The Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) action supports international cooperation projects based on multilateral partnerships between organisations active in the field of higher education. It supports the relevance, quality, modernisation and responsiveness of higher education in third countries not associated to the Programme for socio-economic recovery, growth and prosperity and reacting to recent trends, in particular economic globalisation but also the recent decline in human development, fragility, and rising social, economic and environmental inequalities exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. CBHE projects are based on consortium of Higher Education Institutions and other organisations from 27 EU Member States and 6 third countries associated with the Programme (former Programme Countries) and third countries non-associated with the Programme (former Partner countries) aimed at developing new and necessary mechanisms to advance partner HEIs, new teaching and learning tools, new curricula etc. 

The action is expected to contribute to the overarching priorities of the European Commission:

 Region 2 Neighbourhood East

• Green Deal – Higher Education systems are crucial for supporting the Green Deal, potentially enabling a profound change in peoples’ behaviour and skills. CBHE projects are encouraged to develop competences in various sustainability-relevant sectors, green sectorial skills strategies and methodologies, as well as future-oriented curricula that better meet the needs of individuals. Erasmus+ also supports the testing of innovative practices to prepare learners and higher education providers to become true agents of change.
• Digital transformation – Projects should support the development and uptake of digital skills to make the digital transformation as comprehensive and inclusive as possible. Encourage development and implementation of digital higher education strategies. Accompany the digital transition by mainstreaming digitalisation in higher education systems and reinforcing programmes covering digital skills. Provide assistance to teacher training and online education learning. 
• Integration of migrants – Projects should promote mobility and in particular support the recognition of degrees and credentials in the different regions, also to support intra-regional connectivity. Projects should support the integration of migrants and displaced persons through the access to education.
• Governance, peace, security and human development – CBHE projects can help lay the foundations for strengthening active citizenship and build specific expertise in areas such as democracy, human rights and multilateralism. CBHE projects can help unlock long-term solutions to problems of weak governance in higher education.
• Sustainable growth and jobs – Education is needed to build skills for life and work, such as foundational skills, ‘soft’ skills (e.g. problem solving, communication), and Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths (STEAM). Education also supports employability and is a precondition for sustainable growth.

The action will contribute also to the external dimension of EU internal policies in the field of education. It will support a successful green and sustainable global economic recovery in the third countries not associated to the Programme, linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement. The activities and outcomes of CBHE projects must be geared to benefit the eligible third countries not associated to the Programme, their higher education institutions and systems.

Organisations intending to apply must do so as part of a consortium. CBHE projects can be implemented as:

• National projects, i.e. projects involving institutions from only one eligible third country not associated to the Programme;
• Multi-country (regional) projects within one single eligible Region;
• Multi-country (cross-regional) projects involving more than one Region and involving at least one country from each eligible Region. 

In addition to special attention being paid to improve equitable and gender balanced access to HEIs in third countries not associated to the Programme, in particular for people with fewer opportunities, the action will take an inclusive approach in all regions with the aim to increase the participation of the poorest and least developed third countries not associated to the Programme. CBHE projects can be applied through 3 Strands:

Strand 1- Fostering access to cooperation in Higher Education

Target groups:

• HEIs from least developed countries 
• HEIs located in remote regions 
• Individuals with fewer opportunities 

Activities:

• Enhance management/administrative capacity 
• Ensure high quality and relevant education
• Increasing the accessibility of the students/staff with fewer opportunities

Duration: 24 or 36 months

Funding: EUR 200,000 and 400,000

Strand 2- Partnerships for transformation

Target groups:

• HEIs 
• Local actors with a link to industry
• Individuals – students, staff, learners
• Authorities responsible for HE at local and national level 

Activities:

• Innovation in higher education  
• Promoting reforms in HEIs 

Duration: 24 or 36 months

Funding: EUR 400,000 and 800,000

Strand 3- Structural reform projects

Target groups:

• National authorities of the third countries not associated with the Programme
• HE sector
• HEIs
• Bodies, associations responsible for HE 

Activities:

• Policy and expert advice, training on policy issues, establishment of representative bodies, etc. 
• Internationalisation
• Implementation of tools (Quality Assurance, credit systems, accreditation procedures, recognition tools, etc.)

Duration: 36 or 48 months

Funding: EUR 600,000 and 1,000,0000

More details are described in the model Grant Agreement available in the Funding and Tender Opportunities Portal (FTOP)

For Strands 1 & 2

Proposals must be submitted by a consortium (coordinator and partners), which complies with the following conditions:
Proposals must be submitted by a consortium (coordinator and partners), which complies with the following conditions:

• at least 2 EU Member States or third countries associated to the Programme;
• at least 1 eligible third country not associated to the Programme;
• at least 2 eligible third countries not associated to the Programme for Regions 1, 10 and 11;
• at least one third country not associated to the Programme from Region 10 and another one from Region 11 for projects involving both Regions.

Institutional coverage:

• at least 1 HEI from each participating EU Member State or third country associated to the Programme
• at least 2 HEIs from each participating third countries not associated to the Programme

Institutional coverage applies to all countries participating in the consortium. The number of applicants from third countries not associated to the Programme must be equal or higher than the number of applicants from EU Member States and third countries associated to the Programme.

For Strand 3

Proposals must be submitted by a consortium (coordinator and partners), which complies with the following conditions:

• at least 2 EU Member States or third countries associated to the Programme;
• at least 1 eligible third country not associated to the Programme;

Institutional coverage:

• at least 1 HEI from each participating EU Member State or third country associated to the Programme
• at least 2 HEIs from each participating third countries not associated to the Programme
• national competent authority (e.g. Ministry) responsible for higher education in each of the eligible third countries not associated to the Programme.

Institutional coverage applies to all countries participating in the consortium.The number of applicants from third countries not associated to the Programme must be equal or higher than the number of applicants from EU Member States and third countries associated to the Programme.

Organisations wishing to apply for Capacity Building in the field of Higher Education projects are invited to submit applications on-line at the Funding & Tender Opportunities Portal of the Education and Culture Executive Agency.

Before starting your application

The applicant and all partner organisations must be registered in the Participant Portal. Organisations that register in the Portal receive a Participant Identification Code (PIC) that will be requested in the electronic application form. For detailed instruction on how to register at Participant’s Portal and acquire PIC number, check here․

For more information refer to Erasmus+ Programme Guide.