Erasmus+ for VET providers in Greece: actions, funding and deadlines

Vocational education and training is one of the most active sectors in the Erasmus+ programme. Greek VET providers — στρατηγικές σχολές, IEK, vocational lyceums (EPAL), centres of continuing vocational training and other organisations delivering initial and continuing vocational training — have access to a strong set of Erasmus+ actions designed specifically for the VET field.

Whether you want to send learners on placements abroad, develop staff through job shadowing and training, build a partnership with VET providers across Europe or apply for the Erasmus Accreditation for long-term annual mobility funding, this guide covers every option available to Greek VET providers in 2026.

Which VET organisations in Greece are eligible?

Erasmus+ VET actions are open to a wide range of organisations providing vocational education and training in Greece. Eligible types include:

• EPAL — Vocational Lyceums (Επαγγελματικά Λύκεια) — secondary-level VET providing initial vocational qualifications
• IEK — Institutes of Vocational Training (Ινστιτούτα Επαγγελματικής Κατάρτισης) — post-secondary non-tertiary VET providing vocational specialisation
• EPAS — Apprenticeship Schools (Επαγγελματικές Σχολές Μαθητείας) — work-based learning providers
• LAEK / OAED / DYPA centres — continuing vocational training centres managed by the Greek Public Employment Service
• KDVMs and private VET centres — licensed centres providing continuing vocational training (κέντρα διά βίου μάθησης)
• Companies and enterprises providing structured workplace training as part of VET programmes
• Local and regional authorities active in vocational training and skills development
• Employers’ associations and chambers active in VET, apprenticeship and skills development

All organisations must hold a valid Organisation ID (OID) before submitting any application. Registration is free on the EU Academy portal and takes up to 10 working days — do not leave this to the week before the deadline.

The two pathways for Greek VET providers

Like schools, Greek VET providers can access KA1 mobility funding through two distinct pathways — and choosing the right one depends on your organisation’s experience level and long-term strategy.

Pathway 1 — KA122-VET: Short-term Mobility Projects

KA122-VET is the entry-level mobility action for VET providers applying to Erasmus+ for the first time or organising a one-off project. No prior experience required, maximum 30 participants per project.

The 3-grant limit in any 5-year period is an important constraint for Greek VET providers to be aware of. Unlike the school sector where organisations can keep reapplying for short-term projects indefinitely, VET short-term projects are intentionally designed as a stepping stone toward the Erasmus Accreditation. After 2–3 short-term projects, the expectation is that serious VET providers will apply for accreditation.

Pathway 2 — KA121-VET: Erasmus Accreditation for VET

The Erasmus Accreditation for VET is the long-term pathway for Greek VET providers committed to making European mobility a regular and strategic part of their work. Once accredited, your organisation submits a simplified annual funding request based on your approved Erasmus Plan — no full application required each year.

The Erasmus Accreditation is the right long-term choice for any Greek VET provider that is serious about internationalisation. It removes the administrative burden of reapplying each year, allows you to plan a multi-year mobility programme, and signals to partners, employers and learners that your organisation has an established European dimension to its work.

What activities can Greek VET providers fund?

Erasmus+ funds a wide range of VET-specific mobility activities — both for learners and for staff. Here is a full breakdown:

Staff mobility activities

Job shadowing — a VET teacher, trainer or staff member spends 2–60 days at a partner VET institution or company abroad, observing professional practice. Maximum 2 participants can shadow the same mentor simultaneously (2026 rule). One of the most popular and practically useful VET activities.

Teaching and training assignments — a VET teacher or trainer delivers lessons or practical training at a partner institution abroad for 2–365 days. Particularly valuable for instructors in specialised technical areas who want to expand their methodology and industry knowledge.

Courses and training — a VET staff member attends a structured professional development course abroad. Course fees are funded at €80/day per participant up to a maximum of €800 per participant. Important 2026 rule: courses and training cannot exceed 50% of your total project grant. This cap is strictly enforced by IKY — plan your budget carefully.

Invited experts — an industry specialist or VET expert from another country comes to your Greek VET centre to deliver professional development. The expert receives individual support but no separate travel grant.

VET learner mobility activities

Short-term learning mobility of VET learners — groups of initial VET (IVET) learners travel to a partner institution or company abroad for a structured learning programme of 2–29 days. Activities must be aligned with the learner’s curriculum and have clear learning outcomes. Europass Mobility must be issued to all participants.

ErasmusPro — Long-term VET learner mobility — this is the flagship VET activity in Erasmus+ and the one most strongly encouraged by the 2026 Programme Guide. ErasmusPro funds long-term work placements abroad for VET learners of 30 days to 12 months at a host company or VET institution in another programme country. It is funded through enhanced individual support rates — significantly higher than short-term activities.

KA210 and KA220: cooperation beyond mobility

Beyond KA1 mobility actions, Greek VET providers can also develop cooperation projects through KA210 and KA220 — working with partner VET institutions across Europe to share practices, develop joint training resources, build sector-specific methodologies or address shared challenges in VET quality, digitalisation or green skills.

KA210-VET — Small-Scale Partnerships

KA210 is ideal for a Greek VET provider wanting to develop a transnational project with one European partner — sharing curriculum approaches, developing digital training materials, piloting new assessment methodologies or building joint capacity for work-based learning. No receipts required — payment is based on activity delivery.

