European Charter of Higher Education

The Charter outlines the University's commitment to the Erasmus+ programme, European partnerships and study mobility.

Our European Charter of Higher Education, or ECHE, (PDF doc 1,100KB) outlines the quality framework and obligations for European and international cooperation activities under Erasmus+, including mobility quality, cooperation projects, and the commitment to comply with the programme’s fundamental principles.

Holding an ECHE and participation in the Erasmus+ programme is key to our institutional internationalisation strategy. Our European Policy Statement (Word doc, 54KB) details how The University of Manchester plans to re-engage with Erasmus+ through 2027–2028 and how this aligns with From Manchester for the world, our strategy to 2035, with a particular focus on advancing our goals with respect to internationalisation, social responsibility, inclusion and European partnership. 

Objectives

The core objectives for 2027–2028 are to:

• enable student and staff participation in Key Action 1 mobilities prioritising inclusion for disadvantaged and under-represented student groups;
• support the University’s long-term ambition for partner‑enabled learning and globalised education provision; and
• evaluate the potential for engaging in KA2, KA3 and Jean Monnet actions under future programme iterations to support renewed European partnership. 

Activities will include the delivery of outgoing and incoming student mobility for study and traineeships across a broad range of disciplines. Colleagues, academics and those in professional services, will participate in mobilities that deliver teaching and secure knowledge/skills exchange, but also provide the foundations for long-term partnership networks and European engagement. 

Expected measurable results

• increased participation in European mobility particularly among students from disadvantaged/underrepresented groups;
• enhanced global intercultural competence and transferable skills among students; and
• strengthened colleague capability and networks for innovative teaching/curricula and development of partner-enabled learning. 

The project will also generate institutional insight into the potential opportunities for collaboration under KA2, KA3 and Jean Monnet actions. 

Outputs will include an evaluation and impact report for student mobility informed by an established 'Theory of Change', the determination of metrics and mechanisms for measuring the impact of colleague mobility, and strategic recommendations for engagement in the next Erasmus+ programme cycle.