New possibilites with Erasmus+

Volda University College has been awarded the official charter for Erasmus+ 2021-2027. In the upcoming Erasmus+ programme period, the budget has been increased and opportunities expanded. 

The VUC International Office looks forward to the long-anticipated launch of the new Erasmus+ programme and is working to map the various opportunities for funding in the new programme period. Several calls have application deadlines already before the summer, so there are much to read up on within a short time frame.
 

Even more active use of Erasmus+

The Erasmus+ programme is most known as a grant awarding programme for students and staff who exchange to institutions in Europe. However, the programme also offer funding opportunities for international cooperation projects, virtual exchange or blended mobility (online study with short time physical mobility stay abroad), and even some grants for exchanges outside Europe.

-VUC has been very actively involved in the Erasmus+ programme until now and we expect an even more active use of the programme in the coming years. The possibilities within the Erasmus+ programme has been extended to also offer funding for online cooperation and digital teaching, two areas where VUC excels. Therefore, we believe Erasmus+ will be even more relevant for our academic departments in the upcoming programme period – says Head of International Office, Arne Humberset.
 

Active networks and close contacts

The Faculty of Social Science and History (ASH) has had a group of staff members working strategically with Erasmus+ cooperation over time. This work has been very successful, and the faculty is now participating in two large European projects funded by Erasmus+.
The first project is an Erasmus+ Strategic Partnership, EASIP Comp, where VUC is the coordinating institution. EASIP Comp is a project that aims to improve the students entrepreneurial competences. The other EU-project at the Faculty, SMART-Y, is a brand new project consisting of 8 European partner institutions including VUC. SMART-Y is a Key Action 3, Policy Reform project with a 2-year funding from Erasmus+.

-Active international networks and close contacts have been kay for us to be successfully involved in both these Erasmus+ projects. These projects are important to the Faculty as they help strengthen our academic content, but also in turn further solidifies our international networks. In fact, the invitation to join the SMART-Y project came through a contact in the previous European project we were involved in, says Professor Nathalie Homlong, the International Coordinator at the Faculty of Social Science and History. 

Internationalisation is a strategically important focus area at VUC, and a new strategic Action Plan for Internationalisation is just around the corner. The strategy plan refer to Erasmus+ as perhaps the most important instrument for VUC to join international projects and obtain funding for internationalisation activities.