Course participant eligibility criteria

To be eligible to apply for an Erasmus+ mobility / traineeship, course participants at the Institute for Education must have successfully completed at least one academic year of the programme they are enrolled in.

Course participants must be actively following their studies at the Institute for Education at the time of application and during the period of undertaking the mobility abroad, meaning they cannot be on leave of absence.

The mobility period / traineeship abroad must correspond to the equivalent workload of the module forming part of the qualification undertaken at the Institute for Education and the learning agreement indicates how the credits to be completed during the exchange can be fully transferred (if applicable).

Course participants must also possess sufficient language proficiency in the working language of the traineeship / blended intensive programme, typically at a B2 level or higher according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Lastly, course participants should not have any pending disciplinary actions or severe academic warnings on their record, ensuring they represent the IfE positively abroad.

These criteria are designed to ensure that course participants are academically prepared and capable of benefiting fully from the international experience.

Staff eligibility criteria

To be eligible to apply for an Erasmus+ mobility staff members at the Institute for Education must have successfully completed their probationary period.

Staff members must have an active regular employment contract and not be on leave during the application period or during the period of undertaking the mobility abroad, meaning they cannot be on maternity leave, career break, etc.

Staff members must possess sufficient language proficiency in the working language of the traineeship / mobility for teaching, typically at a B2 level or higher according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Lastly, staff members should not have any pending disciplinary actions on their record, ensuring they represent the IfE positively abroad.

These criteria are designed to ensure that staff members are well prepared and capable of benefiting fully from the international experience.

Erasmus+ traineeships can take place in the form of a short-term blended mobility, where the physical component is between 5-30 days and the traineeship also includes a virtual online component. Overall short-term blended traineeships must amount to a total workload equivalent to at least 3 ECTS. The trainee’s working hours must amount to at least 30 hours per week.

The Erasmus program is funded by the European Commission. Trainees receive an Erasmus grant that covers part of the traineeship expenses.

Erasmus traineeships can be completed in EU/EEA countries, Turkey, North Macedonia and Serbia. The traineeship can be completed in a company or a private or public organization, but not in

• EU organisations
• Organizations that administrate EU programs (national Erasmus agencies)

The Council of Europe is a political cooperation and human rights organization separate from the EU and as such eligible as a receiving organization for Erasmus trainees. On the contrary, the European Council is not eligible as a receiving organization for Erasmus trainees as it is the EU’s highest political body. A traineeship can also be completed at an institution of higher education, for example in an independent institute; a hospital, a laboratory or a library.

Please note that Switzerland does not participate in the Erasmus programme.

Erasmus traineeship grant

The traineeship grant consists of a travel grant and individual support (covering subsistence expenses) as outlined below.

The grant is provided in two installments – 80% prior to the mobility period and 20% following the mobility period on presentation of all required documentation by the course participant.

Erasmus+ travel grant

The amount of the travel grant depends on the distance to the destination abroad. The distance is calculated using a distance calculator from Pembroke directly to the exchange destination abroad.

Individual support is provided based on the duration of the traineeship (in days).

• 79 € per day for the first 14 days
• 56 € per day for days 15–30

In addition to the time spent undertaking the traineeship (a minimum of 5 days) you may receive a daily grant for a maximum of 2 travel days.

Moreover, a top-up of 250 Euro is provided as inclusion support in view of the geographical remoteness of Malta.

Student mobility for traineeships

The applications for Erasmus+ mobility for traineeships will be received online through the application form. The application will become available in December each year and will remain open until 31 January of the following year.

Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.

Applications will only be accepted electronically through the form provided. Kindly ensure an acknowledgment of the submitted form is received.

If a course participant submits more than one application, the most recent application will be considered final and no changes will be allowed after the deadline.

The application form must be accompanied by the following documents:

• Updated Europass Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Motivation letter
• Certificates confirming your language proficiency in the language of the traineeship
• Indication of country of traineeship
• Indication of proposed traineeship entity
• Language of operation of traineeship entity
• Duration of traineeship

Student mobility for blended intensive programmes

The applications for Erasmus+ mobility for blended intensive programmes will be received online through the application form. The application will become available in December each year and will remain open until 31 January of the following year.

Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.

Applications will only be accepted electronically through the form provided. Kindly ensure an acknowledgment of the submitted form is received.

If a course participant submits more than one application, the most recent application will be considered final and no changes will be allowed after the deadline.

The application form must be accompanied by the following documents:

• Updated Europass Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Motivation letter
• Certificates confirming your language proficiency in the language of instruction during the blended intensive programme

Staff mobility for training

The applications for Erasmus+ mobility for staff mobility for training will be received online through the application form. The application will become available in December each year and will remain open until 31 January of the following year.

Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.

Applications will only be accepted electronically through the form provided. Kindly ensure an acknowledgment of the submitted form is received.

If a staff member submits more than one application, the most recent application will be considered final and no changes will be allowed after the deadline.

The application form must be accompanied by the following documents:

• Indication of traineeship entity including contact details
• Justification for traineeship
• Duration of traineeship

Staff mobility for teaching

The applications for Erasmus+ mobility for staff mobility for teaching will be received online through the application form. The application will become available in December each year and will remain open until 31 January of the following year.

Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.

Applications will only be accepted electronically through the form provided. Kindly ensure an acknowledgment of the submitted form is received.

If a staff member submits more than one application, the most recent application will be considered final and no changes will be allowed after the deadline.

The application form must be accompanied by the following documents:

• Indication of entity for mobility period
• Justification for mobility period
• Duration of mobility period

The selection decisions are made by the Academic Board in consultation with the International Office. Selection decisions are proposals, and the target higher education institutions (in case of blended intensive programmes / staff mobility for teaching) or traineeship providers (in case of traineeships) make the final decisions on whether to accept the course participants or staff members.

Applications will be considered as a whole. Applications meeting the basic criteria will be compared with each other, but a single criterion does not decide the selection. For example, the course participant or staff member has excellent proficiency in the language of the host entity, but the host entity does not offer blended intensive programmes / teaching opportunities / a traineeship suitable for the respective course participant or staff member. If the mobility period does not contribute to the further development of the course participant or staff member, selection will not be recommended.

Student mobility for traineeships

The mobility period should contribute to the study programme of the course participant. As such, preference in the selection will be given to course participants whose study programme incorporates traineeships / job shadowing as compulsory or elective component. Selection will be dependent on the traineeship undertaken abroad leading to the fulfilment of the respective module as part of the programme followed at the IfE. That means, the traineeship / job shadowing period undertaken abroad cannot be shorter than the prescribed duration of the traineeship / job shadowing forming part of the module.

Selection will take into consideration the following criteria:

• Academic performance
• Language proficiency of the training provider (typically at B2 level or higher)
• Motivation
• Attendance and disciplinary actions
• Year of study (course participants must have successfully completed at least one year of the programme they are enrolled in at the time of application)

Preference will be given to course participants applying for a traineeship in the year of study in which the compulsory / elective traineeship or job shadowing is to be undertaken as per course outline.

Should the number of eligible applications be less than the number of mobility opportunities, second preference will be given to course participants due to graduate from a qualification in the year of application. These course participants must complete their traineeship within 12 months from the date of their graduation.

Third preference will be given to course participants applying for a traineeship in a year of study preceding the year in which the compulsory / elective traineeship or job shadowing is to be undertaken as per course outline.

Should the number of eligible applications based on the above-mentioned criteria be less than the number of mobility opportunities, applications will be considered from any other course participants currently enrolled in a qualification provided that they meet the eligibility and selection criteria.

Selection criteria for student mobility for traineeships:

Staff mobility for training

The mobility period should contribute to the personal and professional development of IfE staff.

Selection will take into consideration the following criteria:

• Language proficiency in the language of instruction of the training provider (typically at B2 level or higher)
• Motivation
• Relevance of training for current work duties and professional development
• Number of years employed with the IfE (staff members must have completed their probation)

Preference will be given to staff members with fewer past mobility experiences as part of their work at the IfE.

Staff mobility for teaching

The mobility period should contribute to the personal and professional development of IfE lecturing staff.

Mobility opportunities for teaching are restricted to mobility to higher education institutions with whom the IfE has existing Inter-Institutional Agreements. Lecturing staff are encouraged to review existing Inter-Institutional Agreements of the IfE and recommend to the Academic Board potential higher education institutions with whom such Inter-Institutional Agreements may be drawn up.

Selection will take into consideration the following criteria:

• Language proficiency in the instruction of the host institution (typically at B2 level or higher)
• Motivation
• Expertise / relevance for current lecturing duties
• Number of years employed with the IfE (lecturing staff must have completed their probationary period)

Preference will be given to staff members with fewer past mobility experiences as part of their work at the IfE.

If a course participant or staff member is not selected for Erasmus+ mobility, they have the right to appeal the decision through a structured appeals procedure. The appeals process begins with the submission of a formal written appeal to the International Office within ten working days of receiving the non-selection notification.

Appeals can be lodged on the basis of perceived procedural errors, discrimination, or other substantial grounds impacting the fairness of the selection process. Appeals based solely on disagreement with the selection decision, without substantial evidence, will not be considered. The appeal must clearly outline the grounds for reconsideration and provide any supporting evidence.

Upon receipt, the International Office will review the appeal in consultation with the Academic Board, ensuring a thorough and impartial reassessment of the application. The appellant will receive a written response detailing the outcome of the appeal within fifteen working days. If the appellant remains unsatisfied with the decision, they may request a further review following the Appeals Policy and Procedure. This process ensures transparency, fairness, and accountability in the selection procedures for Erasmus+ mobility.

Flowchart of Appeals Procedure

Please refer to the following Policies and Procedures:

Course participants

• Course Participants’ Conduct Policy and Procedures
• Code of Ethics for Course Participants
• Course participants Complaints Policy and Procedures
• Course Participants’ Grievance Policy and Procedures
• Sexual Harassment Policy and Procedures for Course Participants

Staff

• Code of Ethics for Employees and Persons on a Contract for Service
• Grievance Policy and Procedures for Employees
• Sexual Harassment Policy and Procedures for Employees and Persons on Contract for Service

Please refer to the following Policies and Procedures:

• Health and Safety Policy for Course Participants
• Health and Safety Policy for Employees, Persons on Contract for Service and Visitors