Capacity Building in the field of higher education Strand 2 (ERASMUS-EDU-2024-CBHE-STRAND-2)

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 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. In line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement, this action supports the relevance, quality, modernisation and responsiveness of higher education in third countries not associated to the Programme in addressing socio-economic recovery, growth and prosperity and reacting to recent trends, in particular economic globalisation but also the recent decline in human development, fragility, and rising social, economic and environmental inequalities.

The action is expected to contribute to the overarching priorities of the European Commission:

• Green Deal (stimulate green jobs, climate neutral society, environmental-climate-sustainability awareness, green and circular economy)
• Digital transformation (development and uptake of digital skills, digital pedagogy, connectivity solutions, digitalisation, artificial intelligence)
• Integration of migrants (promote access to education and recognition of degrees and credentials)
• Governance, peace, security and human development (promotion of rule of law, human and fundamental rights, equality, democracy and good governance, and fight against corruption)
• Sustainable growth and jobs (support employability, tackle mismatch between education and labour market demands)

as well as to the external dimension of EU internal policies in the field of education.

Projects under this Strand shall introduce new approaches and initiatives in higher education, based on peer learning and transfer of experience and good practice affecting not only the institutions but also society at large. The projects’ outcomes should have a significant and long-term impact on the targeted HEIs beyond the projects’ lifetime and as such benefit society as a whole.

In particular, these projects will combine the following elements for the benefit of HEIs in the third countries not associated to the Programme:

• Innovation in higher education in order to enhance its relevance for the labour market and the society. It is expected that the proposed projects address mismatches between the requirements of employers and the offer of higher education institutions and propose integral solutions to enhance better employability of students. This can be done by implementing comprehensive interventions that include:
• the design of innovative curricula and introducing innovative elements in the existing curricula;
• the implementation of innovative learning and teaching methods (i.e. learner-centred and real problem-based teaching and learning);
• the active engagement with the business world and with research, the organisation of continuing educational programmes and activities with and within enterprises;
• the strengthening of the capacities of HEIs to network effectively in research, scientific and technological innovation.

Promoting reform in HEIs to become catalysts of economic and social development. Projects should support HEIs to develop and implement the institutional reforms that will make them more democratic, inclusive, equitable, accountable and fully-fledged constituents of civil society. Institutional reforms include new governance and management systems and structures, readiness in terms of digital skills, modern university services, quality assurance processes, tools and methods for professionalisation and professional development of leadership, academic, technical and administrative staff. The development of an entrepreneurial mind-set and improved competencies and skills within the institutions are key aspects for the success of this Strand. Transversal skills learning, entrepreneurship education and the practical application of entrepreneurial skills will enable HEIs to put their knowledge and resources at the service of their local/national/regional communities.

Overarching priorities to be covered by projects under Strand 2

Each applicant will need to identify in Part C of the application form only one of the overarching priorities, which are defined by the European Commission per Region.

• For Regions 1 to 3 sub-priorities have also been defined (see Part C of the application form). Within the overarching priority identified by the applicant, the project must choose compulsorily only one sub-priority.
• For Regions 5 to 11 only overarching priorities exist and only one of them must be chosen by the project.

Please note: The overarching priorities for Region 7 (Middle East) and Region 8 (Pacific) are applicable only for multi-national projects involving more than one Regions.

For Strands 1 and 2, the above priorities apply as follows in each regional context:

• Western Balkans: Green Deal; Digital transformation; Integration of migrants; Governance, peace, security and human development; Sustainable growth and jobs
• Neighbourhood East: Green Deal; Digital transformation; Integration of migrants; Governance, peace, security and human development; Sustainable growth and jobs
• South Mediterranean: Green Deal; Digital transformation; Integration of migrants; Governance, peace, security and human development; Sustainable growth and jobs
• Asia: Green Deal; Digital transformation; Governance, peace, security and human development; Sustainable growth and jobs • Central Asia: Green Deal; Sustainable growth and jobs
• Middle East: Green Deal; Sustainable growth and jobs
• Pacific: Green Deal; Sustainable growth and jobs • Sub-saharan Africa: Green Deal; Digital transformation; Integration of migrants; Governance, peace, security and human development; Sustainable growth and jobs
• Latin America: Green Deal; Digital transformation; Governance, peace, security and human development; Sustainable growth and jobs
• Caribbean: Green Deal; Governance, peace, security and human development; Sustainable growth and jobs.

Digital transformation – Raising the quality and inclusiveness of education through digital technologies, whilst also enabling learners to acquire essential digital competences and sector-specific digital skills is of strategic importance for the EU and many countries of the world. The higher education system is increasingly impacted by the digital transformation, but also has an essential role to harness its benefits and opportunities and tackle digital divides. In this context, priority will be given to projects that aim to:

• support the development and uptake of digital skills to make the digital transformation as comprehensive and inclusive as possible;
• help to bridge the digital divide by promoting digital literacy, digital entrepreneurship, gender-sensitive programmes and strategies, specifically in remote and rural areas and vulnerable communities;
• develop connectivity solutions empowering citizens through distance learning and teaching innovations;
• support the digital economy and reinforce scientific, technical and innovation capacities by fostering links between education, research and business in the area of digitalisation, including through projects related to data infrastructure, data management and SME/business digitalisation;
• improving digital education eco-systems, by reinforcing digital skills and competences of teachers and academic staff.