On 10 October, the European Commission published the 2025 annual work programme for the implementation of Erasmus+, with the total budget of EUR 4,954 billion. In the higher education field, the programme will support the following objectives:  

• Promoting inter-connected higher education systems (e.g., developing and testing various types of cooperation; implementing quality assurance and automatic mutual recognition of qualifications and learning outcomes; piloting innovative cooperation and joint programmes leading to joint degrees, including a European degree or European label);  
• Stimulating innovative teaching and learning approaches to tackle societal challenges and promote innovation and entrepreneurship (i.e., developing learning outcomes oriented and student-centred curricula, promoting entrepreneurship; supporting flexible and accessible learning pathways and modular course design and the lifelong learning dimension of higher education; trans-disciplinary approaches and innovative pedagogies; developing fit-for purpose STEM higher education curricula). 
• Rewarding excellence in learning, teaching and skills development (e.g., developing strategies and quality culture to reward and incentivise excellence in teaching, support for attractive and sustainable academic careers; training academics in new and innovative pedagogies; promoting learning and teaching partnerships; developing new practices in instructional design). 
• Supporting green higher education systems (e.g., integration of learning for the green transition and sustainable development, promoting acquisition of green competences, skills and curricula development; supporting transnational partnerships on climate challenges).  
• Building inclusive higher education systems (e.g., support to the education of refugee students and staff; increased participation of people with fewer opportunities; active support to incoming mobile participants with finding accommodation, support to mental health; fostering civic engagement through the promotion of informal learning and extra-curricular activities). 
• Supporting digital capabilities of the higher education (e.g., creation and implementation of Digital Transformation Plans; development of digital skills and competences of students and staff, digital tools and infrastructure for higher education institutions and their interoperability, supporting higher education institutions in the creation and consolidation of tools and databases). 
• Fostering effective, efficient and sustainable system-level funding and governance models, supporting higher education leaders to drive change in their higher education institutions and communities as well as monitoring and analysis of strategic policy priorities for evidence-based decision-making. 

The new work programme offers new opportunities for experimentation with a European Degree, which will be launched after the adoption of the Commission proposal for a Council Recommendation on a European Quality Assurance and Recognition System in Higher Education by the Council: 

• Partnerships for Excellence: European Universities – European Degree exploratory action: (a) adapting existing transnational joint programmes or developing new transnational joint degree programmes at Bachelor, Master and Doctoral levels that match the criteria for a possible European degree/preparatory European label and (b) facilitating the implementation of these joint programmes, including for student enrolment and participation through scholarships to students (indicative budget: EUR 14 million). 
• Forward-Looking Projects: Higher Education Topic 1: European Degree Pathway Projects to support, enable and accompany member states, on a voluntary basis, to work together with their accreditation and quality assurance agencies, universities, students, economic and social partners, to continue exploring and navigate the pathway towards a possible European degree, including a preparatory European label (indicative budget: EUR 7 million).  
• Forward-Looking Projects: Higher Education Topic 2: Leadership Development programme for institutional leaders, supporting the higher education sector in the development and provision of leadership development programmes, especially in view of deeper transnational cooperation at European level (indicative budget: EUR 1 million).  
• European Degree policy lab (a series of expert discussions to support the future implementation of a possible European Degree and ensure coordinated actions) and European Degree Forum (a regular event, organised by the Commission, in cooperation with the Council Presidency, for all stakeholders to meet and take stock of the overall progress made towards a possible European degree/preparatory European label (indicative budget: EUR 2 000 000). 

The new opportunities offered by the 2025 work programme will be discussed at ACA’s What’s New in Brussels seminar, which will take place on 30 and 31 January 2025.