KA220-VET — Cooperation Partnerships

KA220-VET suits experienced Greek VET providers with a clear innovation objective — developing new VET qualifications, building sector-specific competence frameworks, designing European apprenticeship models or addressing green and digital skills gaps at systemic level. Well-designed KA220-VET projects can attract up to €400,000 in lump sum funding.

The 2026 VET priorities: what IKY evaluators look for

The 2026 Programme Guide aligns VET priorities with the Osnabrück Declaration and the Council Recommendation on VET. Greek VET providers should ensure their applications address at least two of the following priority areas genuinely:

• Work-based learning and apprenticeships — strengthening the connection between VET institutions and employers, expanding work-based learning components, developing apprenticeship frameworks
• Digital skills for VET — digital tools in VET delivery, virtual and hybrid VET methodologies, digital upskilling for VET trainers, Digital Opportunity Traineeships for learners
• Green skills and the green transition — VET for sustainable industries, green construction, renewable energy, circular economy — one of the most strongly prioritised areas in 2026
• Inclusion in VET — widening access to VET for learners with fewer opportunities, early school leavers, people with disabilities and adult learners returning to training
• ErasmusPro and long-term mobility — the Programme Guide explicitly encourages VET providers to prioritise long-term learner placements over short-term activities
• Micro-credentials and flexible learning pathways — modular VET qualifications, recognition of non-formal learning, skills validation frameworks

2026 Erasmus+ deadlines for Greek VET providers

All deadlines at 12:00 Brussels time. Always verify with IKY at erasmus.iky.gr — IKY may publish national adjustments after the Programme Guide is released.

How much funding can a Greek VET provider receive?

For KA122-VET and KA121-VET the grant is calculated from unit costs. Here is a realistic example for a typical Greek EPAL or IEK:

KA122-VET vs Erasmus Accreditation: which is right for your organisation?

Common mistakes Greek VET providers make when applying

Exceeding the 50% Courses and Training budget cap. This is the most common budget error in KA122-VET applications. Many Greek VET providers plan several training courses for staff and accidentally allocate more than half of their total grant to course fees. IKY enforces this cap strictly — always check your budget split before submitting.

Not including ErasmusPro in the project. Applications that include at least one ErasmusPro long-term learner placement score significantly better on the Quality of Project Design criterion than projects focused exclusively on staff training courses. Even one or two ErasmusPro placements in a KA122-VET project demonstrate alignment with the programme’s stated VET priorities.

Applying for a third KA122-VET grant without planning for accreditation. The 3-grant limit in any 5-year period is a ceiling — not an entitlement. VET providers approaching their third short-term grant should simultaneously be preparing their Erasmus Accreditation application, not planning a fourth short-term project.

Choosing job shadowing activities without a genuine learning programme. Job shadowing must have clear learning objectives for the participant — it is not a study tour or a networking visit. IKY evaluators look for evidence that each activity has structured learning outcomes and a plan for applying what was learned back at the home institution.

Not registering the OID in time. Registration takes up to 10 working days. Many Greek VET providers leave this to January before the February deadline. Start as soon as you decide to apply.

Frequently asked questions

Can a private IEK apply for Erasmus+ VET actions?

Yes. Both public and private VET providers — including private IEK, licensed training centres and private vocational schools — are eligible for KA122-VET and the Erasmus Accreditation, provided they are legally established in Greece and deliver recognised vocational training. Confirm your organisation’s eligibility with IKY if you are unsure about your specific legal form.

What is ErasmusPro and how long can a placement be?

ErasmusPro is the long-term VET learner mobility activity funded under Erasmus+ KA1. It covers placements of 30 days to 12 months at a host company or VET institution in another programme country. Participants receive enhanced individual support rates and an additional top-up of €150 per month. ErasmusPro is strongly prioritised in the 2026 Programme Guide and is one of the most valued activities a Greek VET provider can include in its project.

Can a Greek VET provider apply for KA122-VET and KA210-VET in the same call?

Yes. There is no rule preventing a VET provider from applying for a KA1 mobility project and a KA210 cooperation project in the same call. Both are managed by IKY and evaluated independently. Many experienced Greek VET providers run both a KA1 mobility project and a KA210 or KA220 cooperation project simultaneously.

What is the Erasmus Plan and how long should it be?

The Erasmus Plan is the strategic document at the heart of an Erasmus Accreditation application. It describes your organisation’s European development goals, why international mobility matters for your VET learners and staff, what activities you plan to organise and how they align with your institutional development strategy. A well-written Erasmus Plan for a VET provider is typically 3–5 pages — specific, strategic and grounded in your organisation’s real needs and context.

Can a Greek VET provider host incoming ErasmusPro learners from other countries?

Yes. Hosting incoming VET learners from other Erasmus+ programme countries is an eligible activity under both KA122-VET and the accreditation. Greek VET providers can receive learners from partner institutions for both short-term placements and long-term ErasmusPro traineeships, provided they can offer a structured learning environment relevant to the learner’s VET programme.

All programme information is based on the official Erasmus+ Programme Guide 2026 (Version 1, published 12 November 2025). The 50% Courses and Training cap and the 3-grant limit for short-term projects are confirmed from the 2026 Programme Guide. Always verify current national guidance with IKY at erasmus.iky.gr before submitting an application. GrowthProjects.eu is an independent consultancy and is not affiliated with IKY, the European Commission or EACEA.