Erasmus+ Staff Mobility
Erasmus+ offers much more than student mobility - mobilities of university lecturers can be funded as well as further education and training measures for scientific and non-scientific staff. Gaining experience abroad has many advantages, both personally and professionally - we are looking forward to advising you on this topic.
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A short guest lectureship at one of our European partner universities? Or would you like to broaden your horizons as a member of the university administration or participate in an International Week in your area of expertise? The Erasmus+ program gives you the opportunity to realize such a project in one of the participating countries.
The aim is to get to know the work in a university administration or institution of another European university, to establish contacts and to exchange experiences.
What can be funded?
Within the framework of a staff mobility, stays of 2 to 60 days can be funded for teaching activities or further education and training purposes at host institutions abroad.
International dimension through new destination countries in the new program generation 2021-2027
Possibility to support mobility projects outside Europe and Erasmus+ Program Countries - 20% of the grant budget may be used for mobilities in Erasmus+ Partner Countries.
Teaching Mobility
As a lecturer, your stay will strengthen the international dimension of the partner university, complement its teaching offer and impart your expertise to students who cannot or do not wish to study abroad. This will include the development of joint study programs between the two universities and the exchange of teaching content and teaching methods. In addition, your mobility abroad makes you an important multiplier for oTH Köln students.
The common goal should be to encourage students to spend an academic or pre-professional period abroad.
Erasmus+ International Weeks
Are you interested in participating in an International Week at a university abroad? Here you will find various offers:
Training Mobility
Mobilities for further education and training purposes are aimed at the entire staff of TH Köln: Executive Board, university departments, central institutions and faculties. It offers the possibility of a training stay at a partner university, in a company or at another relevant workplace abroad. The training and further education should have relevance for the daily work at TH Köln. Possible mobility formats in this context are for example:
- Job shadowing
- Participation in workshops/ seminars/ trainings
- Participation in an International Staff Week
- Participation in exams
- Support/ supervision of students
- Monitoring of Erasmus+ projects
A combination of teaching, training and continuing education projects is possible as well. Research projects and conference participation are not eligible for funding.
Funding rates
Grants are awarded to cover travel and subsistence expenses - in the form of lump sums.
Travel grants
Travel costs are calculated depending on the distance between the origin and destination of the mobility using the EU online calculator. Slightly increased travel grants are awarded for "green travel":
|
Travel distance* |
Travel grants |
Additional grants for "green travel"** |
| 0 - 99 km | 23 EUR | |
| 100 - 499 km | 180 EUR | + 30 EUR |
| 500 - 1.999 km | 275 EUR | + 45 EUR |
| 2.000 - 2.999 km | 360 EUR | + 50 EUR |
| 3.000 - 3.999 km | 530 EUR | + 80 EUR |
| 4.000 - 7.999 km | 820 EUR | |
| 8.000 km and more | 1500 EUR |
*The "travel distance" corresponds to the distance between the place of origin and the destination. The "amount" corresponds to the subsidy for the journey to/from the destination.
**"Green travel" refers to travel that uses low-emission modes of transportation such as bus, rail, or carpooling for the majority of the trip.
Please note: Only travel expenses can be reimbursed that actually occured - up to the maximum amount of approved funding. Reimbursement is made in accordance with the State Travel Expenses Act. There is no flat-rate settlement or lump sum reimbursement.
Cost of Stay
Cost of stay are budgeted depending on the destination country according to the daily rates below.
| Group of destination countries | Destination country | Daily rate* |
|
Group 1: Program countries with high cost of living |
Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden and partner countries from regions 1-12** and 14 (Faroe Islands, Switzerland, United Kingdom) | 180 EUR |
|
Group 2: Program countries with medium cost of living |
Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and partner countries from Region 13 (Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City State) | 160 EUR |
|
Group 3: Program countries with low cost of living |
Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Northern Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey | 140 EUR |
*The daily rates apply up to the 14th day of funding; from the 15th to the 60th day, the funding is 70% of the daily rate.
**Partner countries of region 1-12 (essentially all non-EU countries)
Requirements
The stay abroad must be at least two days and can be a maximum of 60 days - due to the scarcity of funding, usually only stays of up to 14 days can be funded. A stay of one week is recommended.
Please also note that appropriate language skills are required for a successful stay abroad. Furthermore, there should be a basic willingness to receive a return visit.
