1,300 partner universities in around 180 countries: for a decade, the Erasmus+ Mobility funding line has been supporting the strategic internationalisation of German universities with partner countries. It enables targeted investments in exchanges with partner universities worldwide and the invitation of students and university staff from all over the world to Europe. To mark the anniversary, the Erasmus+ National Agency Higher Education within the DAAD (NA DAAD) is taking stock of the positive results and discussing the future direction with university representatives at Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences and Arts on 17 and 18 November. 

"By promoting international Credit Mobility, the Erasmus programme opened its doors to academic exchange beyond Europe ten years ago," said DAAD President Joybrato Mukherjee in Bonn. "In view of current geopolitical tensions, the diversification of Germany's international scientific relations is more important than ever: encounters, cooperation and scientific dialogue with partners from as many countries as possible are crucial for resilient networks in higher education and science. The Erasmus+ Mobility with Partner Countries funding line has now been successfully supporting German universities in this diversification for ten years."

Since 2015, German universities have had the opportunity to initiate and expand targeted cooperation with partner institutions and exchange programmes in countries outside the traditional Erasmus area through this funding line. Students, doctoral candidates, university staff and professors from all countries around the world can come to Germany as part of such strategic partnerships and further their academic and personal development there. Originally conceived as an extension of the Erasmus programme, the funding line is now a central component of the internationalisation of German universities: many are focusing specifically on expanding or further developing academic relations, for example with regions such as sub-Saharan Africa, the Western Balkans or East Asia.

Currently, 184 German universities are receiving funding – together with 1,300 partner institutions in around 180 countries worldwide.

The exchange figures and funding also underscore the success of the past decade and demonstrate the importance of the programme for global higher education exchange:

• over 400,000 approved mobility programmes for all European universities, 
• over 32,000 people funded, 24,000 of whom have come to German universities for a period of time,
• 254 million euros in funding for German higher education institutions since the start of the funding line.

"The Erasmus+ Mobility with Partner Countries funding line represents much more than just financial support for mobility: the projects carried out by German higher education institutions promote scientific and intercultural exchange, expand global higher education networks and thus make an important contribution to the European Union's foreign and development policy," said NA Director Dr Stephan Geifes. "We expect this programme component to be further expanded in the next Erasmus+ funding period from 2028 to 2034."

Anniversary event in Bielefeld

To mark the anniversary, the NA DAAD is inviting representatives of German universities to a ceremony and professional exchange at Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSBI) on 17 and 18 November 2025.

-------
Background

International Credit Mobility describes the stay of students and doctoral candidates who, for example, come to Germany for six months and receive credit points for their achievements here. It also includes the mobility of university staff who come to German universities for further training purposes and for whom performance criteria have also been agreed in advance.

Mobility with partner countries (KA171) is the official title of the corresponding funding line in the EU's Erasmus+ programme. Higher education institutions from the so-called Erasmus+ programme countries, higher education institutions from partner countries and public or private organisations active in the labour market – so-called "non-academic partners" – are eligible to participate.

Since 2021, worldwide mobility for European students outside the Erasmus area has also been possible under the classic Erasmus+ funding (KA131), complementing the KA171 funding line.