Organise an Erasmus+ teaching mobility (STA)

Category of recipe: Internationalisation through a stay abroad.

Objective: Boost short/long term teachers’ mobility, depending on the duration of the stay abroad, as teachers need to adapt to new teaching methods, a different cultural environment, a different way of living.

Short description of the recipe: Staff Mobilities for Teaching (STA) are teaching activities organised within the framework of Erasmus+ programme that can be carried out in any study field (compatible with the teacher’s academic background) and cycle (short cycle/bachelor/master/doctoral). The study mobility will be carried out within a partner higher education institution.

Academic recognition: Certificate of attendance. Improved language and teaching skills.

Level of difficulty: Basic

Calendar and time needed:
The selection procedure starts at the beginning of the academic year and the teaching mobility could take place both during the first or the second semester, according to the teacher’s choice and the availability of the receiving institution to host the teacher.
After the selection procedure is completed, the teacher will start preparing the required documents within an approved calendar.

Cost summary: €.

Language and level required: According to the inter-institutional agreement.

Roles and Responsibilities:
Erasmus+ coordinators from the sending and the receiving institutions: in charge of assisting the teacher in completing the documentation, approving the teaching plan.
University IR office/Erasmus+ office: in charge of organising the calls for the selection of teaching mobilities, and the events for popularising the Erasmus+ programme among staff; ensuring the financial and administrative monitoring; preparing the documentation related to teachers’ mobilities (e.g. financial contracts).
Participants from sending institution: selected teacher, Erasmus+ coordinator, Dean, Head of the Department, staff.
Participants from receiving institution: Erasmus+ coordinator, students, staff.

Ingredients:
An annual application process according to a calendar communicated in advanced.
A teacher that fulfils the transparent selection criteria.
A host higher education institution.
An existing institutional agreement between the sending and the receiving institutions.
An invitation or an acceptance letter from the receiving institution.
One Erasmus+ coordinator for each institution to assist the teacher during the whole procedure.
A Staff Mobility for Teaching Agreement signed by the applicant and the representatives of both the sending and the receiving institutions.
A teaching period of a minimum of 2 days which excludes travelling time.
A minimum of 8 hours per week (or any shorter period of stay) of actual teaching time.
A financial contract between the applicant and the sending institution.
An Erasmus+ grant providing a contribution to the costs for travel and subsistence.
Teacher physical presence within the receiving institution.
A confirmation of attendance.
Travel and accommodation documents.
An EU Survey to be filled in on the European Commission Erasmus+ platform.

Steps:
Step 1. Organise a few events to popularise the Erasmus+ programme among teachers

• Choose an appropriate time for the events so that you can reach as large an audience as possible.

Step 2. Launch the call for the STA

• Set a selection calendar at the beginning of each academic year.
• Use as many channels as possible to share the information – e.g. direct communication through Erasmus+ institutional and faculty coordinators.

Step 3. Select the teachers

• Make sure the selection criteria are fair, transparent and available to all the teachers.
• Make sure that the selected teachers fulfil all the eligibility requirements.

Step 4. Prepare the mobility

• Make sure the whole documentation will be ready in time for the mobility to take place.
• Put the teacher in contact with the Erasmus+ coordinator from the receiving institution.
• Ask for the invitation or letter of acceptance from the host institution.
• If needed, assist the teacher in preparing the Teaching Agreement by offering all the required information.
• Sign the Teaching Agreement after thoroughly checking it and make sure it is also accepted by the host institution.
• Conclude the financial contract.

Step 5. During the mobility

• Make sure to assist the teacher whenever asked or needed.

Step 6. After mobility

• Hand over the required mobility documents by the teacher (e.g. certificate of attendance, travel and accommodation documents, pictures, etc.).

Budget description:

• Cost for the organising institution:
• Erasmus+ grants cover mobility expenses, reducing costs for institutions.
• Additional administrative costs may arise depending on internal procedures.
• Business model of the activity:
• Fully subsidised activity through Erasmus+ grants.
• Budget type / sources of revenue:
• Erasmus+ mobility funding.
• Institutional funds (if applicable).
• Swiss-European Mobility Programme (SEMP) for mobilities involving Switzerland.
• Cost per participant:
  • Erasmus+ grants provide financial support for travel and subsistence during the training mobility. The amount varies based on factors such as the receiving country, travel distance, and duration of the mobility.
  • Participants using green travel methods (bus, train, ferry, car-pooling) are eligible for an additional grant. Sustainable transport options may extend the funded travel period by up to 4 days, increasing from 2 to a maximum of 6 days.
  • Participants must complete and sign a declaration of green travel, detailing the number of travel days, travel route, mode of transport, and distance. Travel receipts must be kept and presented to the sending institution for reimbursement.