Every year, Erasmus+ National Agencies across Europe fund Transnational Cooperation Activities (TCA) which encompass a number of international events, seminars, training courses and workshops.The overarching aim of TCA is to help improve the quality and impact of the Erasmus+ programme. It provides a platform for organisations to collaborate, learn and develop best practice, and share knowledge with experts and peers across Europe.

In October 2019, a TCA event was held in the Netherlands, hosting 75 international adult education professionals for the ‘Guidance to the Labour Market’ seminar, jointly coordinated by the Dutch and the UK National Agencies.The seminar had a special focus on supporting Young Adults Not in Education, Employment and Training (NEETs), adults with a mild intellectual disability and adults lacking basic skills.

The main objectives of the TCA were to broaden participants’ European network, facilitate opportunities for the forming of new partnerships and bring light to the possibilities to collaborate on an international level on the theme of guiding adults with disadvantaged backgrounds to the labour market.The event was a huge success and participants came away with some very useful insights and tips to implement in their Erasmus+ Key Action 2 applications.

Watch the video below to see the event’s highlights, as well as key outcomes:

Benefits of international collaboration

The three-day seminar allowed organisations to collaborate within groups and generate project concepts, based on Key Action 2, which were then critiqued by the National Agencies and an award was given to the best team. The workshops encouraged participants to form special interest groups to discuss ideas and design a skeleton project structure providing desired outcomes, key objectives and project results.

The insights gathered from these discussions have enabled the organisations to begin preparing applications for the Key Action 2 deadline on the 24 March 2020 (11am UK time).

Among these delegates were UK participants Marietta Harrow, CEO of Whitton Harrow Ltd and Aspiring for Children, and James Richardson, Research Manager from Good Things Foundation. They shared their insights with us about the event and how it benefitted them.Marietta highlighted: “Sharing our passion and ideas for improving prospects for young people and adults who are not positively engaged in their communities and society – this was a truly rich and valuable time for all of us who came together for this experience.”

James added: “The event was friendly, informal, and a perfect introduction to the interests of the Erasmus+ programme. I made plenty of valuable contacts as well as new friends.” In Good Things Foundation’s partnership, they created a winning pitch, focusing on the empowerment and economic inclusion of migrant women. Since the TCA, weekly Skype meetings have been held to develop ideas further and the partnership are preparing to submit an application for the forthcoming Key Action 2 deadline.

“It is both challenging and exciting to be leading on this project; I look forward to developing these new connections and partnership in 2020 to start a shared, fruitful learning journey.”

Meanwhile, Aspiring for Children will be a lead partner for their project bid, ‘Improving chances for young people leaving care’. Networking with potential partners across Europe, they plan to confirm final partners in time for the application deadline.Marietta added: “We are all organisations providing services for young people who are care experienced. Our vision is to share good practice and training programmes for professionals to support the best outcomes in education, employment and community inclusion for young people leaving care.

With the ideas and tips created in this TCA event, delegates are now better equipped to strengthen their Key Action 2 project concepts, as well as further network with other organisations.

TCA opportunities are available to all organisations and stakeholders within Erasmus+, which includes those in the adult education, VET, higher education, schools and youth fields. All TCA activities are free of charge with accommodation and subsistence during the event provided and travel reimbursed.

Are you applying for Key Action 2 funding? Prepare your application by visiting our dedicated resources webpage.