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 the mobilities.

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 decentralised actions of the Programme are managed by two national agencies: the National Agency Erasmus+ Youth/Sports and European Solidarity Corps (for the youth and sports sectors) and the National Agency 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 National Agency Erasmus+ Education and Training 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 individual and group learning mobility, young people’s active participation in society, as well as cooperation, quality, inclusion and equity, excellence, creativity and innovation in education and capacity building for organisations and policies.

Participating organisations should actively promote the horizontal priorities of the programme through their activities: inclusion and diversity, environmental sustainability, digital education and civic engagement and participation.

eTwinning is also an action co-funded by the European Union's Erasmus+ Programme. In Portugal, eTwinning is managed by the Directorate General of Education. It's an online space for teachers and school staff to create collaborative  networks among European schools by developing virtual national and international 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 student through greater participation in the learning processes and in the educational community, in the framework of the National Strategy of Education for Citizenship (2017).

Projects have a duration of 12 to 24 months, depending on the needs of the applicant organisation. The eTwinning school labell 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 mobility for groups of students or for individuals. The duration of the mobility depends on wether it's a a short-term or a 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 organisations (individually or in consortium) 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 the safety of participants, monitoring, dissemination and reporting.

Vocational education and training (VET)

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

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

(ii) curricular or work-based 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 organisations 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 a Europass Mobility certificate or similar document issued 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: Partnerships for Cooperation among organisations and institutions, activities include the participation of staff 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 for Vocational Excellence. 

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

The initiative Centres for 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 actions.

Within Key Action 3: Support to Policy Development and Cooperation, the Euroguidance network provides quality information for learning and mobility purposes, among other resources. 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 in another European country: participation in structured courses or other training events, job shadowing or training assignments. 
Apart from these, beneficiary institutions may organise other activities, such as the opportunty to invite experts and hosting teachers and educators in training. 

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

As a result of these mobilities for training, teachers and educators can find a virtual extension of the partnerships they have established through the eTwinning platform and have the opportunity to share active methodologies that contribute to 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 and school has become a benchmark: an educational establishment where eTwinning has made a contribution.

Vocational education and training (VET)

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

For education staff, the following mobility projects are available as part of short-term projects and accredited projects: participation in structured courses or other training events, job shadowing or training assignments. 
Apart from these, beneficiary institutions may organise other activities, such as the opportunty to invite experts and hosting teachers and trainers. 

The duration of staff mobility in VET sector can vary, according to the format. 
Learning mobility projects for staff in VET organisations may include activities aimed at supporting participation of VET staff 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: Partnerships for Cooperation among organisations and institutions, VET staff 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 resources. 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 within partnerships are recognised with a participation certificate by the host organisations or partners. 
Teachers and trainers can also submit the participation certificate and the program (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 the provisions for the continuing professional development of teachers.

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