Capacity building in the field of higher education Strand 3

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. This action contributes to the achievement of the Global Gateway strategy of the European Commission which aims to tackle the most pressing global challenges, from fighting climate change, to improving health systems, and boosting competitiveness and security of global supply chains. Wherever possible, projects should support and underpin the already agreed Global Gateway investment packages and flagships. Projects in capacity building in higher education are envisioned to contribute to the broader policy objectives that are being pursued between the European Commission and the third countries not associated to the Programme or region concerned, including the Global Gateway investment packages.

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, in particular the Global Gateway investment priorities.

Indicative 2025 CBHE budget per Region (in EURO):

Projects under this Strand shall support efforts in third countries not associated to the Programme to develop coherent, inclusive and sustainable systems of higher education to meet their socio-economic needs and broad ambition to create a knowledge-driven economy. Mainstreaming and upscaling of successful results as well as synergies with ongoing or pipeline support in the area under bilateral support programmes are also elements of this Strand. Structural Reform projects will address the needs of eligible third countries not associated to the Programme to reform and modernise their systems by supporting sustainable, systemic and structural improvement and innovation at the level of the higher education sector. They should involve the competent National Authorities (notably Ministries of Education) of third countries not associated to the Programme as well as HEIs, research institutions and other relevant authorities/bodies and stakeholders.

Overarching Priorities under Strand 3

Given the nature of this Strand, which aims at supporting structural reforms in the third countries not associated to the Programme, the project must address the needs of higher education in the country(ies) concerned.

Strand 3 and Global Gateway priorities

Projects under Strand 3 in the following regions must be aligned with the Global Gateway priorities. This requirement is essential and will be carefully evaluated as part of the Relevance award criterion:

• 5a (Asia)
• 6 (Central Asia)
• 7a (Middle East)
• 8a (Pacific)
• 9 (Sub-Saharan Africa)
• 10 (Latin America)
• 11 (Caribbean)

The priorities relevant to respective countries are available here: https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/policies/global-gateway/erasmus-global-gateway-priorities_en

Applicants submitting proposals under the above-mentioned Regions should try and discern and propose academic capacity building aspects that well align with the Global Gateway flasgships and projects for the country/region concerned. Since these projects refer to a Global Gateway relevant priority, applicants should select, in Part A of the application form, the ‘Global Gateway’ fixed keyword in the relevant field, alongside any other fixed keyword options relevant to their proposal. In addition, each applicant will need to identify in Part A of the application form also one of the overarching priorities, which are defined by the European Commission and reflected in the Programme Guide.

For the rest of the Regions under Strand 3, namely Regions 1, 2, and 3, proposals can address either structural and higher education policy reform priorities they deem necessary or can also address any Global Gateway priority applicable in the country(ies) concerned.

The indicative 2025 CBHE budget of Strand 3 per Region (in EURO) and the indicative number of projects to be funded are defined below.

Please note that there is a flexibility of transferring budgets between the Strands.