Looking Back at the Bratislava Edition of Central European Joint Infodays

CZELO

On December 3–4, the Central European Joint Infodays (CEJI) took place in Bratislava.

As in previous years, the event was co-organized with the national Erasmus+ agencies from Hungary (Tempus Public Foundation), Austria (OeAD), and Slovakia (SAAIC), with SAAIC taking the lead this year. Over time, the Central European Joint Infodays have become an established platform for sharing experience with centralized activities with an international dimension, including showcasing successful projects. These info days also foster collaboration between Central European countries and selected guests from third countries not associated with the program. Thus year, the event brought together about 60 participants.

The event primarily addressed centralized Erasmus+ projects that enable or require the participation of these third countries, including Jean Monnet actions in the field of higher education, Erasmus Mundus action, and Capacity Building in Higher Education projects.

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EU Priorities and Partner Country Presentations

The two-day program was opened by Andrea Junásková, Director of SAAIC, who emphasized the importance of international cooperation in education within and beyond Europe. Following her speech, Savino Ruà, a representative of DG EAC, presented the latest trends and changes in European policies related to higher education. He highlighted the new European Commission's priorities, focusing on the global aspect of Erasmus+, EU enlargement, simplification of European programs and processes, and Europe’s competitiveness (including references to the Draghi Report). In the context of the European Education Area, he also mentioned the European University Alliances and joint degree programs, particularly in connection with the European Diploma. The session included a brief overview of other Erasmus+ project types that, while not the main focus of the event, allow for the involvement of organizations outside the program countries. These include European University Alliances, Virtual Exchanges in higher education and youth, and Alliances for Innovation.

A key highlight of the first day was the presentations by representatives of National Erasmus+ Offices (NEOs) from Georgia (Mariam Sulashvili), Kazakhstan (Laura Paluanova), and Tunisia (Imen Amouri), as well as the National Erasmus+ Focal Point (ENFP) from Indonesia (Arief Budiman). These offices serve as contact points for those interested in participating in the program within their respective countries. The representatives introduced the participants to their countries’ priorities in higher education and the potential contributions of their institutions to joint projects. The day concluded with networking activities, providing participants with opportunities to establish new collaborations with other Central European attendees and representatives from third countries.

Practical Workshops and Showcasing the Successful Stories

The second day focused on practical workshops about submitting project proposals and implementing activities following project approval. The program ran in four parallel sessions, allowing participants to focus on specific project types. These sessions were aimed at both those with concrete project ideas and newcomers looking to learn more about specific project types.

Participants had the opportunity to attend two different workshops. The first sessions offered a general introduction to the objectives of each project type, while the second sessions provided a more detailed insight into the application process. Theoretical tips and guidance on application submission were complemented in every workshop by presentations from successful project representatives who shared practical insights and field experiences.

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CEJI 2025: Next Year in Brno

This year’s Central European Joint Infodays once again successfully built on the tradition of previous editions. Based on positive feedback, the event provided new knowledge and valuable contacts that institutions will profit from in the upcoming program calls. Next year’s edition will take place in early December in Brno. Further information will be shared on our website and social media channels throughout the year. We also recommend following the event's official website.