All forms of non-vocational adult education, whether of a formal, non-formal or informal nature.

Vocational Education that happens after initial education and training or after entry into working life. It helps people improve  or update their knowledge, learn new skills, or re-train for a career move.

Learning that happens because of daily activities related to work, family or leisure. Informal learning is not organised or structured in terms of objectives, time or learning support, and may even be unintentional from the learner’s perspective.

Education that happens in a formals system, like a school or College of Further Education, usually before entering working life.

The movement of people across countries—within and outside Europe—for learning. Examples include exchange programmes between schools or youth groups, job shadowing for adult educators, placements for trainees, and so on.

Learning that takes place through planned activities that have learning objectives and some form of learning support, but is not part of the formal education and training system.

The basic set of knowledge, skills and attitudes that all individuals need for personal fulfilment and  development, active citizenship, social inclusion and employment.

The defined knowledge, skills and competences that a participant is expected to gain at the end of a learning process.

Training that gives people the skills and competences required for particular occupations or to take part in the general labour market. This is often called Further Education and Training, or FET, in Ireland.

A set of tools operated by the European Commission to help with managing your career, by creating CVs, cover letters and recording learning outcomes. Europass is managed in Ireland by Quality and Qualifications Ireland. Visit the Europass website.

The system of rotating leadership in the EU. Every six months a different EU Member State takes on the Presidency and has the chance to advance certain issues on the EU agenda.

The main ‘executive’ body of the European Union. It helps to shape the EU’s overall strategy, proposes new EU laws and policies, monitors their implementation, and manages the EU budget.

The political and economic union of 27 member states across Europe. Ireland joined the EU in 1973.

An international conference that takes place during each EU Presidency. It brings together young people, decision makers and others to talk about youth policy and discuss important issues.

The EU plan for young  people. It has two main aims: providing more and equal opportunities for young people in education and the job market; and encouraging young people to actively take part in society.

An organisation established by the European Commission that has responsibility for a specific field. The Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (sometimes called DG-EAC) oversees Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps.

The organisation that manages a European programme in a particular member state, on behalf of the European Commission. Léargas is the National Agency in Ireland for the European Solidarity Corps and for all sectors of Erasmus+ except Higher Education. The National Agency for Erasmus+ Higher Education is the Higher Education Authority (HEA).

A network of eight resource centres that work on European priorities in youth. SALTO-Youth coordinate training courses, offer resources, and operate the partner-finding tool OTLAS.

An activity or project that involves two or more different countries.

A kind of ‘charter’ for experienced organisations, that helps them access funding in a simpler way. Accreditation shows an organisation can carry out high-quality projects and plans to do so regularly.

A set of tasks carried out as part of a project. An activity is defined by having the same location, same time frame and same scope.

The organisation that submits an application for funding. The applicants is considered to be the ‘Lead Partner’ in any project.

The final date for submitting the application form.

The term for an organisation or group that have submitted a successful Erasmus+ application and received funding.

The European Commission’s invitation to submit applications for funding. These applications must correspond to the Erasmus+ objectives and priorities.

The manual that explains all the details of Erasmus+ and how it works! It is updated each year. It is available online and as a PDF download from the European Commission website.

A plan that outlines an organisation’s needs and how Erasmus+ project  activities can help meet those needs.

The European Union programme for volunteering, running from 2021 to 2027.

A novel or different method, idea or product. One of the objectives of Erasmus+ is to encourage exchange of innovation practice between organisations and countries.

The name for a sub-section of Erasmus+, often shortened to ‘KA’. The main ‘Key Actions’ are KA1 for Mobility and KA2 for Partnerships.

A teacher, trainer, school pupil, learner or anyone else who takes part in an Erasmus+ activity like a mobility placement or training course.

Any organisation or group involved in carrying out an Erasmus+ project. Depending on their role in the project, participating organisations may be applicants or partners.

An organisation that takes part in the project but is not the applicant.

Visits to the country of the receiving organisation prior to the start of mobility activities to prepare and ensure high quality of those activities.

Examples include tasks to facilitate administrative arrangements and build trust and understanding between organisations involved.

A set of activities organised to achieve defined objectives and results.

An organisation that receives participants from other countries and offers them an exchange or training programme.

An organisation that sends its learners, staff, pupils or young people to another country for an exchange or training programme.

These countries participate fully in the Erasmus+ Programme in the same way as EU member States. They are North Macedonia, Serbia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Turkey.

Countries which do not participate fully in the Erasmus+ Programme, but which may take part (as partners or applicants) in certain Actions of the Programme. The list of third countries not associated to the Programme is set out in Part A of the Erasmus+ Programme Guide.

A European tool to recognise the learning outcomes of young people and youth workers who take part in the European Solidarity Corps or Erasmus+. Youthpass is part of the European Commission’s broader strategy to enhance recognition of non-formal and informal learning.

The name for a sub-section of the European Solidarity Corps. The main ‘Actions’ are Volunteering projects and Solidarity projects.

A set of tasks carried out as part of a project. An activity is defined by having the same location,  same time frame and same scope.

A planning visit carried out before the activity, by a potential participant (volunteering, traineeship or job) and support person to the country of the receiving organisation. The purpose is to build  trust and understanding, and form a solid partnership between the organisations involved. Young participants can be involved in the visit so that they are fully a part of the project.

The participating organisation or group of young people that submits an application.

The final date for submitting the application form.

The term for an organisation or group of young people that have submitted a successful European Solidarity Corps application and received funding.

The European Commission’s invitation to organisations or groups to present their ideas for European Solidarity Corps projects. These projects must correspond to the mission and principles of the European Solidarity Corps.

An activity that takes place in a different country than the one where the participant is legally resident.

An activity that takes place in the country where the participant is legally resident.

A young person who is registered in the European Solidarity Corps and is involved in a project. In Solidarity Projects, young people who carry out the project are also considered as participants.

EU member states that take part fully in the European Solidarity Corps, and have established a National Agency to manage the programme. See the European Solidarity Corps Programme Guide for the full list.

Any organisation or group of young people involved in carrying out a European Solidarity Corps project. Depending on their role in the project, participating organisations may be applicants or partners.

An organisation that takes part in the project but is not the applicant.

A set of activities organised to achieve defined objectives and results.

Certification that an organisation has reached the required standards, set by the European Commission, to take part in the European Solidarity Corps. While organisations must have a Quality Label to take part in the programme, holding one does not automatically lead to a European Solidarity Corps project grant.

A young person who wants to take part in a solidarity activity and has registered their interest through the online portal but is not yet part of an activity.

A volunteering activity, a traineeship, a job or a solidarity project carried out through the European Solidarity Corps.

A European tool to recognise the learning outcomes of young people and youth workers who take part in the European Solidarity Corps or Erasmus+. Youthpass is part of the European Commission’s broader strategy to enhance recognition of non-formal and informal learning.