Programme Category
Programme Name
Programme Description
Identifier Code
Call
Summary
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. 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. Τhis action supports the relevance, quality, modernisation and responsiveness of higher education in third countries not associated to the Programme in addressing 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.
These priorities apply for the entire action, which is structured in Regions and Strands as follows:
Strands:
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Strand 1: Fostering access to cooperation in higher education
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Strand 2: Partnerships for transformation in higher education
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Strand 3: Structural reform projects
Regions:
- Region 1 – Western Balkans – ERASMUS-EDU-2026-CBHE-REGION-1
- Region 2 – Neighbourhood East –ERASMUS-EDU-2026-CBHE-REGION-2
- Region 3 – South Mediterranean – ERASMUS-EDU-2026-CBHE-REGION-3
- Region 5a – Asia – ERASMUS-EDU-2026-CBHE-REGION-5a
- Region 6 – Central Asia – ERASMUS-EDU-2026-CBHE-REGION 6
- Region 7a – Middle East – ERASMUS-EDU-2026-CBHE-REGION 7a
- Region 8a – Pacific – ERASMUS-EDU-2026-CBHE-REGION 8a
- Region 9 – Sub-Saharan Africa – ERASMUS-EDU-2026-CBHE-REGION 9
- Region 10 – Latin America – ERASMUS-EDU-2026-CBHE-REGION 10
- Region 11 – Caribbean – ERASMUS-EDU-2026-CBHE-REGION 11
- Region C-R – Cross-Regional – ERASMUS-EDU-2026-CBHE-CROSS-REGIONAL
Detailed Call Description
This action is expected to contribute to the overarching priorities of the European Commission:
- Green Deal – through developing knowledge, competences, skills and values, and potentially enabling a profound change in people’s behaviour.
- Digital transformation – Raising the quality and inclusiveness of education through digital technologies, whilst also enabling learners to acquire essential digital competences and sector-specific digital skills is of strategic importance for the EU and many countries of the world.
- Integration of migrants -Education and training systems play a key role in addressing the challenges of migration as well as unlocking migration’s benefits. They help newcomers acquire necessary labour market skills, understand the cultures of the host country, and help the native population with being open to diversity and change.
- Governance, peace, security and human development – Commitment to the rule of law, human and fundamental rights, equality, democracy and good governance are the bedrock of stable, fair and prosperous societies.
- Sustainable growth and jobs – Higher education is needed to build skills for life and work. Higher education also supports employability and is a precondition for sustainable growth.
For Strands 1 and 2 the above priorities apply as follows in each regional context:
- Western Balkans: Green Deal; Digital transformation; Integration of migrants; Governance, peace, security and human development; Sustainable growth and jobs
- Neighbourhood East: Green Deal; Digital transformation; Integration of migrants; Governance, peace, security and human development; Sustainable growth and jobs
- South Mediterranean: Green Deal; Digital transformation; Integration of migrants; Governance, peace, security and human development; Sustainable growth and jobs. For strand 2, for the South Mediterranean, priority will be given to the development of innovative joint study programmes in the Euro-Mediterranean region, enabling the design and implementation of innovative joint curricula by higher education institutions from both sides of the Mediterranean.
Projects under Strand 3 in the following regions must be aligned with the Global Gateway priorities. This requirement is essential and will be carefully evaluated as part of the Relevance award criterion:
- 5a (Asia)
- 6 (Central Asia)
- 8a (Pacific)
- 9 (Sub-Saharan Africa)
- 10 (Latin America)
- 11 (Caribbean)
Call Total Budget
Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan
The total budget for the present call is estimated at €113.117.100. This action follows a lump sum funding model. The EU grant per project is as follows:
- For Strand 1: between €200.000 and €400.000 per project.
- For Strand 2: between €400.000 and €800.000 per project.
- For Strand 3: between €600.000 and € 1.000.000 per project. Specifically for the EU-Moldova Master’s programme in European Affairs: up to €2.000.000 per project.
The lump sum value will be limited to a maximum of 90% of the estimated budget determined after evaluation. The budget of the CBHE action will be used to support projects as follows:
- National and Regional projects: Indicatively 90% of the budget of the action
- Cross-regional projects: Indicatively 10% of the budget of the action
For Strand 1 and 2, projects should normally last 24 or 36 months. For Strand 3, projects should normally last 36 or 48 months.
Thematic Categories
- Education and training
Eligibility for Participation
- Associations
- Educational Institutions
- Other Beneficiaries
- Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
- Training Centres
Eligibility For Participation Notes
In order to be eligible, applicants (beneficiaries and affiliated entities, if applicable) must be public or private legal entities falling under the following categories:
- higher education institutions (HEIs) or organisations of HEIs;
- organisations or institutions active in the labour market or in the fields of education, training and youth.
These entities must be established in one of the eligible countries:
- an EU Member State,
- a third country associated to the Programme
- a third country not associated to the Programme from an eligible region. The eligible regions covered by this action are Regions 1, 2 (ex. Belarus), 3, 5a, 6, 7a, 8a, 9, 10 and 11.
Among the entities described above, only higher education institutions (HEIs) or organisations of HEIs can be coordinators of a CBHE application. An organisation cannot be the coordinator of more than two proposals submitted under this call.
Call Opening Date
Call Closing Date
National Contact Point(s)
Foundation for the Management of European (EU) Lifelong Learning Programmes
Website: Erasmus+ – IDEP
Website with Contact details: Εpikoinonia – Erasmus+ – IDEP
Address: Prodromou & Dimitrakopoulou 2, Nicosia 1090, Cyprus
Τelephone: +357 22448888
Email: info@idep.org.cy