The Four Erasmus+ Horizontal Priorities

Get familiar with the four horizontal priorities of the whole Erasmus+ Programme and tailor your project with these in mind to increase your chance of approval.

Inclusion and diversity

This Erasmus+ horizontal priority aims to support people with fewer economic, social, and cultural opportunities.

Inclusion and diversity should be considered as wide categories. They refer to a variety of barriers that may prevent people from participating in society and accessing the novel opportunities offered by the Erasmus+ Programme.

A non-exhaustive list includes:

  • Disabilities: Physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments.
  • Health problems: Severe illnesses, chronic diseases, and similar physical or mental health-related situations.
  • Barriers linked to educational systems that are unable to take into account the individual’s particular needs, which results in a struggle to excel in education and training. These barriers create low-skilled adults and NEETs (people not in education, employment or training).
  • Cultural differences such as those of people with a migrant or refugee background, people belonging to a national or ethnic minority, or sign language users.
  • Social barriers such as limited social competences, anti-social or high-risk behaviours, (former) offenders, or (former) drug or alcohol abusers.
  • Economic barriers such as a low standard of living, low income, the necessity to work to support oneself while studying, dependence on the social welfare system, situations of poverty and being homeless.
  • Barriers linked to discrimination connected to gender, age, ethnicity, religion, beliefs, sexual orientation, or disability.
  • Geographical barriers characterizing people living in rural areas and remote communities.

Are you wondering how you can integrate this priority into your school curricula?

Learn how to manage a multicultural classroom, master remote teaching, face ASD and ADHD, help your students with special needs, and much more, with our courses on inclusion and diversity.

Digital transformation

This Erasmus+ horizontal priority aims to address digital transformation through the development of digital readiness, resilience, and capacity in the educational sector.

Setting this priority, the Erasmus+ programme provides its contribution to the European Union’s Digital Education Action Plan (2021-2027), whose aim is to support the adaptation of the European education systems to the digital age.

The Plan has been created as a result of the lessons learned from the Covid-19 crisis, to foster the development of a high-performing digital education ecosystem, and to enhance the digital skills and competencies of European citizens.

With this priority, the Programme clearly manifests its goal to place schools in the best condition to complete their transition to the digital era.

Educational institutions will be able to apply for international mobility projects to improve the digital competencies of their teachers and learners, such as the capacity to:

  • Self-assess one’s digital competencies;
  • Teach remotly and in blended modality;
  • Use digital technologies to communicate and collaborate online;
  • Develop digital literacy and to be able to critically assess digital sources;
  • Behave properly as a digital citizen;
  • Solve problems through the help of digital technologies;
  • Create high-quality online content.

If you wish to integrate this priority into your school curriculum, have a look at our course category dedicated to ICT and digital transformation.

Our courses focus, for instance, on the best ICT tools for teachinghow to master remote teachinghow to foster digital literacy, or how to stimulate critical thinking and problem-solving.  

If you are unsure about which courses are suitable for you, try to select them by referring to your competency level:

Environment and fight against climate change

This Erasmus+ horizontal priority aims to raise awareness about global warming and how to develop skills in sustainability-relevant sectors.

With the European Green Deal, the European Commission committed itself to make Europe climate neutral by 2050 and is already making many efforts in this direction. The Erasmus+ Programme consistently encourages schools, universities, and their communities to participate in this transition to a circular and green economy by:

  • Increasing the opportunities for mobility in sustainable sectors – in particular, dedicated to rural development;
  • Promoting green travel – there is already an additional budget for this!
  • Prioritizing projects aimed at changing consumption habits and lifestyles;
  • Supporting organizations that raise awareness about environmental footprint reduction or compensation;
  • Opting for reusable or eco-friendly materials, reducing waste and recycling to save resources;
  • Integrating sustainability approaches across natural and human sciences.

Of course, the European Commission will welcome the initiatives involving reflection and discussion about how to foster environmental-friendly activities and incorporating an alternative greener approach to development.

Are you wondering how you can integrate this priority into your school curricula?

We have different courses focusing on different aspects of environmental education, from climate change and global citizenship to how to explore biodiversity and ecology through creativity and culture. You will certainly find the one that best suits you! 

Participation in democratic life

The last Erasmus+ horizontal priority aims at promoting EU common values, civic engagement and active citizenship.

Setting this priority, the European Commission aims at addressing the lack of interest in the European Union context and activities and enhancing citizens’ engagement in democratic processes. It is crucial for young learners to be provided with the instruments to understand the Union’s values and the way in which they inform its actions.

In order to do so, the Erasmus+ Programme encourages initiatives that will:

  • Foster knowledge and understanding of the European Union;
  • Develop social competences, such as intercultural dialogue and active engagement in participants’ communities;
  • Strengthen critical thinking and media literacy through formal and non-formal learning activities;
  • Raise awareness about common EU values and democratic principles, human dignity, European social and historical heritage.

Would you like to integrate this priority into your school curricula?

Our courses include different aspects of citizenship, from digital citizenship and media literacy to how to explain the European Union and its opportunities to your students.

Conclusion

Using a European perspective, Europass experts can provide training courses specifically focused on one of the new Erasmus+ priorities, developing topics that are relevant to the specific needs and objectives of the school that invites them.

We can also provide you with an expert coming directly to your school. Discover how to invite a teacher trainer to your school.