Additional requirements for teaching mobility
In the case of a teaching mobility, the stay must comprise at least eight teaching units per week. In the case of a combination of teaching, further education and training, the proportion of required teaching units is reduced to four per week.
Furthermore, in the case of mobility for teaching purposes, a cooperation agreement between the TH Köln and the host university must already exist or be concluded for this purpose.
Application
| 1. Coordinate your plans (goals, content and rough time schedule) or interest in mobility with your supervisor first. | |
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2. If you already have international contacts, then you are welcome to contact the respective department/institute abroad and clarify whether the host institution is willing to host you. If you do not have any international contacts yet, the Department of International Affairs will support you in identifying and contacting possible host institutions. Please contact Martina Brüderle from the International Scholar Services and make an appointment. |
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| 3. Complete the application form with information about your planned project abroad and send it by e-mail to: international-scholars@th-koeln.de before the application deadline. |
Staff Mobility Application
If the host institution has not yet been determined at the time of application or the acceptance has not yet been received, you can still apply by indicating your preferred country / host institution. This applies in particular to employees who do not have any international contacts.
Applications can be submitted for a maximum of two mobilities per semester. In this case, please indicate which mobility should be given priority in the selection process
Application deadlines
| For mobilities in the winter semester: 1 Jun | |
| For mobilities in the summer semester: 1 December |
Selection
Provided that sufficient funding is available, all mobility applications will be funded.
According to the guidelines of the EU Commission, only 20% of the total available funding within a funding year can be spent on mobilities to Erasmus+ partner countries.
If more applications are received than funding is available for mobilities to program or partner countries, the selection will be made according to the following criteria:
- Employees who are undertaking international mobility for the first time will be given priority in the selection process.
- The number of funded mobility activities is limited to one stay per employee and funding year.
- Limitation of the funding period to a maximum of two weeks.
You will be informed about the selection decisions by e-mail no later than eight weeks after the application deadline.
Selected - what's next?
Once you have been selected, we will clarify whether all the essential details (commitment of the host institution, duration, dates, means of transport) of the stay have already been determined. If there are any uncertainties or questions, we will be happy to clarify them in a consultation.
As soon as all key data of your mobility have been determined, two agreements will be concluded with you:
- The "Grant Agreement" represents the funding agreement between you and TH Köln. It forms the contractual and financial basis of the stay abroad and contains, among other things, the duration of the funding period, the reporting obligations of the grantees as well as the intended financial Erasmus+ funding and the method of payment.
- The "Mobility Agreement" forms the mobility agreement between your host institution, TH Köln and you. It should specify the period, the objectives, the contents as well as the expected results of the stay. This document is signed by all three parties before the start of the mobility.
In addition, you will receive the following two documents:
- The "Letter of Confirmation" - a confirmation about the completed stay abroad, which the host institution has to sign at the end of the mobility.
- The funding approval approval serves as internal proof for your travel expense report in ESS-MSS.
Before the Mobility
The following steps should be completed before your mobility:
- Send the Mobility Agreement (digital copy) signed by the host institution and you to international-scholars@th-koeln.de.
- Send the Grant Agreement (original) signed by you by in-house mail to: Martina Brüderle, Department of International Affairs, GWZ.
- Create a travel request in ESS-MSS and upload the funding approval as an attachment, change the cost center to the PSP element provided in the Grant Agreement, and request a travel advance if needed (otherwise you will not receive your funding until you submit your travel expense report).
- Apply for the A1 certificate for social security no later than 1 week prior to departure via your personnel administrator at the university's Human Resources department. You can find more information here.
- Check whether you have sufficient health, accident and liability insurance coverage for your stay abroad. (Please note that you are only covered by accident insurance through the TH for the duration of your official business abroad).
During the Mobility
Please have the "Letter of Confirmation" signed by the host institution.
After the Mobility
After completing your mobility, the following steps still need to be completed:
Closing documentation
- Send the Letter of Confirmation either by e-mail to international-scholars@th-koeln.de to Martina Brüderle, Department of International Affairs, GWZ.
- Please complete the "EU Survey", an online questionnaire of the EU about your completed mobility, as soon as possible. It will be sent to you automatically by e-mail via an EU portal. The answering is obligatory according to the grant agreement.
- Make the travel expense claim via ESS-MSS. In order to do so you need the original receipts (e.g. tickets, boarding cards, hotel bills, etc.). The travel management department will process the reimbursement accordance with the State Travel Expenses Act.
We wish you a successful and enjoyable stay abroad and look forward to hearing about your experiences.