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Activities you can apply for Nordplus Junior

Nordplus Junior supports both mobility projects and development projects aimed at strengthening cooperation, quality, and innovation in younger ages education.

Nordplus Junior is aimed at preschools, primary and secondary schools, both theoretical and vocational programmes, as well as vocational schools/apprenticeships. Extended schools in arts and culture that are part of a national or regional school syllabus may apply as coordinators.

Cooperation within Nordplus Junior is a good way of bringing new ideas and perspectives into the classroom. Teachers and staff receive an opportunity to strengthen their professionalism and work skills through experience sharing. 

Pupils get an opportunity to strengthen their knowledge and abilities through cooperation with other people in the Nordic and Baltic countries. Meeting other cultures, languages and ways of thinking, make pupils more mature and independent; they widen their horizons and deepen their awareness about various subjects, the surrounding world and themselves. 

Nordplus Junior aims to

  • Strengthen cooperation between schools and working life
  • Support quality, creativity, and innovation in education
  • Promote inclusive learning and equal opportunities
  • Foster Nordic language understanding and cultural awareness, including Baltic and minority languages 

All projects must:

  • Have clear goals and expected outcomes
  • Align with Nordplus objectives
  • Be relevant to all participating organisations
  • Show added international value and institutional development 
  • Be original—copy-paste applications from previous years without progress are not eligible 

  • Spring round: Projects start in May 
  • Autumn round: Projects start in November 

If your activities span three school terms, apply for a two-year project period. 

These projects aim to explore and implement new ideas, teaching methods, or ways of working in education.

Projects can focus on themes like:  

  • quality assurance 
  • curriculum development 
  • innovative pedagogy or didactical teaching methods

Projects may also involve building thematic networks that share expertise, conduct joint activities, or inspire future collaboration. 

School groups, organisations or institutions can also form long-term networks collaborating within the educational sector. In thematic networks, participants exchange knowledge and experience on a shared issue, topic or challenge. This can generate new ideas and proposals for future initiatives.

Eligible activities for network support include: 

  • Administrative meetings to establish and develop the network 
  • Information activities 
  • Dissemination of results, for example dissemination seminars 

Duration: Up to 2 years 
Minimum partnership: 3 organisations from 3 different Nordic/Baltic countries 

Mobility activities involve exchanges between schools, teachers, and pupils. These projects must include at least two partners from two different countries. 

There are four types of mobility activities.

1. Preparatory visit 

Plan and prepare future Nordplus Junior projects. 

Read more about Preparatory visits

2. Teacher exchange 

Teachers visit partner schools to teach, shadow, or exchange experiences. 

  • Who can apply: Teachers and pedagogical staff
  • Duration: 5 days to 2 years (min. 3 working days + 2 travel days) 
  • Project period: 1–2 years 
  • Examples of exchange:
    • Job shadowing
    • Joint teaching
    • Job-swapping

3. Class exchange 

Groups of pupils collaborate on joint themes aligned with Nordplus objectives. The project may involve upper secondary students wishing to stay on longer and take part in theoretical studies and/or work placement. 

  • Who can apply: Pupils and accompanying teachers from at least 2 countries
  • Duration: 5 days to 3 weeks (min. 3 working days + 2 travel days)
  • Project period: 1 or 2 years. Include yearly breakdown of pupil participation in the application

4. Study visit 

Staff from schools or education departments gain new insights through visits. 

  • Who: Teachers, school leaders, pedagogical staff, local education employees. Pupils are not eligible
  • Host: Must be in a Nordic/Baltic country. Can be:
    • Schools
    • Research centres
    • Companies
    • Public agencies, etc. 
  • Duration: 2–3 working days (up to 5 days total including travel)
  • Project period: Must be carried out within 6 months
  • Application round: Autumn only
  • Group size: 2–5 participants per organisation 

Newcomers and geographic diversity may be prioritised.