As the year 2026 begins, the Erasmus Student Network is launching new projects. They all share the same purpose: to make Erasmus+ student mobility more inclusive and impactful for students across Europe, empowering students and young people, and enriching society.
These initiatives focus on strengthening youth work and civic engagement in times of social change (Eduk8 Starter 2026), advancing student-centred and flexible learning pathways in higher education (SHIFT), promoting inclusive and accessible international work and traineeship opportunities for young people (IN KEY), improving well-being, mental health, and housing security for mobile students (MOWEHOME), and encouraging sustainable behaviours and greener mobility within international education (Green Erasmus 2.0).
Discover five focus areas of ESN in 2026:
Empowering Youth for Resilient Societies
Eduk8 Starter is an international training that empowers volunteers with soft skills relevant to their activities. In 2026, the theme is “Resilient Voices: Youth Work in Times of Change”. This capacity-building activity will bring together 40 young people from across Europe for a seven-day Training of Trainers event. The training aims to strengthen young people's capacity to develop and deliver youth work in contexts of rising social tension, political polarisation and shrinking civic space.
The project is led by ESN and supported by the Council of Europe's European Youth Foundation (EYF). It will last one year, from January to December 2026, with a physical training in February 2026. Participants will be equipped with practical non-formal education (NFE) tools and methodologies, developed by training sessions and an online webinar.
Redefining Learning: Student-Centred Education for All
Student-centred Higher Education Innovation for the Future of Teaching (SHIFT) aims to ensure that higher education institutions (HEIs) provide inclusive, adaptable, and internationally connected environments where students act as active co-creators of their own educational experiences. The project intends to shift the current educational landscape by embedding student-centred learning methodologies and developing flexible academic pathways. During the next 36 months of activity, SHIFT will produce specialised research, frameworks, handbooks, toolkits, online learning hubs for students and policy recommendations to advocate for student-centred learning methodologies across Europe.
The consortium is composed of ESN (coordinator), the Academic Cooperation Association (ACA), the Institute for Development in Education (IDE), the European Students’ Union (ESU), the European Consortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU), the University of Poitiers (France), and the University of Oviedo (Spain).
Making Internships More Inclusive and Accessible
Inclusive work Experiences for Young Professionals (IN KEY) intends to develop an inclusive model to strengthen international internship mobility. The project specifically targets disadvantaged students facing economic, cultural or physical barriers, to enhance their employment opportunities. Until October 2027, IN KEY will produce comprehensive research, frameworks for inclusive mobility, toolkits, an AI-powered virtual assistant and quality labels to foster a more inclusive landscape for youth employability.
The consortium is composed of EuGen - European Generation (Italy, coordinator), the Université de Lille (France), the Campus Iberus (Spain), Per Formare (Italy), ESN and the GaragErasmus Foundation (Belgium).
Enhancing Well-Being and Housing Security for Mobile Students
Mobile Well-Being Home (MOWEHOME) aims to enhance the well-being, inclusivity and housing security of mobile Erasmus+ students and trainees. Until August 2027, the project will deliver research on student accommodation, well-being and inclusivity, as well as guidelines, a well-being quality label for inclusive and student-friendly housing, an AI-driven scam prevention blueprint and policy recommendations to improve housing standards across Europe.
The consortium is composed of Politecnico di Milano (Italy, coordinator), ESN, Aachen University (Germany), Algebra University (Croatia), and Lombardini 22 (Italy).
Empowering Students for Sustainable Mobility
Green Erasmus 2.0 aims to bridge the gap between students' environmental awareness and their actual habits. The project focuses on empowering students to become "changemakers" and encouraging HEIs to adopt sustainable internationalisation strategies. During its 36-month activity period, Green Erasmus 2.0 will produce a research-based model for sustainable behaviour change in the context of mobility, a Student Toolkit for behaviour change, green labels for higher education institutions, an educational challenge-based framework and open badges to recognise students' engagement in sustainability courses, as well as policy impact with specific policy recommendations for EU and national stakeholders.
The consortium is composed of the University of Poitiers (France, coordinator), ESN, the Technical University of Denmark (Denmark), the Institute for the Development of Education (Croatia), the Coimbra Group (Belgium) and the University of Jena (Germany), acting as an associated partner.
In 2026, ESN continues its efforts to support and improve student mobility
ESN is starting 2026 ready to grow and to continue its main efforts to empower students, promote inclusion and drive positive change in European societies. From sustainable mobility to student well-being, skills and employability, and youth leadership, these projects demonstrate ESN is committed to enhancing the significance, accessibility, and impact of Erasmus+ experiences for all members of the Erasmus Generation, year after year.
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