Great interest towards Nordic educational collaboration

Across the Nordic and Baltic countries, there is a great interest in participating in educational collaboration. This is evident after this year’s first round of application for programme funding from the Nordplus programme of the Nordic Council of Ministers. Educational institutions from the Nordic and Baltic regions have applied for grants of almost 30 million euro in total. This is an increase of 18 percent compared to 2015.

More institutions across educational sectors are interested in collaboration on for instance exchange visits, internships and studies abroad for pupils, students and teachers.

Up until the deadline for applications on March 1 2016, the Nordplus programme has received 655 applications in total. In comparison, Nordplus received 605 applications in the same round of applications in 2015.

Financial support for project cooperation and exchanges

The institutions have applied for financial support to exchanges of teachers, pupils and students as well as to collaboration networks and projects between educational actors and institutions. For example, schools may apply for grants to visit institutions in other Nordic and Baltic countries and hence to establish collaboration on developing joint courses and common methods. Students may stay in another Nordic or Baltic country to strengthen their foreign language skills or gain greater intercultural understanding. Stays abroad take place as an integrated part of the students’ education.

New institutions applying for funding

Across countries and educational sectors, more than 3800 educational institutions and organisations have applied for funding through the Nordplus programme. In total, the institutions have applied for grants of 27.9 million euro. This is an increase of 18 percent in comparison to the year before.

Amongst the submitted applications, several institutions that have not previously participated in Nordplus projects have applied for funds. In 2016, educational actors from the higher education sector have applied for funding to implement 21 new projects in the North and the Baltics.

Participation of all countries

All Nordic and Baltic countries are represented in this year’s applications, and grants to support projects within all sections of the educational sector have been applied for.

In 2016, grants of a total of 9.1 million euro will be awarded for networks and education projects. The applications are now being assessed, and applicants will receive an answer to their application at the beginning of June 2016.