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From Mobility to Opportunity: How Erasmus+ Shapes Lives and Careers in the Western Balkans

Can you name a single EU-funded programme that empowers youth—beyond just students—while encouraging both formal and non-formal education through training and sport activities? There’s only one that does it all: Erasmus+.

Erasmus+ is the European Union’s programme for education, training, youth, and sport. It serves a diverse range of participants from both formal and informal education sectors, offering opportunities to enhance personal and professional development through high-quality, inclusive education and training.

For over 30 years, students and staff have been moving between European universities thanks to the Erasmus programme. Since 2015, Erasmus+ has expanded its reach, enabling short-term mobility between EU Member States and other regions worldwide, including the Western Balkans. Between 2015 and 2020, the Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility (ICM) programme supported 2,372 bilateral projects, facilitating mobility for over 48,000 students, researchers, training, cultural exchange, sport activities, education and employees between the EU and the Western Balkans.

The participation of the Western Balkans in Erasmus+ has grown significantly over time. North Macedonia and Serbia gained association status early on, allowing them to fully participate in the programme. As the status of association can change, it is always worth checking the latest information. While 2015 marked a significant expansion of Erasmus+ in the region, cooperation and exchange programmes had already existed under previous EU education and youth initiatives. For the first two years Serbia had the highest participation rate (43%), followed by Bosnia and Herzegovina (22%), Albania (18%), Kosovo* (10%), and Montenegro (7%).

Erasmus+ offers the Western Balkans several key opportunities:

  • Mobility Projects: These include student exchanges, youth worker mobility, and volunteering projects. Since 2014, when Erasmus+ replaced the original Erasmus programme, student participation in academic mobility programmes from the Western Balkans has increased.
  • Capacity Building: This supports projects for young people and youth workers, allowing organisations in the Western Balkans to participate as partners in mobility projects. Activities include Youth Exchanges, Youth Worker Mobility, and Volunteering Projects, which provide unique opportunities for non-formal learning and skill development.
  • International Credit Mobility (ICM): This programme enables short-term mobility between the EU and other regions, including the Western Balkans, for students, researchers, and staff. In its first two years, the Western Balkans accounted for nearly one-sixth of the ICM budget, funding 912 bilateral projects and facilitating mobility for almost 19,000 individuals between 2015 and 2017.

The Western Balkans Info Hub also reached out to individuals from the region to share their testimonials about the Erasmus+ programme. They spoke about the skills they gained; the career benefits they experienced, the value of cultural exchange, and the personal relationships they built along the way. Their stories will inspire you to try Erasmus+ if you haven’t yet.

“Erasmus+ activities have been the most beautiful and impactful experiences in my life and career as a youth activist. I will never forget them, as they have shaped me both as an individual and as a professional in the field of youth work. Beyond the current and important topics, we had the opportunity to be trained on, the collaboration with other young people from across Europe, listening to and learning from their personal stories, group work, role-playing, and achieving shared goals left an extraordinary impression and instilled in me the spirit of becoming the best version of myself – the person I am today.”

Xhoi Bare

Albania
“Coordinating the Erasmus+ Mobility project ‘Clean environment, clean life!’ was literally a milestone in my life for many reasons:  Career: it was the first ever step in my professional career as a project coordinator when I start with an internship just after my undergraduate studies. I learnt many very important things throughout the coordination journey that are still useful in my career, for example time management.  Networking: the people I met in the project introduced me with a job offer in another country, and I moved there. Moreover, participants of the project are still in touch with and share new career opportunities with each other through the informal WhatsApp group. Cultural exchange and enriching: As a graduate of international relations, the project helped me get to know and be informed about 3 new countries’ political, social and cultural aspects which helped me a lot in my future endeavours with people from those countries.”

Samet Shabani

North Macedonia
“As an exchange student at Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK) in Finland during 2021, my Erasmus+ experience was truly transformative. This opportunity not only enhanced my academic knowledge but also enriched my personal and cultural understanding. At HAMK, I was exposed to innovative teaching methods and a collaborative learning environment. The focus on practical application, combined with the chance to work alongside students from diverse backgrounds, significantly broadened my perspective on global academic and professional practices. Beyond academics, living in Finland allowed me to experience a culture that values sustainability, inclusivity, and innovation. I cherished exploring the country’s breathtaking landscapes and connecting with people from different corners of the world. The Erasmus+ programme provided me with the confidence and skills to adapt to new environments, approach challenges with creativity, and embrace lifelong learning. I wholeheartedly encourage other students to participate in Erasmus+.”

