[Regional] Erasmus+ Projects Capacity Building in Higher Education and Vocational Training

23.03.2025

Panama actively participates in the European programme Erasmus+ through diverse projects in the areas of Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) and Skills Development in Vocational Education and Training (CBVET). These projects boost socio-economic development by supporting the modernisation and reform of education institutions and systems around the world, strengthening the links between education and the labour market, improving the knowledge and skills of teachers, and strengthening the competences of students. All projects must include partners from at least three different countries and usually last between 1 and 3 years. Current priorities include Green Deal; digital transformation; integration of migrants; governance, peace, security and human development.

Project	Official Title	Duration	Goals	Budget	Countries	Panamanian institutions
LAENOG	LATIN AMERICAN EUROPEAN NETWORK IN SOCIAL SUPPORT FOR ONLINE GAMING	01/01/2025 - 31/12/2027	1) Micro-analyse of the young video game players’ risks and toxic behaviours 2) Develop pedagogical tools to train young players and their parents/educators 3) Exchange the best-practices across European and Latin American countries 4) Outreach the effects of pedagogical tools over time through the “Video Game Social Observatory - VGSO”	716.558,00 €	Panama, Brasil, Poland and Spain	Fundación Tecnológica de Panama, Fundación Universidad especializada de las Américas, Universidad Tecnológica de Panama
FUESE	Fortalecimiento de la Extensión en el Ecosistema Social de las universidades en Centro América	01/01/2024 - 31/12/2026	1) Modernise structures for the integration of the institutional functions of research, teaching and transfer with that of extension 2) Transform university practices and policies to reduce bureaucratic processes that allow meeting the socioeconomic and cultural demands of the most vulnerable groups 3) Design and evaluate a comprehensive methodology that favors the organisational and curricular transformations of higher education institutions to increase the impact of their University Extension policies and practices.	794.340,00 €	Costa Rica, Panama, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Germany and Spain	Universidad Autónoma de Chiriquí, Fundación Universidad Especializada de las Américas
CLIMAR	Strengthening research, innovation and knowledge transfer on Climate Change & Tourism in Higher Education Institutions in Latin America	13/04/2023 - 12/04/2026	1) Support the creation of transnational and multidisciplinary research groups specialised in CC, Circular Economy & Tourism (CC&T), among HEIs from EU and LA and reinforce their capacities to increase regional knowledge on CC&T 2) Promote research-based collaborative teaching in CC&T, via the development of a transversal study module that can be inserted in different courses at the postgraduate level 3) Enhance university-NGO-industry-public administration knowledge transfer so as to contribute to sustainable development and new employment opportunities, via a professional development course in CC&T 4) Ensure sustainable academic relations and strategic partnerships among HEIs from EU and LA, based-upon multi-disciplinary approach	794.064,00 €	Italy, Colombia, Spain, Argentina, Ireland, Mexico and Panama	Universidad Autónoma de Chiriquí, Universidad de Panama
TETRIS	Technology Transfer Innovation Schemes in Latin America	15/01/2021 - 14/07/2024	TETRIS improved the level of institutionalization of the ‘third mission’ of the partner universities from Latin America.	993.761,00 €	Colombia, Ecuador, Germany, Costa Rica, Panama, Bolivia, Spain and France	Universidad de Panama, Universidad Tecnológica de Panama
ECALFOR	Evaluación de la formación del profesorado en América Latina y Caribe. Garantía de la calidad de los títulos de educación	15/01/2021 - 14/07/2024	ECALFOR improved of the disciplinary and pedagogical training of compulsory education teachers.- Quality assurance processes of higher education programs and international certification of degrees	965.045,36 €	Spain, Italy, Brasil, Dominican Republic, Panama, Finland, Ecuador, Mexico and France	ISAE Universidad, Organización del Convenio Andrés Bello de integración educativa científica tecnológica y cultural, Universidad Autónoma de Chiriquí
