Italy is one of the most popular destinations for Erasmus+ staff mobility training, offering structured courses in cities such as Rome, Bologna, Palermo, and Pisa. Whether you are a teacher, school administrator, university staff member, or adult education professional, this guide explains exactly where to find eligible training, how the funding works, and what to look for in a course provider.
What Qualifies as Erasmus+ Staff Mobility Training?
Before searching for a course provider, it helps to understand what the European Commission considers eligible. Training periods abroad can consist of job shadowing, observation periods, professional development courses, or specific competence-building events. Erasmus+ supports training both at education institutions and at relevant organisations operating outside the education sector, such as businesses, public bodies, research institutes, and non-governmental organisations.
Eligible training formats under Key Action 1 (KA1) include:
- Structured courses and professional development workshops
- Job shadowing at a partner institution
- Staff training weeks organised by universities
- Blended Intensive Programmes (BIPs)
- Language immersion courses
Duration and Funding Rules
A training period between two Erasmus+ Programme countries must last a minimum of 2 days and cannot exceed 2 months, excluding travel time. For mobility between a Programme country and a Partner country, the minimum rises to 5 days with the same 2-month maximum. Many institutions fund a maximum of 5 working days per mobility, so most structured courses in Italy are designed around a 5-day or 6-day format.
EU grants provide a contribution to travel and subsistence costs. The exact amount varies based on the destination country and distance. Your sending institution is responsible for making all payments when the mobility takes place between Programme countries.
Who Is Eligible?
You cannot apply directly for an Erasmus+ staff training grant as an individual. Your school or institution must hold either the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education or an Erasmus accreditation, and they then select candidates from their staff. The selection process should be fair, inclusive, transparent, and well documented.
Eligible participants typically include:
- Teachers and trainers (primary, secondary, VET, adult education)
- Headmasters and school leaders
- Technical and administrative university staff
- Language assistants and research technologists
- NGO and adult education professionals
Where to Find Staff Mobility Training Courses in Italy
Italy hosts numerous Erasmus+ course providers across its major cities. Here are the main ways to locate eligible training:
1. Alfa Edu — Rome
Alfa Edu is an Italy-based Erasmus-accredited organisation in the field of Adult Education (Accreditation No. 2025-1-ITO2-KA120-ADU-000372669) that specialises exclusively in Erasmus+ and EU-funded education. Their courses are designed for KA1 staff mobility funding and include all required documentation for National Agencies.
Available courses at Alfa Edu include:
- Mastering Erasmus+ Project Implementation — a 5-day practical course designed for first-time coordinators and institutional staff working on KA210 and KA1 projects, delivered in Rome
- Effective Teaching in Early Childhood — a 6-day training in Rome for early childhood and primary educators covering inclusive classrooms, play-based learning, and curriculum design
- Critical Thinking for Educators — a course focused on integrating analytical skills and evidence-based thinking into classroom practice
- Communication and Learning Effectiveness — improving communication strategies and knowledge transfer in both in-person and online learning environments
Alfa Edu also supports organisations with structured learning frameworks and evaluation templates that help connect each mobility activity to project goals — an important advantage when preparing final reports.
2. Erasmus Learning Academy (ELA) — Bologna, Rimini, Palermo
ELA is another well-established provider based in Bologna that offers more than a dozen courses across multiple Italian cities. Their 2026–2027 catalogue covers topics such as classroom management, artificial intelligence in schools, integrating ICT into teaching, soft skills, and adult education methodologies. They also organise sessions in Rimini and Palermo.
3. DOREA Educational Institute — Palermo, Rome, Pisa
DOREA runs Erasmus+ KA1 staff mobility courses in several Italian cities including Palermo, Rome, and Pisa. Their offerings include intercultural communication, project management for Erasmus+ coordinators, and AI in education. All DOREA courses adhere to Erasmus+ Quality Standards for Key Action 1.
4. International Staff Training Weeks at Italian Universities
Many Italian universities organise staff training weeks that are open to employees from partner institutions across Europe. These events are eligible for Erasmus+ STT (Staff Training) funding. For example, a staff training week themed “Connecting Minds, Creating Partnerships” is scheduled for 15–19 June 2026 in Vieste, Italy. These events are typically listed on the IMOTION platform or directly on university international relations pages.
5. European School Education Platform and National Agencies
The European Commission recommends consulting the European School Education Platform for school staff, and contacting your National Agency for country-specific guidance on available opportunities and applicable grant rates.
How to Choose the Right Training Provider
Not all Erasmus+ courses are equal. When selecting a provider for staff mobility training in Italy, consider these criteria:
- Erasmus+ accreditation status — Providers with formal Erasmus accreditation demonstrate long-term commitment to quality standards
- National Agency documentation — The provider should supply all required certificates, attendance records, and learning outcome documents
- Practical focus — Look for courses that address real implementation challenges rather than theory alone
- Post-mobility support — Some providers offer evaluation templates and reporting support, which is critical for final reports
- Cultural integration — Italy-based courses often include guided cultural activities that enrich the learning experience
Step-by-Step: From Selecting a Course to Completing Your Mobility
- Check your institution’s Erasmus+ status — Confirm your organisation holds the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education or an Erasmus accreditation
- Identify a suitable course — Browse catalogues from providers like Alfa Edu, ELA, or DOREA, or search for staff weeks at Italian universities
- Get internal approval — Request permission from your manager or department head, as required by your institution’s mobility policy
- Submit your application — Apply through your institution’s internal Erasmus+ selection process within the published deadline
- Sign the Mobility Agreement — Before departure, you, your sending institution, and the receiving organisation must all sign a Mobility Agreement that sets out learning goals, rights, and responsibilities
- Complete the training — Attend the full programme and collect your Certificate of Attendance on the final day
- Submit post-mobility documents — Provide your institution with the Declaration of Stay, travel evidence (boarding passes), and complete the Erasmus+ Participant Survey online
