Pupil and student mobility 

Inter-community exchange for future teachers  

Being able to use different languages is not only an important asset on the labour market, but it also builds bridges between different cultures and makes it possible to understand each other better and to work and live together better. Knowing (a little of) each other's language enables contact and leads to cultural openness. Moreover, it stimulates mobility within Europe, but also between the three communities in Belgium, the Flemish Community, the French Community and the German speaking Community. 

On 27 May 2009, the ministers responsible for higher education in the three communities signed an agreement in which they expressed their will to structure and strengthen existing cooperation in the area of education and teacher training. 

To achieve this objective, they launched the inter-community exchange programme for future teachers. Through this programme, students in the second and third years of their Bachelor studies can follow educational activities for a minimum of five credits in a partner college of another community. More information can be found here: https://www.epos-vlaanderen.be/nl/intercommunautaire-uitwisseling.

In addition, the Benelux Decisions of 2015 and 2018 on the automatic mutual generic recognition of higher education diplomas confirm that higher education qualifications issued by one of the Belgian communities are automatically recognized as equivalent in level in the other communities. This ensures that students participating in inter-community mobility can continue their studies without administrative barriers related to diploma recognition. More information can be found here: Publicatieblad_2015-2_NL.pdf and Publicatieblad_2018-1_NL.pdf. 

Exchanges between Dutch, French and German-speaking elementary and secondary education schools in Belgium 

 These exchanges are designed for pupils attending mainstream and special elementary and secondary education. They must be organised/offered by classes from at least 2 out of the 3 Belgian Communities. Classes jointly work on one common theme. Pupils visit each other for at least one full day in each other’s Community. During this encounter pupils work on a common end product. As far as possible, project work is done on the basis of the final objectives. 

The aim of these exchanges is to broaden pupils' linguistic skills and culture by allowing them to discover how their peers live, with due respect for each other's individuality. The exchanges are funded by the Prince Philippe Fund (administered by the King Baudoin Foundation). 

Twinning - Exchanges between Flemish and Moroccan schools 

Twinning projects involve an exchange between Flemish and Moroccan schools, on the basis of cross-curricular activities, in which the development of identity and tolerance are central elements. They are subsidised by the Department of Education and Training. 

EU programme for education, training, youth and sports 

EPOS (European Programmes for Education, Training and Cooperation) is the National Agency for Flanders responsible for implementing the Erasmus+ programme. It is also the support service for eTwinning and EPALE and the coordination center for Euroguidance and Europass. 

The Erasmus+ programme offers schools a wide range of opportunities to enrich teaching and learning. Through funded projects, schools can collaborate with partner institutions, businesses and other organisations across Europe. Teachers can take part in professional development abroad, including job shadowing, training courses, and teaching assignments, gaining new skills and fresh perspectives. Pupils can participate in short‑ or long‑term exchanges and group mobility of pupils, helping them develop language and other skills, intercultural awareness, and confidence. 

Schools can also work together on international cooperation projects, developing innovative teaching materials, exploring inclusive education practices, or strengthening digital competences. These partnerships help schools modernize their approaches and build lasting networks with educators from other countries. 

Overall, Erasmus+ supports schools in becoming more open, collaborative, and future‑oriented—benefiting teachers, pupils, and the whole school community. 

Recognition of foreign experience and certificates 

NARIC Vlaanderen is responsible for the academic recognition  of foreign qualifications. NARIC-Flanders (the National Academic Recognition and Information Centre) is the Flemish unit within the ENIC-NARIC network. ENIC (European Network of Information Centres) groups together the national NARIC centres. NARIC is also the European National Information Centre of Flanders for the Council of Europe and Unesco. 

The procedures that apply to the different educational levels are contained in various legal frameworks . The handling of the procedures is largely parallel at the different educational levels. 

The Flemish Department of Care is responsible for the professional recognition of healthcare professions in the context of the implementation of European Directive 2005/36/EC of 7 September 2005 on the recognition of professional qualifications. 

The Flemish Agency for Educational Services is responsible for the professional recognition of teaching professions under the same European Directive. 

 Thanks to a collaboration with the German authorities, German teachers can in principle avail of annual exchange and in-service training activities: an in-service training course for Flemish teachers teaching German, hosted in Germany, and an in-service training course for German teachers teaching hosted in Flanders. This program is currently being revised in cooperation between the Flemish department of Education and the German authorities.