Mobility takes place through bilateral cooperation, partnerships or twinning between schools in Portugal and non-EU countries, as well as via EU education and training programmes, such as Erasmus+. 

In this area, the Direção-Geral dos Estabelecimentos Escolares (DGEstE) is only involved in authorising travel for students and teaching staff.

Erasmus+ Programme

The European Commission is responsible for implementing the Erasmus+ Programme 2021-2027, following on from the previous European programmes for education and training, namely the Lifelong Learning Programme (2007-2013) and the Erasmus+ Programme (2014-2020).

In Portugal, the Programme is implemented by two national agencies indirectly managed: the National Agency for Erasmus+ Youth in Action (for the youth and sports sectors) and the National Agency for Erasmus+ Education and Training (for the areas of school education, vocational education and training and adult education).

With regard to Erasmus+ in school and vocational education and training sectors, participation is organised by schools and other organisations in the respective sectors, both public and private.

The Agency promotes and manages the Erasmus+ 2021-2027 Programme in Portugal and ensures the Europass Initiative. It also supports the internationalisation of vocational education and training to encourage the creation of and participation in European networks of vocational education and training institutions. Its objectives are in line with the "European Universities" initiative, as well as aiming to strengthen the international attractiveness of VET institutions.

In education and training, youth and sports fields, the Erasmus+ 2021-2027 programme specifically focusses on individuals’ and groups’ learning mobility, young people’s active participation in society, as well as cooperation, quality, inclusion and equity, excellence, creativity and innovation in education and training organisations and policies.

Participating organisations should actively promote the horizontal priorities of the programmethrough their activities,, such as inclusion and diversity, environmental sustainability, digital education and civic engagement and participation.

Another project is eTwinning, which is the responsibility of the Directorate General of Education in Portugal and is co-funded by Erasmus+. E-Twinning is undertaken by the European Union's Erasmus+ Programme. Its main objective is to create collaborative work networks between European schools by doing joint projects using the Internet and information and communication technologies (ICT).

The eTwinning projects are an excellent opportunity to promote inclusive education (Decree-Law No 54/2018, 6 July), meeting the different needs and potential of each students through greater participation in the learning processes and the educational community, where it is still possible to achieve precepts in the National Strategy of Education for Citizenship (2017).

Projects have a time span of 12 to 24 months, depending on the needs of the candidate organisation. The eTwinning school seal recognises the commitment and dedication of school teams that adopt innovative and collaborative teaching practices, making their schools a benchmark in innovation and inclusion, with a leading role in the educational community.

Pupil and student mobility

School education

In this sector, student mobility offers the option of groups of students or individuals. It can last varying lengths, depending on the short or long-term format, with the possibility of work placements.

For more information on student mobility in school education, consult the Erasmus+ National Agency website.

Authorities responsible for organising and coordinating

Projects can be coordinated by pre-school, basic or upper secondary general education establishments, including ECEC settings, as well as local and regional public authorities, coordination bodies and other organisations active in the school education sector. The successful bodies are responsible for their own projects, including managing the allocated funding, the development of project activities (local and transnational), as well as hosting partners, the organisation and procedural aspects associated with safety of participants, monitoring information, dissemination and reporting.

Vocational education and training (VET)

In the VET sector, the mobility of trainees is supported via participation in the Erasmus+ Programme, both in Key Action 1: Learning Mobility of Individuals, in the following forms: 

(i) Short-term and long-term learning mobility (ErasmusPro) 

(ii) academic and professional internships

(iii) Participation in VET skills competitions. 

The duration of learners’ mobility in VET can vary, according to the format. 
These activities aim to contribute to achieving the EU targets agreed in Council Resolution on a strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training towards the European Education Area and beyond (2021-2030), namely that the share of recent graduates from VET benefiting from exposure to work-based learning during their vocational education and training should be at least 60%, by 2025; and also the outcomes of Osnabrück Declaration and, in particular, its Objective 4 on the international dimension of vocational education and training. 

For more information about trainee mobility in vocational education and training, see the Agência Nacional Erasmus+ Educação e Formação website.

Authorities responsible for organisation and coordination

Projects can be coordinated by any public or private organisation active in VET, that sends trainees to Europe, or the coordinator of a national mobility consortium.

The following types of organisations are eligible: VET organisations (initial or continuing); local and regional public authorities; co-ordinating bodies and other organisations with a role in the VET sector, companies and other public or private organisations that host, train or otherwise work with apprentices and learners in VET programmes.  
Beneficiary bodies are responsible for their own projects, managing funding, local and transnational project activities, hosting partners, the organisation and procedural aspects associated with the safety and well-being of participants, monitoring information, dissemination and reporting. 

