The participation of educational institutions in Aragon in European programs continues to grow. The Erasmus+ call for 2026 will allocate €4.65 million to 119 projects initiated in Aragon, a funding level that exceeds that of the previous call by more than 41% and will enhance mobility and international cooperation opportunities for students and teachers.
The majority of the funds correspond to 115 mobility projects promoted by schools and adult education centers. In addition, four Aragonese organizations have been selected to develop cooperation projects, a mode that allows for joint work with entities in other countries on initiatives of broader scope.
The growth is not limited to the number of funded projects. Eight additional centers have obtained Erasmus Accreditation this year, bringing the total number of accredited centers in Aragon for School Education and Adult Education to 104. This status facilitates ongoing participation in the program and allows for the development of medium- and long-term internationalization strategies, rather than relying solely on specific projects.
More than Student Travel
While Erasmus continues to be primarily associated with international mobility, its expansion in school and adult education has considerably broadened its function. Institutions use these experiences to learn about other educational systems, exchange methodologies, and establish stable relationships with European institutions. For students, it also represents an opportunity to improve language skills and adapt to different cultural and educational environments.
For teachers, the stays and cooperation projects allow them to share professional experiences and adopt methodologies developed in other countries. The European program pays special attention to areas such as inclusion, digital transformation, sustainability, and democratic participation, issues that can subsequently be integrated into the daily operations of the institutions.
Internationalization also extends to rural schools and adult education. One example is the Ángel Sanz Briz Teacher Training Center in Teruel, which started by focusing on teacher mobility and multi-level rural classrooms, and later expanded its activities to European cooperation projects in Adult Education.
Its trajectory has allowed it to become the coordinator of an Erasmus consortium, a model whereby different centers can participate under a common strategy. Among those involved is the CPEPA Hermanas Catalán in Ocón, located in La Iglesuela del Cid, whose students and teachers have engaged in mobility activities in Slovenia and Portugal. The Teruel center also hosted around 90 teachers and students from Italy, Portugal, and Spain at the end of May for a conference dedicated to lifelong learning.
The 2026 call thus reinforces a pathway for internationalization that is no longer limited to universities and large urban centers. With 104 accredited centers and a significant increase in the funds obtained, Erasmus+ is expanding its presence at various levels of the Aragonese educational system and bringing European cooperation to smaller institutions and rural areas.