Alma Bajramaj

Kosovo
“I started my journey in the Erasmus+ programme long before it bore this name, back when it was still Youth in Action. As a high school student, I took my first steps as a volunteer in a local youth organisation, unaware that this small beginning would unfold into a lifelong path of learning, traveling, and connecting with young minds across Europe. Over the past 15 years, I have transitioned through many roles—first as a participant, then as a volunteer, a group leader, and eventually a facilitator and trainer, passing on my knowledge and experience to new generations. Since 2018, I have been coordinating Erasmus+ projects, creating spaces where young people can grow, exchange ideas, and develop skills that go far beyond the classroom. My journey has taken me across Italy, Ireland, Cyprus, Germany, Türkiye, and every corner of the Balkans, shaping not just my professional path but my worldview. Through Erasmus+, I have not only gained knowledge but friendships in every European country, proving that borders exist only on maps, not in the hearts of those who share a common vision. More than anything, this programme has taught me that learning is a lifelong adventure—one best shared with others.  Erasmus+ experience enriched my perspective, reinforcing the power of non-formal education in shaping critical thinking and intercultural understanding. Today, I see Erasmus+ not just as a program but much bigger than that, as a key to a tomorrows Europe, that fosters friendships beyond borders and empowers young people to dream bigger. If there is one certainty I hold, it is this: through Erasmus+, we do not just travel—we grow, we inspire, and we create a better future together. “

Slobodan Antic

Serbia

The author of this article also began their career with Erasmus+ youth exchanges in the region. It was an excellent opportunity to develop public speaking skills, practice English, explore topics not typically covered at university, and receive training through non-formal education. At the same time, it provided valuable experience in crisis management, as working in groups comes with its own set of challenges and rewards.

While Erasmus+ has been successful in the Western Balkans, it faces some challenges:

  • Brain Drain Concerns: There are concerns regarding the potential for students to remain abroad after their exchange programmes, which could impact skilled professionals in their home.
  • Varying Participation: Participation rates differ significantly across the region, with smaller economies like Kosovo and Montenegro having lower engagement.

To address these issues and enhance the programme’s impact, there are calls for creating more opportunities for young professionals within the Western Balkans and the EU is encouraging dialogue on youth issues through various projects and initiatives.

Several Erasmus+ calls are currently open for the Western Balkans region:

1. Capacity Building in the field of Youth in Western Balkans:

The expected impact focuses on enhancing the capacity of youth organisations in the Western Balkans to empower young people, foster entrepreneurship, promote transnational learning, and create job opportunities, while ensuring inclusivity and sustainability. The objective is to support international cooperation in youth work and non-formal learning, particularly in organisations targeting young people with fewer opportunities, in line with the EU Youth Strategy and fostering synergies with formal education systems.

Deadline: 6 March 2025

2. Cooperation Partnerships in Education, Training, and Youth:

The objective of Cooperation Partnerships is to enhance the quality, relevance, and innovation of organisations through transnational collaboration in education, training, youth, and sport. The projects aim to foster capacity building, knowledge exchange, and joint initiatives, with outcomes that are transferable and impactful at local, regional, national, and European levels.

Deadlines: 5 March 2025 and 1 October 2025

3. Capacity Building in Sport and Not-for-profit European Sport Events:

Capacity Building projects are international cooperation projects based on multilateral partnerships between organisations active in the field of sport in Programme and third countries not associated to the Programme in Western Balkans and Neighbourhood East. They aim to support sport activities and policies in third countries not associated to the Programme as a vehicle to promote values as well as an educational tool to promote the personal and social development of individuals and build more cohesive communities.

Deadline: 5 March 2025

4. Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs) to Transform Vocational Education and Training

Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs) are part of the EU’s strategy to improve vocational education and training (VET) by fostering innovation, skills development, and social inclusion, while supporting green and digital transitions. CoVEs aim to provide high-quality VET, promote collaboration between industries and institutions, and ensure sustainable, long-term impact through scalable projects addressing local and regional needs.

Deadline: 11 June 2025

5. Forward-Looking Projects for Innovative and Digital Solutions

Forward-Looking Projects are large-scale, transnational Erasmus+ initiatives focused on developing and testing innovative approaches to education and training, targeting solutions that can advance Europe’s digital education priorities. These projects address key topics such as digital skills assessment, AI in education, and innovative data collection, aiming to promote high-quality, inclusive digital education in line with the EU’s Digital Education Action Plan.

Deadline: 27 May 2025

If you are considering applying for Erasmus+ funding, it is important to consult the Annual Work Programme and the Erasmus+ Programme Guide 2025. These documents provide essential details about the Erasmus+ programme, including funding opportunities, eligibility criteria, application procedures, priorities, and deadlines. They serve as key resources for applicants and participating organisations, outlining specific calls for proposals, budget allocations, and strategic objectives for the year.

Erasmus+ is more than just an opportunity for individuals, it’s a bridge for collaboration and growth, especially in regions like the Western Balkans. While fostering regional cooperation, Erasmus+ also helps participants develop a broader European perspective. By connecting young people, educators, and organisations across borders, it helps spark new ideas, build strong partnerships, and tackle shared challenges. Through this programme, participants gain the tools to think beyond their own communities and contribute to a future, both for their region and Europe as a whole.

Once a student described the programme perfectly: “When in my life would I have imagined, as a Mexican, studying in France, that I would one day meet a Bosnian guy in Germany? How is that even possible? Only through an international programme like this one.”

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