The Erasmus+ call ERASMUS-EDU-2024-POL-EXP-SCHOOL (Priority 9: Building sustainability competences) marks an important shift in European education policy. It introduces a policy experimentation approach that does not stop at good practice in classrooms, but directly connects innovation with system-level change at national and EU level.
Why is this call innovative?
- From classrooms to policies
Policy experimentation generates evidence from real schools and feeds it back into education policies, accreditation frameworks and EU strategies. This ensures that sustainability becomes an integral part of school systems, not just an optional add-on. - Focus on competences, not only content
Guided by the European GreenComp framework, the call emphasises competences such as critical thinking, collaboration, responsibility and action. The aim is not just to teach about sustainability, but to empower learners to live and lead sustainably. - A Whole School Approach
Sustainability is addressed as a school-wide value, embedded in governance, curriculum, operations and community engagement. Schools themselves become living laboratories of the green transition. - Collaboration across levels
The call requires partnerships between ministries, universities, schools, NGOs and local authorities, creating a space where research, practice and policy meet. This is key to designing solutions that are scalable, realistic and impactful.
A collective step forward
This call is highly significant and innovative. It reflects the EU’s ambition to link the European Green Deal, the GreenComp framework, and the Education Area 2025 into a coherent policy agenda. At the same time, it moves the discussion from isolated projects to systemic transformation, acknowledging that schools are key to the green transition and that sustainability must be mainstreamed into education policies. By investing in experimentation, the EU is creating pathways for schools, teachers and students to navigate complexity, take responsibility, and become active drivers of a sustainable future.
GATE in this context
As part of this new generation of Erasmus+ Policy Experimentation projects, GATE will contribute to shaping this agenda. By piloting innovative tools for self-evaluation and supporting schools, teachers and students in embedding sustainability competences, GATE will provide the evidence and dialogue needed to inform policy across Europe.