THEPS Newsletter #1: Your First THEPS Newsletter Is Here — Erasmus+ 2026 Updates Inside!
Welcome to the first THEPS newsletter! We are excited to welcome you into our version of quality. We know that working on European projects can sometimes be overwhelming, and this is why we want to make it easier for you — slowly but surely. We will send you tips and tricks, important pieces of news, and the inevitable fun facts that will help you get closer to the perfect score and find the best partner.
Oh. We forgot to mention — this is written by actual humans who, while we believe in the power of AI, also don’t trust it that much for now.
This week’s edition includes:
- Erasmus 2026
- Quick News
- Statistical Data from Slovakia
- Tips & Tricks
- What the Future Holds
Erasmus+ 2026
The European Commission has announced the Erasmus+ Programme Guide 2026, and there are exciting changes!
First of all, the budget. For 2026, the programme will operate with around €5.2 billion dedicated to skills development and citizenship education. This call will provide mobility experiences for approximately 1,275,000 participants and will support over 100,000 organisations involved in Erasmus+ projects.
The programme also expands opportunities in several priority areas:
Digitalisation: smarter tools for a smarter EU.
Green and kind: eco-friendly practices and resilience-building projects.
Inclusion and Diversity: strengthening participation of people with fewer opportunities.
A major new opportunity is KA240: European Partnership for School Development, open only to school authorities and schools. A school authority will act as coordinator and must involve at least two schools from its own country. The partnership must also include at least one more school authority from another country, which must also bring at least two schools. There is no maximum number of participating organisations.
Each partnership will receive €400,000 for a three-year project focusing on two areas:
Improving the quality of learning and teaching:
- Designing and testing innovative teaching and learning activities
- Collaborative teaching
- Peer learning and mentoring
- Teacher substitution and resource management
Capacity building for cross-border mobility and cooperation:
- Creating structures and expertise for international cooperation
- Mainstreaming cross-border activities
- Testing mobility windows
- Recognition of learning outcomes and project work
- Training of school leaders and staff
Timeline for KA240:
- 9 April 2026 — Deadline for proposal submission
- Summer 2026 — Results announced
- 1 October 2026 — First 50 partnerships start
There are also new restrictions. An organisation cannot coordinate more than two proposals under each call for Capacity Building in Higher Education and Capacity Building in VET. Additionally, in the fields of school education, VET, adult education and youth, the same organisation (OID) cannot participate in more than 10 applications per deadline, either as applicant or partner. There is no limit in the field of higher education.
Quick News
One: Georgian authorities are no longer eligible for direct Erasmus+ funding, although students and institutions can still participate.
Two: Bulgaria has been approved to adopt the euro on 1 January 2026, becoming the 21st member of the eurozone. Travelling for meetings and mobilities will become easier — no more exchange rate concerns.
Three: The Youth Network Event took place in Brussels on 20 November, bringing together youth organisations to discuss the new budget. Power to the youth!
Four: A new European social media platform, Monnett, has been launched as an alternative to big tech. It focuses on user control, privacy, and a feed without algorithmic manipulation. The platform is available in early access through app stores.
Statistical Data from Slovakia
Approval data from Slovakia shows that KA220-VET and KA220-ADU both had a 20% approval rate, while KA220-SCH had a slightly lower rate of 17%. These modest approval levels show that KA220 remains more competitive compared to KA210, which usually sees a higher share of accepted projects.
Tips & Tricks
When writing your project, it is crucial that your objectives are SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound.
For example, if your project includes digitalisation training for women from rural areas:
“By the end of the project, we will provide digital skills training to at least 60 women from rural areas in the selected region, ensuring that at least 75% complete the training modules and report improved confidence in using digital tools for everyday tasks and employment opportunities.”
Why is this SMART?
Specific: Targets women from rural areas with fewer opportunities.
Measurable: Uses clear numbers (60 participants, 75% completion).
Achievable: Realistic within Erasmus+ project scope and resources.
Relevant: Supports EU priorities on inclusion and digitalisation.
Time-bound: Completion is set for the end of the project period.
This structure shows evaluators that you understand your project’s goals and expected impact.
What the Future Holds
Our main aim with THEPS is to create a platform that truly connects organisations working for the betterment of the EU. Stay tuned for major updates coming in 2026!
Next week, we will share unusual statistical data from Poland, new insights on the Erasmus+ adult education field, and an update on how influencers are fighting back.