Erasmus+ traineeship after graduation: Fewer Opportunities
Trainees who belong to the “fewer opportunities” or underrepresented groups, after being selected for a grant, will receive an additional amount on top of the base amount. Learn more about which trainees belong to these underrepresented groups and the allocation process here.
Why underrepresented groups?
One of the horizontal priorities of the Erasmus+ Program is Inclusion and Diversity.
All actions under the program aim to promote equal opportunities and equal access, inclusion, diversity and equity.
The Erasmus+ Program Guide gives a broad description of the various obstacles that may prevent participants with fewer opportunities from participating in the program or complicate their participation.
To assist in making the Erasmus+ program more inclusive, a number of actions indicate when organizations commit to developing activities for participants with fewer opportunities, additional funding will be allocated (“inclusion support” for the project management and/or for the participant).
This aims to remove barriers that different target groups may face in accessing such opportunities, both within Europe and beyond.
Who is part of the underrepresented groups?
To avoid organizations having to decide for themselves what the profile of a participant with fewer opportunities is, Epos (the National Agency), in consultation with the National Authority, has formulated the following list of eligible profiles (as defined in the Codex Higher Education):
- bursary students who receive study allowances from the Flemish government;
- near-bursary students who do not receive study allowances but are entitled to reduced tuition fees;
- students with a disability who have opened an entitlement to an allowance with the Flemish Agency for Persons with Disabilities (VAPH).
- The VAPH applies the following definition:
Any long-term and significant participation problem of a person due to the interplay between functional disorders of a mental, psychological, physical or sensory nature, limitations in performing activities, and personal and external factors.
That definition allows the situation of each person applying for support to be considered separately. If a person's situation corresponds to the definition, the person can be recognized by the VAPH as having a disability and receive approval for support;
- The VAPH applies the following definition:
- work-study students in a work program, who meet all the following conditions:
- the student is in possession of proof of employment in a job with a volume of at least 80 hours per month, or the student is in possession of proof of benefits-eligible job-seeker and the program is within the pathway to employment proposed by a regional employment service;
- the student does not yet hold a second cycle degree or master's degree;
- the student is enrolled in a study program with specific teaching and learning formats and with specific modalities of guidance and provision, which is registered as such in the Higher Education Register. The separate registration in the Higher Education Register does not imply that this is a new program.
How much is the additional grant amount?
The grant amount for trainees from the underrepresented groups is listed on the page of Erasmus+ traineeship after graduation in the grant table in Category 1.
Procedure
In Placement-Online, candidates will be asked if they belong to the underrepresented groups. If they indicate “Yes,” they can specify which group they belong to.
Afterwards, they will have to upload supporting documentation in their workflow on Placement-Online:
- bursary students: proof of allocation by AHOVOKS;
- near-bursary students: proof of allocation by AHOVOKS;
- students with disabilities: proof of recognition by VAPH;
- work-study students: declaration on honor signed by the higher education institution.
Additional inclusion support based on actual costs
In addition to the fixed extra monthly amount for trainees with fewer opportunities, additional inclusion support based on real costs is available.
This support is intended for participants with a physical, mental, or health-related condition, or with financial barriers that are not sufficiently covered by the standard grant. Costs such as adapted housing, guidance, additional travel or healthcare expenses can be fully reimbursed (subject to approval). Applications for this support must be submitted via your institution's Flanders Traineeship Platform and must include a cost estimate and a justification.
HOW TO APPLY?
VLUHR must submit the application based on real costs to Epos at least 6 weeks before the start date of your mobility.
For this reason, you are requested to send your application to info@flanderstraineeshipplatform.be at least 7 weeks before the start of your mobility.
The following elements are required to submit your application:
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A brief description of your situation and why financial support is needed.
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A calculation of the requested financial support, clearly explaining what the budget is needed for.
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The total requested amount of financial support (in EUR).
When a budget for additional inclusion support is granted, you will need to provide proof of the actual costs after the mobility, by submitting invoices.
At the start of the mobility, 70% of the granted budget will be paid. The remaining 30% will be paid at the end of the mobility, after receipt and approval of the required invoices.
If the actual costs are lower than the amount requested, only the real costs will be reimbursed. In that case, part of the initial payment may need to be recovered.