EQUAMLA	Enhancing QUAlity Management & Recognition in Latin American universities to underpin the Latin American Higher Education Space	15/01/2020 - 14/07/2023	EQUAMLA advanced the Latin American Higher Education Space in areas such as recognition of degrees and credits across borders by reinforcing and connecting quality assurance systems for higher education, in which universities and QA agencies are key partners and drivers.	892.171,00 €	Panama, Spain, Colombia, Argentina, Nicaragua, Belgium, Italy and Ireland	Universidad de Panama, Universidad Tecnológica de Panama, Ministerio de Educación
INICIA	ESPECIALIZACIÓN EN GESTION DE INICIATIVAS ECONOMICAS COLABORATIVAS Y ECONOMÍA SOCIAL EN CENTROAMÉRICA	15/01/2019 - 14/04/2021	INICIA contributed to the adaptation of the curricula of Central American Universities, in relation to the new forms of economic organization linked to the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) and the Collaborative Economy (CE), in order to improve the skills of their human resources and prepare them to face the challenges of these new economic models, by the desing and implementation of a Specialization Course in SSE and CE in Latin America.	990.799,00 €	Guatemala, Spain, France, Panama, Honduras, Portugal, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Argentina and Costa Rica	ISAE Universidad
WPA	World Pendulum Alliance	15/11/2018 - 14/11/2022	WPA improved in Latin America the quality of higher education, in the fields of mathematics, sciences and ICT, by promoting the uptake and use of Remote Experiments in the context of education. In order to achieve this objective, the project deployed the first global network of remote experiments: the World Pendulum.	999.954,00 €	Czech Republic, France, Brasil, Portugal, Panama, Chile, Colombia and Spain	Universidad Santa María de la Antigua, Universidad Tecnológica de Panama
IMPALA	Strengthening IMPAct of Latin American universities	15/11/2018 - 14/11/2022	IMPALA enriched the national quality systems by incorporating the measure of impact and the practice from the theory of change on the 3rd mission activities. By evaluating the results of these activities, HEIs can assess their contribution to the society, and they can update their strategic planning, organization and work structure to provide better services to meet the demands of their environment.	986.961,00 €	Colombia, Cuba, Panama, Portugal, Spain and Italy	Universidad de Panama, Universidad Especializada de las Américas
TICRUZ	Uso de las TIC para la Gestión Integral de la Internacionalización en América Latina	15/10/2017 - 14/04/2021	TICRUZ enhanced capacity for international cooperation between universities in Latin America’s least developed regions and HEIs in EU countries, by facilitating transfer of knowledge and best practice in transparency and credit recognition.	610.130,00 €	Portugal, Latvia, Panama, Spain, Argentina and Honduras	Universidad Autónoma de Chiriquí, Universidad Tecnológica de Panama
AYNI	Building capacities from global to local, not to leave anyone behind	01/07/2017 - 31/07/2018	AYNI fostered cooperation between Europe and Latin America to share good practices, extrapolate existing models, enrich knowledge and qualify youth organisations to develop a more effective work at local, regional and international levels.	73.718,77 €	Argentina, Mexico, Panama, Portugal and Brasil	Grupo Genesis Panama Positivo
FREENet	Fostering REsearch-based Entrepreneurship and the development of spin-off companies in Central America - FREE Network	15/10/2016 - 14/01/2020	FREEnet improved business opportunities for research-based entrepreneurs, promoting spin-off services in Higher Education Institutions and strengthening the innovation ecosystem in Central America.	980.035,00 €	Costa Rica, Panama, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala, UK and Italy	Universidad Tecnológica de Panama, Universidad del Istmo
RecoLATIN	Credential evaluation centres and recognition procedures in Latin American countries	15/10/2016 - 14/10/2019	RecoLAT favoured and to increase the quality of vertical and horizontal student mobility within Latin America and European higher education systems. Partners intend to improve competencies and skills of credential evaluators by defining common practices and realising common tools among European and Latin America national bodies and HE institutions, starting from the experience of European HE institutions in relation with the Bologna Process and practices adopted by NARIC centres.	904.850,00 €	Italy, France, Panama, Uruguay, Norway and Mexico	Universidad de Panama, Universidad Autónoma de Chiriquí, Ministerio de Educación