Validation and recognition

Individual mobility, more specifically, the learning outcomes obtained by the participant, after the activity, are recognised via the issue of a Europass Mobility certificate or similar document by the partners. It can, however, be established that the internship corresponds to the trainee’s curricular internship. The validation of group mobility maintains the same principle, with some adaptations.

Teacher mobility

Teacher mobility in Europe is seen as an important measure for the internationalisation regarding European education and training programmes.

The Erasmus+ Programme kept this type of mobility for training educational staff for all sectors through Key Action 1: Learning Mobility of Individuals.

Within Key Action 2: Cooperation among organisations and institutions, activities include the participation of professionals in transnational events linked to teaching, learning and training projects and activities.

At a centralised level, there are two recent Programme initiatives under Action Partnerships for Excellence managed by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA): Teacher Academies and Centres of Vocational Excellence. 

The Erasmus+ Teachers Academies is specifically designed to support teachers and trainers throughout their career, aiming to create European partnerships of teacher training institutes and providers, promoting greater cooperation in terms of their initial and continuing teacher training from a European and international perspective.

The initiative Centres of Vocational Excellence  enables VET institutions to rapidly adapt skills provision to evolving economic and social needs, including the digital and green transitions. It aims to foster transnational collaborative platforms that facilitate technical support and mutual learning opportunities.

There is also the possibility of setting up networks and teacher training projects to spread learning about the objectives and functioning of the European Union through the Jean Monnet Açtion.

Within Key Action 3: Support to Policy Development and Cooperation, the Euroguidance network provides quality information for learning and mobility purposes, among other functions. The Euroguidance Centres work together to promote mobility and support professionals and other individuals, so that they can better understand opportunities in Europe.

School education

As part of Erasmus+ Programme, Key Action 1: Learning Mobility of Individuals, the mobility of teachers, trainers or other staff can involve three types of eligible activities: a structured course, or a similar kind of training, job shadowing or training assignment in a European country. 
Apart from these, other activities are eligible, such the chance to invite experts and hosting teachers and educators in training. 

Recent graduates or higher education students of study areas linked to education and teaching can participate in the programme via mobility for initial training in schools in other European countries.
The period of staff mobility in school education can vary, depending on the format.

Following these training mobility projects, with eTwinning teachers and kindergarten teachers can find a virtual extension of the partnerships they have established and the opportunity to share active methodologies that make a contribution for the development of the principles, values and competence areas featured in the Exit Profile of Students Finishing Compulsory Education.

The eTwinning Quality Labels are awarded to teachers with excellent eTwinning projects. It means that the project has reached a certain standard at national and European level.

 Projects have a time span of 12 to 24 months, depending on the needs of the candidate organisation. This time period also allows schools to become a benchmark by obtaining the eTwinning school label, which distinguishes educational establishments where eTwinning has made a contribution.

Vocational education and training (VET)

Key Action 1 for the VET sector also covers the mobility of trainees and the mobility of trainers and staff from vocational training organisations and/or companies. 

For education staff, the following mobility projects are available as part of short-term projects and accredited projects: job shadowing, teaching and training assignments, structured courses, or a similar kind of training. Apart from these, other activities are eligible, such the chance to invite experts and hosting teachers and educators in training.

Staff mobility in VET sector can vary in length, depending on the format.
Learning mobility projects for staff in VET organisations may include activities aimed at supporting participation of VET agents in training and/or the consolidation in the acquisition and use of knowledge, skills and competences in a work context.

The eTwinning action also applies to VET.

Within Key Action 2: Cooperation among organisations and institutions, VET professionals can participate in transnational events linked to teaching and learning projects and activities. 

As part of Key Action 3 of Erasmus + ( (Support to Policy Development and Cooperation), the Euroguidance network provides quality information for learning and mobility purposes, among other functions.

The Euroguidance Centres work together to promote mobility and support professionals and other individuals, so that they can better understand opportunities in Europe.

Validation and recognition

Mobility and participation in activities in partnerships are recognised with a participation certificate by the host organisations or partners. 
Teachers and trainers can also submit the participation certificate and the range of content/hours spent in the training attended to be assessed by the Scientific-Pedagogical Council of Continuing Professional Training, which may accredit such training, provided that it fits provisions for the continuing professional development of teachers.

Courses attended through eTwinning are accredited by the Directorate-General for Education.

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