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Erasmus+ guide · quality standards

Erasmus Quality Standards: what they mean for mobility projects and KA1 courses

Every organisation that receives Erasmus+ mobility funding in school education, adult education or VET commits to the Erasmus Quality Standards, and KA1 training courses have their own set. Here’s what both say, in plain words, and how to use them to choose a course for your staff.

On this page
  1. What the standards are
  2. Standards for mobility projects
  3. Standards for KA1 courses
  4. How to use them to choose a course
  5. How we meet them
  6. FAQ

What are the Erasmus Quality Standards?

The Erasmus Quality Standards are the common rules for mobility projects in school education, VET and adult education. Every organisation that implements Erasmus+ mobility, accredited or not, commits to them. A separate set, the quality standards for courses under Key Action 1, describes what a good training course for education staff looks like.

What do the Erasmus Quality Standards for mobility projects cover?

Basic principles

Inclusion and diversity, environmental sustainability, digital education, and active participation in the network of Erasmus organisations.

Good management of mobility

Keeping ownership of the core tasks, integrating results in the organisation, building capacity, and gathering participants’ feedback.

Quality and support for participants

Practical arrangements, health and safety, preparation, monitoring and mentoring, support during the activity, and recognition of learning outcomes.

Sharing results

Sharing results within your organisation, with other organisations and the public, and acknowledging EU funding.

What are the quality standards for KA1 training courses?

The standards for courses under Key Action 1 are written for course providers. They’re grouped in five areas:

1
Information and transparencyComplete information before you register, a simple application process, transparent costs, and clear terms for changes and cancellations.
2
Content and pedagogyUp-to-date, interactive teaching that combines theory and practice, with content you can apply in your own context.
3
European dimensionEU values and policies, and a group where you meet colleagues from other countries.
4
Services and facilitiesSupport before, during and after the course, qualified trainers, at least five hours of learning a day on average, a suitable venue, inclusion and a way to give feedback.
5
Follow-upAdvice on next steps, materials to share what you learned, and a certificate with the course content and learning outcomes.

Full text: quality standards for courses under Key Action 1 and the Erasmus Quality Standards for mobility projects (European Commission).

How can you use the quality standards to choose a course?

Turn the five areas into questions for each provider you compare. Do they publish the full programme and costs before you register? Who are the trainers? How many hours a day? What does the certificate say? What happens if you need to cancel?

Compare any provider with our 10-point checklist on how to choose an Erasmus+ course.

How do we meet the Erasmus Quality Standards?

Information before you registerFull programme and learning outcomes for every course, and a detailed infosheet before the start.
Transparent costs and termsAll fees and what they cover, in writing. Pre-book before your project is approved, with free cancellation if it isn’t. Once confirmed, we’ve never cancelled a course, except for Covid-19.
Our own trainersPermanent internal staff who train teachers and education staff every week, in international groups.
Practical, updated contentEach programme adapts to the expectations participants share on day one, and we add new courses every year.
A European groupColleagues from across Europe in every session, with time to meet potential partners.
Certificate and follow-upAn Erasmus+ compliant certificate, help with Europass and free support with dissemination.

How ELA meets the Erasmus Quality Standards

For Erasmus+ coordinators

Sending several colleagues? We make it simple

Why so many Erasmus+ coordinators like working with us:

  • One ELA contact for all your participants, from booking to certificates
  • Documents for every colleague: we complete and sign our part of the Mobility Agreement, issue the certificates of attendance and help with Europass on request
  • Pre-book before your project is approved, with free cancellation if it isn’t
  • Want to hear from other schools first? Ask us for references
“Our participants were very happy with this course and they said everything was very well organized! We are also looking forward to continuing to cooperate with you.”
Liis-Marii Võik · Erasmus+ coordinator · Estonia
“We truly appreciate the professionalism and quality of the programme, and I’m very pleased to hear that you found our colleagues engaged and active participants. Thank you as well for your strong focus on dissemination and visibility.”
Samuel Bang · Erasmus+ coordinator · Denmark

How we support coordinators

Free guides for Erasmus+ coordinators

Before you apply

Cover of the KA122 application guide
How to write a winning KA122 application

What the experts score, where points are lost, a checklist before you submit.

Cover of the KA120 accreditation guide
How to write a winning Erasmus accreditation (KA120)

Criteria, the objectives that convince evaluators, the most costly weaknesses.

After your mobilities

Cover of the KA122 final report guide
How to write your Erasmus+ KA122 final report

How it is assessed, what to collect from day one, the most common mistakes.

Cover of the accreditation reporting guide
Reporting on your Erasmus accreditation (KA121)

The yearly KA121 report and the accreditation progress report, step by step.

FAQ

Erasmus Quality Standards: what else do coordinators ask?

Are the Erasmus Quality Standards compulsory?
Yes, for organisations that implement Erasmus+ mobility in school education, VET and adult education. They’re part of the commitment you make when you apply, accredited or not.
Do the quality standards apply to the course provider?
The quality standards for courses under Key Action 1 are written for course providers. Choosing a provider that follows them helps your project meet the Erasmus Quality Standards you committed to.
How do I check that a provider follows the KA1 course standards?
Ask for the full programme, the trainers’ profiles, the daily hours, a sample certificate and the cancellation terms before you book. Our checklist turns them into ten checks.
How many hours a day should a KA1 course have?
The standards ask for at least five hours of learning activities per course day on average, with a duration proportionate to the objectives.
What should the course certificate include?
Your name, the course description and learning outcomes, the dates and venue, the provider and the trainers. Europass is strongly recommended.
Do the standards say anything about cancellations?
Yes: you should be able to cancel at no extra cost if the provider changes fees, content, dates, location or schedule, and the provider should explain how it handles events beyond anyone’s control.
Are the youth quality standards the same?
No. The youth field has its own quality standards; this page covers school education, VET and adult education.
Free PDF

Get the 10-point course checklist

Ten checks to choose an Erasmus+ course and a provider that meet the quality standards, as a one-page PDF to keep next to you while you compare.

Sources

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