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 Strand 1 is designed to attract less experienced HEIs and small-scale actors to the CBHE action to facilitate access to newcomer organisations.
The projects that fall under Strand 1 will primarily focus on the following areas within third countries not associated with the Programme:
- HEIs from least developed third countries not associated to the Programme;
- HEIs located in remote regions/areas of third countries not associated to the Programme;
- Newcomers or less experienced HEIs and Faculties from third countries not associated to the Programme;
- Students and staff with fewer opportunities.
Detailed Call Description
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. This action contributes to the achievement of the Global Gateway strategy of the European Commission which aims to tackle the most pressing global challenges, from fighting climate change, to improving health systems, and boosting competitiveness and security of global supply chains. Projects in capacity building in higher education are envisioned to contribute to the broader policy objectives that are being pursued between the European Commission and the third countries not associated to the Programme or region concerned, including the Global Gateway investment packages.
This Strand is designed to attract less experienced HEIs and small-scale actors to the CBHE action to facilitate access to newcomer organisations (please see definition of newcomer organisation in the Programme Guide, Part D – Glossary). These partnerships should act as a first step for HEIs and organisations with a smaller operational capacity located in third countries not associated to the Programme to access and increase means to reach out to people with fewer opportunities. This Strand will finance small-scale projects to reduce the internationalisation gap among HEIs from eligible third countries not associated to the Programme, from the same country or Region.
Overarching priorities to be covered by projects under Strand 1
Each applicant will need to identify in Part A of the application form only one of the overarching priorities, which are defined by the European Commission per Region and reflected in the Programme Guide (Priorities of the action for Strand 1 and Strand 2). This is compulsory. For those projects that also refer to a Global Gateway relevant priority, applicants should select the ‘Global Gateway’ fixed keyword in the relevant field, alongside any other fixed keyword options relevant to their proposal.
This action is expected to contribute to the following priorities (more details on the application of the following priorities within the scope of the call, please consult pages 312-313 of the Programme Guide):
- Green Deal
- Digital transformation
- Integration of migrants
- Governance, peace, security and human development
- Sustainable growth and jobs
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 projects involving more than one region (cross-regional). Cross-regional projects must address priority areas relevant for of all Regions involved, demonstrate their relevance for each Region and justify this by a detailed analysis of common needs and objectives.
Further details:
- In this Strand, overarching priorities are further detailed in each regional context as it shown in the 2025 Programme Guide (page 311).
- In the Regions where the indicative budget is indicated as zero, normally projects in these Regions cannot be funded.
- Note that there is a flexibility of transferring budgets between the Strands.
Call Total Budget
Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan
This action follows a lump sum funding model.
The EU grant for Strand 1 is: between €200.000 and €400.000 per project.
The lump sum value will be limited to a maximum of 90% of the estimated budget determined after evaluation.
Thematic Categories
- Education and training
- Energy
- Information Technology
- Migration and Citizenship
- Public Administration
- Regional Development
- Research, Technological Development and Innovation
Eligibility for Participation
- Educational Institutions
- International Organisations
- Local Authorities
- Other Beneficiaries
- Private Bodies
- State-owned Enterprises
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.
Consortium composition – Strands 1: The following minimum composition must be respected:
National projects (open only for Regions 2, 3, 5a, 6, 7a, 8a, 9):
- at least 2 EU Member States or third countries associated to the Programme;
- each of these countries must involve at least 1 HEI.
- only 1 eligible third country not associated to the Programme;
- involving at least 2 HEIs.
- The number of participating organisations from third countries not associated to the Programme must be equal to or higher than the number of participating organisations from EU Member States and third countries associated to the Programme.
Multi-country projects (open for all eligible regions):
- at least 2 EU Member States or third countries associated to the Programme;
- each of these countries must involve at least 1 HEI.
- at least 2 eligible third countries not associated to the Programme. Each of these countries must involve at least 2 HEIs. Third countries not associated to the programme can be from the same Region (regional projects) or from different Regions (cross-regional projects);
- the number of participating organisations from third countries not associated to the Programme must be equal to or higher than the number of participating organisations from EU Member States and third countries associated to the Programme.
General rule for all consortia:
In relation to compliance with the minimum criteria on the composition of the consortium described above, an organisation of HEIs will not be considered as a HEI.
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
EU Contact Point
For help related to this call, please contact: EACEA-EPLUS-CBHE@ec.europa.eu