In Erasmus+ KA2 projects, dissemination is not just a final task to complete once the project is over. It is one of the key elements that helps transform project results into real impact.
This is closely connected to the impact criterion in Erasmus+ applications, where you are asked to answer three essential questions:
- how will people know about your project?
- how will they access its results?
- how will those results continue to be used in practice?
For this reason, communication, dissemination and exploitation should be planned from the beginning of the project.
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Erasmus+ Communication, Dissemination and Exploitation: Key Differences
Communication, exploitation and dissemination are closely connected, but they do not mean the same thing. In a European project, communication helps people know about the project, dissemination helps them access and understand the results, and exploitation helps those results be used in practice.
| 💬 Communication | 📢 Dissemination | ⚙️ Exploitation | |
| Focused on | the project activities during the project | the project results during the project | the project results during and after the project |
| To the benefit of people and organizations | internal and external to the project — anybody | external to the project — anybody who may be interested in the project results | internal and external to the project — anybody who effectively use the project results |
💬 Communication
Communication means informing people about your project, its activities and its benefits. It starts at the beginning of the project and continues throughout its duration.
The goal is to raise awareness and make the project visible to a broad audience, including people who may not directly use the results. Communication usually focuses on what the project is about, who is involved, what activities are taking place and why the project matters.
Examples of communication activities include publishing news on the project website, posting updates on social media, sending newsletters, creating visual materials, or presenting the project at events.
🔗 Here is a step-by-step guide on communicating projects and their results provided by the European Commission.
📢 Dissemination
Dissemination means sharing the project results with people and organisations that can benefit from them. Unlike general communication, dissemination focuses specifically on the results, outputs and knowledge produced by the project.
The goal is to transfer these results beyond the project partnership and increase the impact of EU-funded activities. Dissemination should target audiences that may be interested in using, adapting or learning from the results, such as schools, teachers, educational organisations, researchers, public bodies or other stakeholders.
Examples of dissemination activities include publishing reports or guidelines, sharing educational resources, presenting results at conferences, organising workshops, or distributing project outputs through professional networks.
⚙️ Exploitation
Exploitation means making practical use of the project results. It focuses on how the outputs, tools, methods or knowledge developed during the project can continue to be used after the project ends.
Exploitation can involve project partners, stakeholders, schools, organisations, policymakers or other end users. The aim is to make sure that the results are not only produced, but also applied in real contexts and integrated into future activities, teaching practices, policies or services.
Examples of exploitation include using a new teaching method in the classroom, integrating a project toolkit into teacher training, adapting project results for new target groups, or building future projects based on the results achieved.
How to Organize a Successful Dissemination Plan
💡 A successful Dissemination Plan involves the identification and definition of the project results, potential end users, and how to reach them. This will ensure that the project results are transferred and used by others, both inside and outside the partnership.
What is the Europass Dissemination Network?
The Europass Dissemination Network helps European education projects reach relevant audiences, increase the visibility of their results and strengthen their long-term impact.
Through Europass Teacher Academy’s network of academies, trainers, schools and educational organisations across Europe, project results can reach teachers, education professionals and other stakeholders in different countries.
The network is supported by Europass Foundation ETS, a non-profit organisation promoting education, lifelong learning and professional development. We also run the free Europass Projects Platform, which helps schools and organisations find Erasmus+ partners and develop international cooperation.
Our dissemination support can include:
🎨 Designing a project logo, leaflet, and brochure of the project results.
🎤 Organizing national and international conferences in primary locations.
📣 Disseminating project results through newsletters, social media, and related websites.
📚 Disseminating project results by organizing relevant training courses.
Europass Dissemination Network currently reaches the following partners worldwide: