Capacity building in Higher Education: Neighbourhood East
Limited submission
Grant supports international partnerships to modernise and reform higher education in Neighbourhood East countries, focusing on capacity-building, innovation, and alignment with EU priorities.
This grant is no longer accepting proposals
European Commission has archived this opportunity.
Funder: European Commission
Due Dates: February 10, 2026
Funding Amounts: Up to €400,000 (Strand 1), €800,000 (Strand 2), €2,248,920 (Strand 3), and €2,000,000 (Strand 3 - Moldova); max 90% EU co-financing.
Summary: Supports international partnerships to strengthen, modernise, and reform higher education in Neighbourhood East countries, with a focus on institutional capacity, innovation, and EU integration.
Key Information: Application deadline is strict (17:00 Brussels time); consortium eligibility and strand selection are critical.
Description
This funding opportunity from the European Commission supports international consortia in designing and implementing projects that build capacity in higher education within the Neighbourhood East region (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine; Russia not eligible). The action aims to modernise higher education systems, foster institutional innovation, and align educational offerings with European and global priorities such as the Green Deal, digital transformation, migrant integration, good governance, and sustainable growth.
The programme is structured into three main strands:
- Strand 1: Fostering access to cooperation in higher education — Targets less experienced higher education institutions (HEIs), remote regions, and newcomers, focusing on management capacity, quality assurance, and inclusivity.
- Strand 2: Partnerships for transformation — Supports deeper innovation and reform in HEIs, including curriculum development, teaching methodologies, and institutional governance.
- Strand 3: Structural reform projects — Assists national authorities and stakeholders in system-level reforms. Includes a special initiative for a flagship EU-Moldova Master’s in European Affairs to support Moldova’s EU accession process.
Projects must address at least one of the overarching EU priorities and demonstrate clear added value for the region.
