HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht is the proud holder of the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE) 2021-2027. This charter allows students and staff to gain knowledge and experiences abroad. In addition, the ECHE allows HU to participate in various international cooperation projects.

ECHE and policy statement

The ECHE provides the general quality framework for European and international cooperation activities of higher education institutions within the Erasmus+ programme. The ECHE allows HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht (HU) to participate in the European Union Erasmus+ grant programme in the period 2021-2027. The main spearheads within this programme are digitalisation, inclusion and sustainability. These are topics that HU is also intensively working on. In our policy statement, we show how HU deploys the ECHE and its spearheads within the organisation.

Partner universities

HU has partnerships with more than 237 universities worldwide. Around 200 of these partnerships have been established through the Erasmus+ programme. For many years, many of our students and staff have taken advantage of the opportunity to study, do internships, to teach or to follow training at one of our Erasmus+ partners. We have also welcomed many colleagues and students from our partners at the HU.

Mobility projects

There are many different mobility projects within Erasmus+. These mobility projects allow students and staff to gain international competence within or outside the EU. Students can spend a period abroad for internships or studies and staff to teach or follow training. Under certain conditions, participants can apply for an Erasmus+ grant. The Erasmus+ grant is a financial contribution to cover some costs the participants make abroad.

Each year around 500 Erasmus+ grants are being given out by the HU for mobility within the EU. With this grant, about 300 students receive an Erasmus+ grant for a study at one of our partner universities. For a traineeship abroad, around 100 students receive an Erasmus+ grant. Around 100 Erasmus+ grants are given out for staff teaching or training mobility.

After the outbreak of war in the Ukraine, Ukrainian students and staff were allowed to participate in the Erasmus+ programme at the HU. Under special circumstances, they could also be eligible for an Erasmus+ grant, provided by the HU Erasmus+ team.

There are also Erasmus+ projects outside the EU. These projects are with one or more universities within a specific country or region outside the EU. It allows incoming and outgoing students and staff to participate in these projects. Depending on the rules of the project, incoming and outgoing students and staff could also be eligible for an Erasmus+ grant.

HU has several projects outside the EU, amongst others:

  • The Institute of Communication has an exchange programme with two universities in Tunesia: Tunis Business School and University of Tunis El Manar.
  • The School of Journalism has an exchange programme with the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs (GIPA) in Georgia.

Strategic partnerships

Strategic partnerships are aimed at strengthening activities of participating organisations. This can be on methodologies and working methods at local, regional or (inter)national level. This often involves long-term work with European organisations. For more detailed information on strategic partnerships send an email to the HU Grant Office at hugrantoffice@hu.nl.

Want to know more?