Erasmus+ Funding: Training, Supporting and Structuring International Projects

As part of efforts to strengthen the internationalisation of Algerian higher education, training on Erasmus+ funding plays a strategic role. It enables institutions, teaching teams and project leaders to better understand European opportunities, identify relevant calls for proposals, and transform an idea for cooperation into a structured, credible and fundable project.

The challenge goes far beyond simply understanding the programmes. It involves developing a genuine culture of international project design and development, based on the quality of partnerships, the coherence of objectives, sound knowledge of financial frameworks, and the ability to demonstrate the expected impact on institutions, students, research teams and territories.

A Strong Training Dynamic Already Underway

During the previous February 2026 application round, significant training and support activities were provided to project leaders. Several sessions covered the main principles of Erasmus+ funding, evaluators’ expectations, consortium building, budget development, the formulation of expected impacts, and project sustainability.

These training sessions brought together a wide range of participants: academic staff and researchers, international relations officers, administrative staff, members of local units, programme managers and project idea holders. This diversity represented a major strength, as it enabled academic, institutional and operational perspectives to be combined.

In total, 12 training sessions were organised as part of this initiative, bringing together 350 participants from several Algerian institutions.

Supporting Project Leaders from the Initial Idea to Submission

One of the main strengths of the support provided was that it did not focus solely on theory. Project leaders benefited from progressive assistance, from clarifying their initial idea to preparing a concrete application.

This support addressed several essential dimensions: identifying the appropriate Erasmus+ call, assessing eligibility, defining objectives, designing work packages, allocating roles among partners, ensuring budget consistency, drafting the intervention logic, and highlighting the expected impact.

The February 2026 application round therefore represented an important stage in collective learning. It enabled project leaders to better understand the requirements of European projects, while also helping local units strengthen their support, coordination and monitoring capacities.

By the end of the campaign, 24 projects had been supported through to the submission or pre-submission stage.

Towards a New Application Round in February 2027

The dynamic already initiated is now continuing in preparation for the applications scheduled for February 2027. The needs expressed by institutions confirm the importance of maintaining structured, regular and professional support.

At this stage, nearly 60 project leaders have already expressed a need for support in preparing an application. This figure reflects growing interest in Erasmus+ funding, as well as the gradual development of institutional expertise in international project design.

The support planned for the 2027 campaign is based on a strengthened capacity-building approach. The objective is not merely to help project leaders submit an application, but also to consolidate institutions’ internal capacities. Local units are therefore expected to play a central role in identifying projects, guiding project leaders, sharing and capitalising on good practices, and monitoring applications.

Building Sustainable Capacity Within Institutions

Training on Erasmus+ funding is a powerful professional development tool for higher education institutions. It enables them to move away from an approach based on occasional opportunities towards a more structured international strategy.

By developing the skills of project leaders and local units, universities strengthen their autonomy, their ability to build solid international partnerships, and their capacity to respond to European calls with high-quality projects.

This approach contributes directly to the internationalisation of Algerian institutions. It supports the modernisation of academic programmes, the development of applied research projects, the international opening of student pathways, improved employability, and the establishment of more balanced cooperation with European and international partners.

A Collective Dynamic Supporting Internationalisation

The many training and support activities devoted to Erasmus+ funding demonstrate that internationalisation is a long-term process. It relies on skills, tools and methods, but also on a community of project leaders capable of working together, sharing their experiences and developing ambitious initiatives.

The February 2026 campaign established important foundations. Preparations for the February 2027 application round now open a new phase focused on consolidation, quality enhancement and the gradual empowerment of institutions.

By supporting project leaders and local units, this dynamic helps transform Erasmus+ funding from a simple cooperation opportunity into a genuine driver of change for Algerian universities.