FORINT	Fortalecimiento de la Internacionalizacion entre las Universidades Europeas y Latinoamericanas	15/10/2016 - 14/10/2019	FORINT integrated the international dimension into the teaching, research and service functions of Cuban and Panamanian higher education system, and to strengthen the universities' capacities for education and research and improve their academic quality and standards.	927.058,33 €	Spain, Cuba, Panama, Portugal, Belgium and Italy	Universidad de Panama, Universidad Especializada de las Américas
ORACLE	Observatorio Regional de Calidad y Equidad de la Educación Superior en Latinoamérica	15/10/2016 - 14/10/2019	ORACLE proposed and designed actions, policies and strategies of institutional quality assurance and equity.	994.199,00 €	Denmark, Uruguay, Panama, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Austria, Brasil, Portugal, Bolivia, Paraguay, Venezuela, Cuba, El Salvador, Chile, Mexico, Nicaragua, Guatemala and Italy	Universidad Especializada de las Américas
IRUDESCA	Integración Regional, Universidad y Desarrollo Sostenible en CentroAmerica	15/10/2016 - 14/10/2018	IRUDESCA strengthened relations between Central American and European universities and the social and economic fabric, as part of a new way of understanding economic models, based on cooperation, sustainability, respect for the environment and people as well as the role and responsibility of universities in the training of professionals and entrepreneurs committed to a smart economic growth of their countries.	801.554,00 €	Spain, El Salavor, France, Panama, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Honduras and Nicaragua	Universidad de Panama, Universidad Santa María de la Antigua
LAURDS	Latin American University Research and Doctoral Support	15/10/2015 - 14/10/2018	LARDS built the capacity of Latin American Universities to develop their research culture and construct focused, relevant and meaningful research strategies which support the need for innovation and new knowledge in the economy. Secondly, in order to support the creation of new knowledge the sustainability of contributions of the Universities to the society and economy, the project developed the rigour, quality and transferability of Doctoral provision by building the capability and capacity for Doctoral supervision skills and Doctoral student training in Latin American Universities.	817.399,00 €	Panama, Germany, Colombia, Spain and Slovenia	Universidad Santa María de la Antigua, QUALITY LEADERSHIP UNIVERSITY
LASIN	Latin American Social Innovation Network	15/10/2015 - 14/10/2018	LASIN supported and promoted social innovation as a means to achieve sustainable and inclusive socio-economic growth, social cohesion and equity in Latin America, through intercultural, curricular and extracurricular activities. It achieved this by establishing Social Innovation Support Units (SISU) within the Partner Countries to promote and support University-social enterprise cooperation, social entrepreneurship and graduate employability with a particular emphasis on social innovation projects, incubation and training.	992.578,00 €	Colombia, UK, Spain, Chile, Panama, Brasil and Germany	Universidad Santa María de la Antigua, Quality Leadership University
HICA	Harmonisation and Innovation in Central American Higher Education Curricula: Enhancing and Implementing the Regional Quality Framework	15/10/2015 - 14/10/2018	HICA supported the reform, innovation and harmonisation of HE curricula. The project further developed/implemented a regional qualifications framework for Central American HE (‘MCESCA’) – proposed by the prior project Alfa PUENTES (2011-14) – that defines what a student should know, understand and be able to do after each HE cycle, in a Central American social and political context.	865.875,50 €	Italy, Spain, Belgium, Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Germany and Ireland	Universidad Especializada de las Américas, Universidad de Panamá, Universidad Autónoma de Chiriquí, Ministerio de Educación, Consejo de Rectores de las Universidades Oficiales y Particulares de Panamá