School Leadership and Development

EU Centralised Projects and the European Funding Landscape

Erasmus+ KA1 and KA2 are the beginning. The European funding landscape goes much further.

All Four Erasmus+ PrioritiesAdvanced Level13 Destinations

About This Course

Most education institutions know Erasmus+. Far fewer know that Erasmus+ is only one part of a much broader European funding landscape that includes programmes managed directly by the European Commission, offering larger budgets, longer project durations, wider international scope and access to sectors beyond education.

These centralised programmes include CERV, the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme with a budget of 305 million euros across 12 calls in 2026, Creative Europe with 380 million euros in 2026, Horizon Europe, the European Solidarity Corps, and the centralised actions within Erasmus+ itself including Jean Monnet Actions, Centres of Vocational Excellence and European Partnerships. The 2025 Erasmus+ Sport calls received 2,390 proposals with over 67 million euros available.

This advanced course is designed for organisations with a track record of successful Erasmus+ projects who are ready to expand their European profile, access larger budgets and contribute to the innovation agenda of the European Education Area.

Who Should Attend

  • Experienced Erasmus+ coordinators ready to move beyond KA1 and KA2
  • School leaders and organisational directors with European development ambitions
  • Education professionals who want to understand the full scope of EU funding
  • Those who have completed several KA2 projects and want to scale their impact
  • Advanced level: some Erasmus+ experience recommended

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course participants will be able to:

  • Map the full European funding landscape relevant to education organisations and identify the programmes most relevant to your institution.

    You will have a clear, organised map of all the major EU programmes relevant to education: Erasmus+ in all its forms, CERV, Creative Europe, Horizon Europe, the European Solidarity Corps and Interreg. For each programme you will know the budget, the funding rate, the typical project size, the eligibility requirements and the call calendar.

    Erasmus+ 2026CERV ProgrammeCreative Europe
  • Understand the specific requirements of centralised Erasmus+ actions including Jean Monnet and European Partnerships.

    Jean Monnet Actions fund activities related to EU studies and the teaching of the European dimension. European Partnerships in Erasmus+ fund large-scale strategic cooperation between networks of organisations. You will understand what each action requires, how to assess your organisation's eligibility and what a competitive application looks like.

    Erasmus+ 2026 Centralised ActionsEntreComp
  • Develop a CERV or Creative Europe project concept appropriate for your organisation.

    CERV funds projects on democracy, equality, anti-violence and civic participation at a 90% funding rate. Creative Europe funds cultural and creative sector projects. You will develop a preliminary project concept for whichever programme is most relevant to your organisation, assess its competitiveness and identify the partners and activities you would need.

    CERV ProgrammeCreative EuropeEntreComp
  • Build the consortium management and financial management skills needed for larger EU projects.

    Centralised EU projects are larger and more complex than Erasmus+ KA2 projects. The financial management rules are stricter, the reporting requirements are more demanding and the consortium management challenges are greater. You will have a clear understanding of what is involved and a realistic assessment of your organisation's readiness.

  • Develop a multi-year European funding strategy that builds progressively from KA1 through KA2 to centralised programmes.

    The most successful European education organisations do not apply for funding opportunistically. They have a strategy. You will leave with a multi-year strategy that starts from your current position and builds logically towards the programmes and budgets your organisation is ready to access in three to five years.

    Erasmus+ 2026EntreCompUnion of Skills 2025

A 7-Day Professional Development Experience

Five days of intensive training combined with a structured arrival day and a cultural excursion. We are always open to tailoring the programme to your institution's needs.

Day 1
Sunday - Arrival and Welcome

Participants arrive and are welcomed by the Sude Nexus local team. Welcome dinner and orientation walk.

Day 2
Monday - The European Funding Landscape
MorningMapping all major EU programmes relevant to education: budgets, priorities, eligibility and call calendars.
AfternoonDeep dive into centralised Erasmus+ actions: Jean Monnet, European Partnerships, Centres of Vocational Excellence, Erasmus+ Sport.
Day 3
Tuesday - CERV and Creative Europe
MorningCERV: democracy, equality, rights and values. Eligibility, priorities, funding rates and successful project examples.
AfternoonCreative Europe: cultural and creative sector funding with relevance to education. Project concept development workshop.
Day 4
Wednesday - Horizon Europe and Beyond
MorningHorizon Europe for education research: what is possible and what is required. Case studies of education organisations in Horizon projects.
AfternoonInterreg and European Solidarity Corps: cross-border cooperation and volunteering opportunities for education organisations.
Day 5
Thursday - Building Your European Strategy
MorningParticipants develop a multi-year European funding strategy for their own organisation. Cross-group peer review.
AfternoonAction planning and farewell dinner.
Day 6
Friday - Action Planning and Sharing
MorningPersonal and institutional action planning. Structured peer review.
AfternoonPresentations, certificates and farewell dinner.
Day 7
Saturday - Cultural Excursion and Departure

Guided cultural excursion. Participants travelling home are free to depart after breakfast.

This outline is a starting point, not a fixed schedule. Contact us to discuss how we can tailor this programme for your institution.

EU Policy Alignment

EU Competence Frameworks

EU Policy Initiatives

Erasmus+ 2026 Centralised ActionsCERV Programme 2026Creative Europe 2026Horizon EuropeUnion of Skills 2025
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Available Locations and Dates

Check the dates page for current availability across all 13 destinations.

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