OBJECTIVES OF THE ACTION

• Attract and widen access for newcomers, less experienced organisations and small-scale actors to the programme. These partnerships should act as a first step for organisations into cooperation at European level.
• Support the inclusion of target groups with fewer opportunities
• Support active European citizenship and bring the European dimension to the local level

In addition, the main objectives of Cooperation Partnerships also apply to Small-sсale Partnerships, proportionally to the scope and volume of each project:

• Increasing quality in the work and practices of the organisations and institutions involved, opening up to new actors not naturally included within one sector;
• Building capacity of organisations to work transnationally and across sectors;
• Addressing common needs and priorities in the fields of education, training, youth and sport;
• Enabling transformation and change (at individual, organisational or sectoral level), leading to improvements, in proportion to the context of each organisation;

To be considered for funding, Small-scale Partnerships must address either: at least one horizontal priority and/or at least one specific priority relevant to the field of education, training, youth and sport that is mostly impacted.

Below provides an indication as to the budgets contributed to Cyprus for 2023 and which are available for the actions that fall under the management of the Cypriot National Contact Point for Erasmus+:

• School education: € 132,615
• Higher education: € not available
• Vocational education and training: € 141,428
• Education for adults: € 135,288
• Youth: € 309,335

PARTNERSHIPS FOR COOPERATION:  This action enables participating organisations to gain experience in international cooperation and to strengthen their capacities, but also to produce high-quality innovative deliverables. Depending on the objectives of the project, the participating organisations involved, or the expected impact, among other elements, Partnerships for Cooperation can be of different sizes and scope, and adapt their activities accordingly.

On a yearly basis, the European Commission sets common priorities and objectives to be pursued at the level of the Erasmus+ Programme in different fields of education, training, youth and sport. Therefore, apart from developing capacities of organisations involved in the project, partnerships for cooperation aim at contributing with their results toward achieving the priorities.
In 2023, Partnerships for Cooperation must address one or more of the following priority areas: 

• Inclusion and diversity in all fields of education, training, youth and sport
• Environment and fight against climate change
• Addressing digital transformation through development of digital readiness, resilience and capacity
• Common values, civic engagement and participation

In addition to the general priorities mentioned above, the following specific priorities will be pursued in the respective sectors. Sector Specific Priorities:

In the field of higher education

• Promoting inter-connected higher education systems
• Stimulating innovative learning and teaching practices
• Developing STEM/STEAM in higher education, in particular women participation in STEM
• Rewarding excellence in learning, teaching and skills development
• Supporting digital and green capabilities of the higher education sector
• Building inclusive higher education systems
• Supporting innovation and entrepreneurial skills of students

In the field of school education

• Tackling learning disadvantage, early school leaving and low proficiency in basic skills
• Supporting teachers, school leaders and other teaching professions
• Development of key competences
• Promoting a comprehensive approach to language teaching and learning
• Promoting interest and excellence in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and the
  STEAM approach
• Developing high quality early childhood education and care systems
• Recognition of learning outcomes for participants in cross-border learning mobility
• Supporting innovators at school

In the field of vocational education and training

• Adapting vocational education and training to labour market needs
• Increasing the flexibility of opportunities in vocational education and training
• Contributing to innovation in vocational education and training
• Increasing attractiveness of VET
• Improving quality assurance in vocational education and training
• Creation and implementation of internationalisation strategies for VET providers

In the field of adult education

• increasing take-up and improving inclusiveness and accessibility of adult education
• Improving the availability of high quality, flexible and recognised learning for adults
• Promoting local learning centres and innovative learning spaces
• Creating upskilling pathways
• Creating and promoting learning opportunities among all citizens and generations
• Enhancing quality assurance in adult learning opportunities

In the field of youth

• Promoting active citizenship, young people’s sense of initiative and youth entrepreneurship, including social entrepreneurship
• Increasing quality, innovation and recognition of youth work
• Strengthening the employability of young people
• Reinforcing links between policy, research and practice