Setting a New Standard for Erasmus Staff Training in Higher Education

COMPASS emerges at a time when Europe is placing strong emphasis on skills development, lifelong learning, and the creation of a more connected and competitive European Education Area. The Union of Skills highlights the growing need to invest in people and their competencies, including those working within higher education institutions.

Erasmus+ staff mobility has long been a cornerstone of professional development in higher education. It enables professional services staff to gain new perspectives, strengthen intercultural competences, and exchange best practices across borders. However, despite its success, there is currently no widely adopted quality standard that defines what effective, competence-based staff training should look like. As a result, staff, coordinators, and institutions often face challenges in identifying training that goes beyond networking and exposure, and truly contributes to skill development.

This project addresses that gap by developing a COMPASS: a practical quality framework and accompanying label that guide both providers and participants towards meaningful, skills-oriented training. It supports institutions in designing training aligned with clear learning outcomes, while also helping Erasmus+ coordinators and staff make informed choices when selecting opportunities.

The project also delivers practical tools, guidelines, and a toolkit to support the development and delivery of high-quality training. Through the integration of results into existing digital infrastructures such as the Erasmus Without Paper Dashboard, the project further enhances visibility, accessibility, and long-term sustainability of quality staff training opportunities.