat at a table working on their laptops.

Project example

dm4res - Promoting resilience of refugees by developing digital marketing skills

Countries covered
Germany, Greece and the Netherlands
Period
2021-23
Funding
€60,000
Type
Small-scale partnership

The dm4res project supported adult refugees through targeted digital marketing training delivered by SMEs and training organisations across three countries. It provided 96 hours of online training and 30 hours of mentoring, resulting in 117 participants trained and 56 certified. The project shows how small-scale partnerships can deliver focused, practical skills development for marginalised groups with low administrative complexity.

A young person wearing chef's whites and an apron in a kitchen.

Project example

International internship in gastronomy

Countries covered
Czechia and Spain
Period
2024-25
Funding
€56,000
Type
Mobility of VET learners and staff

The Secondary School Brno, Charbulova, prepares students in the fields of gastronomy, hospitality, confectionery, bakery, and tourism. The project improved students' professional, language, and digital skills through international internships in gastronomy and services, and supported teachers' professional development through job shadowing. It also expanded the school's international cooperation with partners in Barcelona, with an emphasis on sustainability and European values.