Explore this in-depth look into KA1 with helpful insights for your future application.

Defining KA1

Key Action 1 is about the mobility of individuals with the purpose of advancing their learning in a particular area of focus.

The area of focus could be anything and everything that advances skills, practices and knowledge – it’s totally up to you! You just need to design or participate in a programme that will give your organisation a more international outlook – the greater the ‘internationalisation’ as an end result, the more successful your application will be!

For Erasmus+, what matters is that the programmes they approve will support organisations towards achieving stronger management and operations, enhanced products and services and a workforce or student body that is overall more motivated.

Students and staff members of any organisation involved in education, training or youth can explore a wide range of opportunities on offer through a programme that is customised to their needs. Whether you belong to a primary, secondary, higher education or vocational institution, you can apply for funding and take advantage of experiences that are uniquely international, engaging and impactful.

How to enter KA1

There are several options for embarking on KA1:

• Applying to receive a grant continuously for the whole duration of the current Erasmus+ programme of 2021-2017 by requesting accreditation. The bulk of the application involves presenting a six-year development plan in your school that displays an interest in your organisation’s ‘internationalisation’ but also Erasmus quality standards. The 2022 deadline for accreditation is the 19^th October
• If you missed the accreditation application of 2021 and want to get started on Erasmus+ ASAP then do not panic! The other option is to apply for a short-term mobility or to join other schools (known as a consortium) that have acquired accreditation or you can welcome accredited schools as a host. For all of these activities, there are currently two deadlines: 23^rd February 2022 and 4^th October 2022. TravelEdventures carries years of experience in such arrangements and can assist you accordingly.
• Since 2021, Key Action 1 is also available to VET (vocational education and training) centres. Teachers and other staff members can attend professional development courses and their students can enjoy study visits. If there is a destination that specialises in your area of study, it suddenly becomes a dream experience within reach! For example, Milan is a great place to explore learning in many sectors ranging from gastronomy to jewellery making to engineering! In the same way, Portugal is a great destination for geology, agriculture and digital technology. Therefore, KA1 opens up a whole new world of avenues for learning that delivers fast results and hands-on activities.  
• There is also a series of pupil mobilities, depending on the funding you receive. Pupils can study at a host school or carry out a traineeship at a partner organisation for any period between 2 and 365 days, with the accompaniment of their teachers for support.

Examples of KA1

Let’s translate KA1 into some everyday scenarios that may apply to you!

Scenario 1: A group of enthusiastic staff members urgently need training

You have a wonderful team of teachers that are eager to learn. They are a valuable asset to your school, they have particular areas of interest and your local training centres only offer a limited amount of courses. KA1 is the gateway to a host of course providers across Europe that can introduce your colleagues to training that is so much more interactive and fulfilling. Erasmus+ approved training courses unite teachers from different countries in a series of activities that often combine presentations, workshops, excursions and projects. Teachers gain confidence by travelling abroad and meeting new people but they also develop leadership skills by taking on assignments single-handedly. They then take on the responsibility of presenting their experiences upon returning to their school and their input can therefore assisting management in taking the organisation forward.

Scenario 2: A section of students who need a boost in their education

How many times have we come across students who have incredible potential but the existing boundaries of the school environment can only help them so much? Maybe it’s a case of limited technology or family issues or financial difficulty – these factors can inhibit the advancement of learning and development even for the most resilient students. KA1 can be a breath of fresh air – there are projects that can send group of students to a workplace or a training centre in another country and suddenly they can explore a much broader horizon than before. Getting to learn about sustainability or digital technology, whatever the practices on offer, these students can be placed at the forefront of innovation and gain invaluable lessons for their topic of interest.

Scenario 3: Your school is shifting its curriculum and needs a new direction

Schools are incredibly mobile in their approach and focus and in a fast-changing world, they need to keep updating their schemes of work. Especially in the case of VET schools where the methodology can change by the day, KA1 opportunities are a mechanism to enriching the subjects provided by a school. Many schools across Europe have integrated KA1 programmes into their curriculum in order to supplement their products and services and ‘fill the gaps’ in their students’ learning. For example, a culinary school will be interested in international cuisines and discovering the latest cooking practices. A yearly KA1 programme can be a separate module for the school’s exam groups and provide students with a fast-track practical course. Study visits can be used for assessing and evaluating students effectively with a fresh set of tasks.

New to KA1

True to Erasmus+, the key actions on offer adapt to the world’s new realities and changing circumstances. It goes without saying that travel involves a little more preparation and safeguarding than ever before. As a result of this current situation, there is also a new type of mobility called ‘Invited Expert’ where parallel to sending your staff and students to another country, you can also invite experts to visit you. It is a great tool for bringing Europe home to you and inviting the Erasmus+ experience to all of your teaching staff within a safe and comfortable local setting.

One Action, Many Possibilities

KA1 offers something for everyone in education and if this article has convinced you, take a look at some of these application tips for designing the right project for you! Even better, speak to an advisor at TravelEdventures today and we’ll get you started in no time!

Read also the following blog:

15 Important Criteria When Writing Your Erasmus+ Application